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Fees for Checked Baggage
Continental has made recent changes to the policy regarding fees associated with your first checked bag. Effective Oct. 7, 2008 there will be a $15 fee required on tickets purchased on or after Sept. 6, 2008 for travel within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Continental implemented a $25 fee for customers checking a second bag when traveling on Economy fare tickets purchased on or after April 5, 2008 for travel within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
The $25 fee also applies when traveling on Economy fare tickets purchased on or after May 8, 2008 between Mexico, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central and South America* (excluding Brazil) and the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Learn more about the new policy.
*Pending government approval.
Checked Baggage Allowance Guidelines
If your baggage does not meet the requirements listed below, please review the Excess Baggage policy.
| Destinations | Baggage Acceptance | Baggage Requirements |
|---|
Economy Class - travel exclusively within 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
For customers who purchased tickets on or after Sept. 6, 2008 for travel on or after Oct. 7, 2008 | First Checked bag - $15
Second Checked bag - $25
Please see new checked bag policy | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
Economy Class - travel exclusively within 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
For customers who purchased tickets on or after Sept. 6, 2008 for travel before after Oct. 7, 2008 | First Checked bag - no charge
Second Checked bag - $25
Please see new checked bag policy | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
Economy Class - travel exclusively within 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
For customers who purchased tickets on or after April 5, 2008 and before Sept. 6, 2008 | First Checked bag - no charge
Second Checked bag - $25
Please see new checked bag policy | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
Economy Class - 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada
For customers who purchased tickets prior to April 5, 2008 | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
Economy Class - travel exclusively between 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and International - Latin America, including South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico (except Brazil and the Dominican Republic)
For tickets purchased on or after May 8, 2008 | First Checked bag - no charge
Second Checked bag - $25
Please see new checked bag policy | Each bag at a Maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
Economy Class - International - Latin America, including South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico (except Brazil)
For tickets purchased prior to May 8, 2008 | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| Economy Class - International - Tokyo, connecting through Houston and Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, Brazil | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| Economy Class - International - Tokyo, connecting through Newark and Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, Brazil | 3 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| Economy Class - Brazil | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| Economy Class - International - Europe, Micronesia, Middle East and Asia | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| OnePass Elite Members Economy Class | 2 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) |
| First Class, BusinessFirst and International Business Class | 3 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 70lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
Ticket must reflect confirmed seat for segment in which customer is checking in |
| Military Customers on Military Orders | 3 Checked Bags - no charge | Each bag at a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 115 linear inches (292 cm) per bag (total length + width + height) |
Tips for checking your baggage in for a flight
Continental recommends that you carry valuable items such as electronic equipment, cameras, film, cash, jewelry, medication, prescriptions and keys with you on board the aircraft. Boxes are not accepted on Expressjet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express ExpressJet destinations to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. Place your name and address on the outside of your baggage. Nametags are available at all airport baggage check-in locations. We also recommend that you place your name and address on the inside of the bag. Be sure to inform us of your final destination if you are connecting so that your baggage will be checked to your final destination. For domestic and international flights (excluding certain flights departing for Guam) baggage will not be accepted for check-in more than 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure. Claim your baggage immediately upon arrival at your destination. Be aware of what items are restricted to be in checked baggage. If you are not sure, review the list of items permitted and prohibited shown on the Transportation Security Administration Web site. -
Allow enough time for your checked baggage to be accepted. See the guidelines below:
| Flights within the 50 U.S. except the following destinations: Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA and Tampa, FL. | Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure |
| Flights at the following U.S. destinations: Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA and Tampa, FL. | Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure |
| International Flights to and from the U.S. | Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure |
How Your Baggage is Checked
When you check your baggage, the airport agent or skycap will put a bag tag on each bag that indicates your name, the flight number(s), and all cities in your ticketed itinerary.
Tip: If you are deviating from your ticketed itinerary, please advise the airport agent or skycap before checking your luggage.
You will be given a numbered claim check for each bag that is checked. These serve as proof of checked baggage. It is important that you keep the claim check(s) until your trip is completed and you have received all of your checked baggage.
Tip: Please check to ensure that the number of claim checks you were given corresponds to the number of bags you checked.
How Your Baggage Travels
From the ticket counter or skycap podium, your baggage is placed on a series of conveyor belts. The conveyor belts transport baggage to a location where bags are loaded into carts according to flight number and destination. In our large airports, automated scanners read the code on the bag tag and direct the bag to the correct loading area. Your bag will go through a series of conveyor belts, chutes, and other mechanisms before reaching the point where it is loaded into a cart and taken out to the aircraft.
Tip: Please remove any straps, hangers, and protruding objects from your bag before checking it. These may get caught in the baggage system and cause damage to your bag. Bags that are bulging or are not sufficiently constructed to support the weight inside may split during the trip through the bag belt system.
All checked baggage is screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Refrain from locking your checked baggage or use a TSA Accepted & Recognized Lock. TSA is mandated by Federal law to screen 100% of checked baggage. If your baggage alarms and TSA cannot gain access to your checked bag, unrecognized locks may be broken. TSA will not reimburse passengers for unrecognized locks broken as a result of the security screening process. For more information about the TSA, visit www.tsa.gov.
The baggage is loaded in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, usually using another conveyor belt. Due to the amount of space in the compartment, bags may have to be placed flat and stacked on top of each other. Although the baggage compartments are secured with nets or straps, bags can shift during flight due to the plane's angle during take-off.
Tip: As this is the standard or normal way all bags are transported, breakage or damage to fragile items may be unavoidable. Do not pack fragile items inside your checked baggage.
Note: Baggage allowances for codeshare partners partners or ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express may be different. If your itinerary includes any of these carriers, please contact a Continental representative for additional information.
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