We’ve been all there — you’ve run out of airtime, and you’ve got an urgent call to make. So low is your balance that you can’t even resort to flashing? So what do you do? Do you kopa (advance airtime), redeem some of your Zawadi points for airtime, or borrow a stranger’s a phone?
None of the above. You resort to sending a please call me request, especially if you know that your caller is more than inclined to respond favourably to such a request. Parents and their full-time jobs perhaps know a thing or two about this.
Flashback requests as they’re called sometimes have always been thought to be available only on Safaricom. In actual fact, all the major networks including Telkom have similar services. Airtel’s call me back service is however a bit different from the one we’re accustomed to with on Safaricom.
First, instead of a short code in Airtel you’ve to go through a USSD menu to make the request. Secondly, Airtel gives you a total of 10 call me back requests that you can use in a day instead of the usual 5.
Sending a Flashback Request
- Dial *100# on your Airtel Line and select More Services. You may have to check the second menu to find this option.
- In the Services menu select the Please Call Me option.
- Next, enter the number of the person you want to send the request to, and tap on the SEND button.
- You’ll get a message that your request is being processed, followed by a text message from Airtel that a call me back request has been sent to the specified number.
- Your recipient will then receive a please call me SMS from you.
