{"id":3246,"date":"2009-12-30T07:42:01","date_gmt":"2009-12-30T13:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=3246"},"modified":"2016-12-16T22:48:04","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T04:48:04","slug":"continental-revises-program-for-flight-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/12\/continental-revises-program-for-flight-upgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"Continental revises program for flight upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"flights\"By Joe Brancatelli<\/em><\/p>\n

MILES & POINTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Continental\/United upgrade game:<\/strong> The integration of Continental Airlines<\/strong><\/a> into the Star Alliance has gone fairly smoothly considering it is the first-ever on-the-fly (so to speak) switch in the history of alliances. And now one of the last pieces of the puzzle — the order in which flight upgrades will clear — seems to be set.<\/p>\n

For travel on Continental Airlines flights<\/strong><\/a>, first priority goes to Continental OnePass Platinums, followed by United Mileage Plus super elites (Global Services and 1K), followed by Continental Gold, United Premier Executive, Continental Silver and United Premier.<\/p>\n

On United flights, the order is reversed. United’s top elites get first crack at upgrades, followed by Continental Platinum, United Premier Executive, Continental Gold, United Premier and Continental Silver.<\/p>\n

The final piece of the puzzle has also been set, too. Continental Airlines is adding a super-duper-elite called Presidential Platinum Elite<\/strong>. That will give Continental OnePass a level to equal United 1K status. To become a Presidential Platinum Elite, you’ll have to be invited. And to be invited, you need to be a Platinum Elite flier (75,000 qualifying miles) and spend $30,000 on Continental. The new level becomes effective next year.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n