System-wide Upgrade Certificates
Platinum Elite members who earn at least 100,000 Elite Qualification Miles (EQMs) or 120 Elite Qualification Points (EQPs) will earn four, one-way electronic System-wide Upgrade certificates. Elite earnings will start Jan. 1, 2010 and be based on a calendar year.
Once earned, your certificates will be available for redemption at continental.com starting mid-year 2010, and:
- Can be redeemed in conjunction with any published fare on Continental, Continental Micronesia or Copa Airlines flights
- Are not subject to additional fees
- Can be transferred to anyone you choose
See System-wide Upgrades Frequently Asked Questions >
Announcing New Presidential Platinum Elite Status for 2010
Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Elite members will be eligible to earn the new invitation-only Presidential Platinum Elite status designed to reward Platinum Elite members who represent Continental’s top customers.
Presidential Platinum Elite benefits include:
- Top priority for Elite Upgrades and flight standby
- An exclusive VIP phone line
- For members residing in the mainland U.S. and Alaska:
- An annual fee waiver on the Continental Airlines Presidential PlusSM World MasterCard® for every qualifying year as a Presidential Platinum Elite member — including a Presidents Club membership and additional benefits. The Presidential Plus card is available to members residing in the mainland U.S. and Alaska and access to its benefits are subject to credit approval. Details about the Presidential Plus benefit will be made available at a future date.
- For members residing in Hawaii, Guam and points outside of the U.S.:
- 25,000 OnePass bonus miles
How do I become a Presidential Platinum Elite member?
Platinum Elite members will be invited to become Presidential Platinum Elite members based on their annual spending on travel on Continental, Continental Micronesia, Continental Express and Continental Connection. Earnings will be based on a calendar year, starting Jan. 1, 2010. The initial spending qualification will be $30,000*, and Platinum Elite members will be able to track their eligible spending at continental.com starting mid-year 2010.
Once invited, Presidential Platinum Elite members will have access to their exclusive benefits starting mid-year 2010.
See Presidential Platinum Elite Frequently Asked Questions >
*$30,000 is the inaugural spend threshold for 2010. In subsequent years, this threshold may change in order to preserve the exclusivity of this program.
Upcoming OnePass Changes announced Oct. 25, 2009
Our entry into the Star Alliance™ network, began on Oct. 27, 2009. Together with the 25 member airlines, we'll connect you to the most flights, the most destinations and the most opportunities worldwide. We'll provide details as they become available — keep up with the latest Alliance Updates.
We're updating many of our OnePass policies to coincide with our planned entry into Star Alliance. Take a look at what's changing and when the new policies take effect.
Effective Oct. 1, 2009:
- There will be no same-day change fees for Platinum Elite members for tickets purchased on or after Oct. 1, 2009.
- As a part of our transition to Star Alliance, complimentary Elite upgrades will no longer be available on Northwest Airlines flights.
Effective Oct. 27, 2009:
- With our planned entry into Star Alliance, mileage requirements for reward travel will be changing, effective for travel booked on or after Oct. 27, 2009. View the new Travel and Upgrade Reward Charts. (PDF: 116KB)
- A Saturday-night stay is no longer required for OnePass reward travel.
- 100% Elite Qualification Miles and Elite Qualification Points can be earned on discounted fares regardless of where the ticket is purchased or issued.
- The BusinessFirst® $100 Upgrade Co-pay will no longer be required of members using miles to upgrade from B fare class.
- Elite bonuses will be based on the minimum mileage earned instead of the actual flight miles flown.
- Upon our planned entry into Star Alliance, OnePass members will no longer earn Elite Qualification Miles, Elite Qualification Points or Elite mileage bonuses for travel operated by Amtrak, Emirates, EVA Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, Kingfisher and US Helicopter.
Effective Dec. 15, 2009:
- New reward travel fees will apply for redeposits, reservation changes and flight bookings within 21 days of departure for rewards redeemed on or after Dec. 15, 2009. Platinum Elite members will pay no fee, the Gold Elite member fee will be $25, the Silver Elite fee will be $50 and all other members will pay a fee of $75. These fees will apply per customer instead of per reservation. OnePass travel reward changes outside of 21 days of travel will remain free if there is no change to the origin and destination.
Effective Jan. 1, 2010:
- All members worldwide will earn 125% base miles on F, C, J and D fare classes.
- All members worldwide will earn 1.5 Elite Qualification Points when they purchase and fly in fare classes F, C, J, D, Z, Y and B on flights operated by Continental.
- All members worldwide will earn 150% Elite Qualification Miles for fares purchased in F, C, J, Z, Y and B.