EliteAccess customers are exempt; OnePass program changes also announced HOUSTON, Sept. 5
HOUSTON, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines
(NYSE: CAL) today announced a $15 service fee for the first checked bag for
certain customers who purchase economy-class tickets.
The service fee will not apply to EliteAccess customers, including those
seated in First or BusinessFirst, OnePass Elite and SkyTeam Elite members,
customers traveling on full-fare economy (Y) class tickets, or military
personnel and their families traveling on official orders.
The policy will apply immediately for tickets purchased for destinations
within the U.S., and between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands
and Canada for travel commencing on or after Oct. 7, 2008.
Checked bags must meet weight and size restrictions or will be subject to
additional fees. Continental's policy for carry-on baggage remains unchanged.
For more details of Continental's baggage policies, go to continental.com.
OnePass Program Changes
Continental also announced changes to its OnePass Elite mileage bonus
program where members earn bonus miles based on Elite status in addition to
actual flight miles on each flight. Effective for travel on or after March 1,
2009, Platinum Elite members will earn a 100 percent mileage bonus (instead of
125 percent) and Silver Elite members will earn 25 percent (instead of 50
percent) for tickets purchased on or after Nov. 15, 2008. Bonus miles for Gold
Elite members will remain unchanged at 100 percent.
In addition, for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2009, Continental will
discontinue awarding its OnePass members a minimum of 500 base miles and Elite
qualifying miles on flights where the actual mileage between origin and
destination is less than 500 miles. Instead, customers will earn the actual
flight miles for tickets purchased on or after Nov. 15, 2008, for travel on or
after Jan. 1, 2009.
Also effective for reward travel booked on or after Jan. 1, 2009, travel
reward mileage requirements will increase for travel between North America and
Tel Aviv (Series 10B) and Hawaii and Tel Aviv (Series 10C). SaverPass rewards
will increase by 20,000 miles for economy and First/BusinessFirst tickets, and
EasyPass rewards will increase by 50,000 miles for First/BusinessFirst
tickets.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental,
together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than
2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 131
domestic and 131 international destinations. More than 550 additional points
are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 44,000 employees,
Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and
together with Continental Express, carries approximately 69 million passengers
per year. For more company information, go to continental.com.
SOURCE Continental Airlines
