Summer Travel Tips

Continental welcomes you aboard during your fall travels. We have some time-saving tips to help make your travel go a little smoother. Be sure to check continental.com prior to your flight for up-to-date travel information.

Before Arriving at the Airport

Save time at the airport with continental.com check-in, available for domestic and most international flights. You can print or fax your boarding pass from your home or office within 24 hours of your flight, which allows you to bypass the check-in lines at the airport, pass through security and go directly to your gate. You can also use your wireless-enabled device, such as a cell phone or other hand-held device to check in for your Continental flight. Go to pda.continental.com using your device's Internet browser. If you have bags to check, you may do so at an airport kiosk or with a Continental ticket counter representative.*

With Manage Reservations at continental.com, you may also check your itinerary to verify and change your seat assignment.

Also, please remember to have the appropriate identification and documents readily available at check-in.

Secure Flight now requires that the name on your ticket and attached to your OnePass account matches your government-issued identification.

Check Today's Operations

You can check the status of Continental's daily flight operations before departing for the airport to see how weather might impact your travel. You may also get specific information on your flight by checking Flight and Gate Status. Use Flight Status Notification to have the status of your flights delivered to a pager, mobile phone or e-mail inbox. OnePass members may sign up for TripAlert to automatically receive the status of their flights.

At the Airport

With the increase of travelers during high travel periods, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends that you allow plenty of time to pass through security. Please review the Airport Processing Times page prior to travel.

Liquids, gels and aerosols are now permitted on board in your carry-on bag. Remember that each item must be 3.4 ounces or less (trial size) and must fit comfortably in one, quart-size (7.5"x 8"), clear, plastic, zip-top bag. The bag with its contents must be presented separately for inspection at the checkpoint. Beverages and toiletries purchased inside the airport beyond the security checkpoint may also be brought on the aircraft.

Gifts and packages are subject to the same inspection as your carry-on baggage. To reduce delays, the TSA recommends you travel with your packages unwrapped. This will allow for easy inspection, if necessary. For additional tips to help save time at the airport and for more information about new security procedures, go to the TSA Web site.

Those departing from the United Kingdom and other non-U.S. locations are permitted one carry-on bag. During high travel periods, select destinations restrict excess baggage. See additional information on carry-on bags and excess baggage.

Onboard Amenities

Continental Airlines provides a variety of in-flight choices that allow you to travel comfortably. Our onboard amenities differ depending on where you're flying, aircraft type and if you're traveling in BusinessFirst, First Class or Economy Class. We still offer our Customers in Economy Class free meals at mealtimes, complimentary soft drinks and various entertainment options including live DIRECTV® on select aircraft.

Customers traveling in Economy Class on Continental operated flights can now use your credit or debit cards for in-flight purchases including alcoholic beverages, DIRECTV® or headsets. Later this fall, we'll accept credit and debit cards on all Continental Express, Continental Connection and Continental Micronesia flights.

Additional Travel Links

*Domestic flights require bags to be checked at least 30 minutes prior to departure. When traveling from Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia or Tampa, baggage must be checked at least 45 minutes prior to departure. When traveling internationally, baggage must be checked at least 60 minutes prior to departure.