PSA: Please Don’t Google the Phone Number—Call Me First

Betsy Walker
2 days ago
3 min read

Quick story: A client of mine was all set for her flights to Scotland—booked, paid, seats assigned.

She had a quick question and didn’t want to “bother” me, so she Googled “Delta Airlines phone number,” called the first one she saw, and was told she’d been ticketed as standby and her flight would likely be canceled.

Spoiler: none of that was true.

Thankfully, she didn’t give a credit card or rebook anything. She messaged me, I

checked her reservation, and everything was 100% confirmed. When I called the

number she’d used, it was clear: it wasn’t Delta. It was a third-party posing as the

airline.

This is why I’m here: I want you to contact me. You are never “bothering” me with a question.

Why Googling Phone Numbers Can Go Wrong

Ads + imposters: Scammers buy ads and spoof listings so their numbers appear above official results.
Look-alike sites: A URL can look almost right (extra letters, dashes, different domain).
High-pressure tactics: They’ll claim your ticket is at risk, push you to “rebook now,” or ask for a card to “verify.”
Data fishing: They try to capture your confirmation codes, birthdays, and payment info.

Your Safe Playbook (Use This Every Time)

1. Call/Text/Email me (your travel agent) first. This is literally what I’m here for. I can see your reservation and advise next steps—often faster and with less stress.

2. If you truly need the airline:

Use the airline’s app (go to “Help/Contact” inside the app).
Type the website directly into your browser (e.g., delta.com)—don’t click the ad at the top.
Use the contact info in your confirmation I sent you; I include the legit links.

3. At the airport? Go to an official airline counter or gate agent. You can also use

in-app chat while you wait.

4. Verify before you share: A real agent can pull up your booking with your record

locator and confirm exact flight details without demanding payment to “fix”

anything.

Red Flags = Hang Up

“You’re on standby even though you paid for your ticket.”
“Your flight is canceled unless you rebook right now.”
Requests for your full card number to “verify identity” or odd payment methods (gift cards, wire).
They can’t confirm basic details on your reservation after you give your record locator.
The website/URL doesn’t end in the airline’s real domain.

If You Already Called a Wrong Number

Stop the call and do not give more info.
Contact me immediately and I’ll verify your booking status.
If you shared payment details, call your bank/card to monitor or replace the card, and consider enabling transaction alerts.
Change passwords for your airline account and email; turn on 2-factor authentication.
Keep any call logs or screenshots in case we need to report it.

Save This For Later (Seriously)