How to contact EiC when his emails seems like auto computer generated reply One of my article is under review in reputable IEEE journal. The average time of first decision for this journal is 3 months. However, my article is under review for 6.5 months and upon my inquiry I always get same email from EiC (editor-in-chief), which looks like an auto generated email, stating we appreciate your patience and we are trying to complete the process ASAP. According to journal policy, I cannot know who is the handling Associate Editor and all inquiries should go to EiC. In the given situation how can I invoke editorial board to expedite the process? Is it fine to make a call to EiC on his personal contact number?
I suggest contacting the publisher and asking them for a status update. The publisher is likely to have more time, and should be able to provide almost as good an update. IEEE's website lists some people to contact. You might be able to find an even better contact person from the journal's website.

I'd write in the email:


Is my paper under review?
If it's under review, are there any problems (e.g. the only invited reviewers haven't responded to the invitation for 3 months, and no new ones have been invited)?
If there are problems, can you ask the EiC to look at the submission?


In a first email I wouldn't mention that I've already contacted the EiC. If they ask about that, then only I'd say I've contacted the EiC, but received what looks like an automated response.