Continental Airlines announces fee for first checked bag on domestic flights

HOUSTON, TX (September 5, 2008) – Continental Airlines today announced a
$15 service fee for the first checked bag for certain customers who purchase economy-class tickets.

HOUSTON, TX (September 5, 2008) – Continental Airlines 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 US and between the US and Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Canada for travel commencing on or after October 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 November 15, 2008. Bonus miles for Gold Elite members will remain unchanged at 100 percent.

In addition, for travel on or after January 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 November 15, 2008 for travel on or after January 1, 2009.

Also effective for reward travel booked on or after January 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.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...