News Release
Continental Airlines Launches International E-Ticket and Announces Interline E-Ticket Development
HOUSTON, May 14, 1998 -- Continental Airlines announced today it is expanding electronic ticketing (E-Ticket) internationally to 27 countries by year's end, starting with flights to Latin America. Continental is the first airline to launch E-Ticket to Latin America.
Panama City, Panama is Continental's first international city available on E-Ticket. Mexico City will be available on E-Ticket later this month.
Over the next several months, Continental will be expanding E-Ticket throughout Mexico, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition, Continental and America West announced today that they are working together to develop interline capability that will allow travelers to purchase and transfer E-Tickets between the two carriers in early 1999.
Interlining is an airline term pertaining to a cooperative agreement among carriers. When passengers are accommodated on another airline due to unexpected schedule changes, or when a passenger's itinerary includes flying on multiple carriers, airlines will honor the transportation based on an interline agreement.
"Being able to transfer and interline between carriers with an E-Ticket solves the largest major issue for the business traveler who needs the confidence and flexibility that their changing travel plans will easily be met," said Bonnie Reitz, senior vice president of sales and distribution.
"As cooperative agreements grow between airlines, so must the quality of our products and services," said Mike Smith, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales for America West Airlines. "Teaming up with Continental to further develop interline E-Ticketing capabilities is a great opportunity to better serve our mutual customers."
Continental Airlines introduced E-Ticket service in April 1995 along with its E-Ticket Machine (ETM), which allows customers to check in, view live seat map displays, and for Elite OnePass members, upgrade to First-Class without waiting in line.
Nearly 40 percent of Continental's domestic customers use E-Ticket.