Long Airline Hold Times? Chat or Text

Frustrated with long airline hold times? Try the chat or text function, which may put you in touch with a live agent faster. Here's where to find this functionality for the main U.S. airlines. Apple Business Chat is the ideal way to chat with Delta and JetBlue, since a secure link can be sent in the chat to process any needed credit card payment.

Alaska Airlines

Click on the link above to go to the Contact page, with a link to start chatting (you'll need to enter your name and Mileage Plan number, as well as question). Alternatively, text Alaska at 82008. Alaska Airlines' chat and text functionality doesn't accept credit card payments, so if you need to provide that, you'll unfortunately still need to call in.

American Airlines

Frankly, we recommend avoiding AA in the short term, given its operational issues, which have lately included not only more cancelled and/or delayed flights than United, but also mismanaging an unaccompanied minor handoff at Miami Airport.

But if you do have to fly AA, you should download the American Airlines app to your phone so that you can initiate live chat with an agent.

Delta Air L ines

Online, go to the above link and click on the “Message Us” button to start a chat session. Write something about chatting with a human to prompt it to suggest Representative, and select Representative to start chatting with a live agent. Alternatively, in the Delta App, go to “More” and select “Message Us.”

JetBlue Airlines

JetBlue Mint is one of our favorite transcon products, although JetBlue has also struggled operationally recently (see PSA: Avoid JetBlue for Summer 2022 Flights). On an iPhone, use the Apple Business Chat to contact JetBlue. Or on a laptop, go to the above JetBlue Contact page and scroll down to the “Not on a mobile device?” to select the “Start the conversation here” link. On my most recent chat, I waited 5 minutes for an agent, and once connected, my request was resolved quickly.

United Airlines

As with Delta, United's online chat bot (which can be reached by using the above link, scrolling down the page, and selecting the “Chat with us” link) is automated, but it will connect you with a live agent if you request. Before it connects you, it will ask you whether you need help with travel within the U.S., Canada or Mexico, outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico, refunds, the MileagePlus program, or something else. Alternatively, in the United mobile app, select “Help Center” then the “Contact us” button at the bottom, then “Message us.”