Delta vows to reduce phone hold times.

If you've called an airline in 2021, you've probably been on hold for a long time.

Consumer reporter John Matarese investigates why the long hold times.

HAVE YOU TRIED TOCALL DELT..A..OR ANY OTHERAIRLINE THIS YEAR?YOU CAN WAIT ALL DAY TO TALKTO A LIVE PERSON.CONSUMER REPORTER JOHNMATARESE TELLS US THAT MAYSOON START TO CHANGE...IN TH ISMORNING'S ALL NEW "DONT WASTEYOUR MONEY."IF YOU HAVE TRIEDTO CALL AN AIRLINE LATELY....YOU DON'T NEED ME TO TELL YOUTHAT YOU CAN WAIT HOURS ANDHOURS FOR A LIVE PERSON.BUT THERE MAY FINALLY BESOME GOOD NEWS.....AT LEASTFROM DELTAAIRLINES.

DA ANMEIERWAS FLYING TO A DISABLEDAMERICAN VETERA NSMEETING....AND BARELY MADE ITTOCINCINNA.TI"It was horrible Iwas on hold for a long time,transferred multiple times,anstd ill could acreh theperson who could fix myflight." BYNOW, MOST TRAVELERS HAD HOPEDCALLING AN AIRLINE WOULBEDEASIER.

BUT A NEWWALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTSAYS IT'S STILL TOU GH....SAYING "YOUR HOLD TIMEWILL BE APPROXIMATELY ONEZILLION HOURS." JANETSANDERS WAS TRYING TO LEAVENEW ORLEANS BEFORE HURRICANEIDA."When we were in NewOrleans trying to get se ominformation, we were on for ahalf a day.

It was a long,longwait." THERE ARE ANUMBER OF REASONS WHY IT CANBE SO TOUGH TO REACH ANRLAIINE THESE DAYS....FROM COVID RELATEDSTAFFING SHORTAGES TO THEFACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARETRYING TO CHANGE THEIRFLIGHTS, OR HAVING THE AIRLINECHANGE THEIR FLIGHT TIMES.---------------------BUT DELTA AIRLINES SAYTHINGS ARE IMPROVING.DELTA HAS JUST ADDED13-HUNDRED CALL CENTER AGENTS,EMAILING CUSTOMERS TO Y:SA "Weknow our call wait times havebeen frustrating.

We continueto do everything possie bltomeet - and exceed - yourexpectations.

Average waittimes have been reduced sie ncJune and continue to shortenevery week." THEPOINTS GUY SUGGESTS:--CALL EARLY.--SAY "EXISTING RESERVATION."--LEAVE A CALLBA CKNUMBER, AND LET THEM CALL YOU.DANA MEYER GOTTHROUGH... TOOLATE."It was very frustratingand then I ended up missing myflgi."ht FINALLY, THEPOINTS GUY SAYS IF YOU CANTGET THROUGH BY PHONE....TRYMESSAGING VIA THEIR APP ORTWITTER.

THAT WAYYOU GET THROUGH AND YOU DONTWASTE YOUR MONEY.

JM WCPO 9NEWS.