Continental Airlines today joined most of the other legacy carriers (and its future Star partners in particular) in the race to add fees and take away perks. Here’s an excerpt from Mark Babineck’s report for the Chronicle:
Continental Airlines, falling in line with most of its rivals, said today it will charge many economy-class domestic customers $15 each way for the first bag they check.
As with several of its competitors, Houston-based Continental will not charge the fee to elite-level frequent fliers or customers traveling on full-fare refundable tickets. Continental also said it won’t charge military personnel and their families traveling on official orders.
[snip]
Also, Continental reduced mileage bonuses for elite frequent fliers in its OnePass program. Effective March 1, so-called “Platinum Elite” customers will earn a 100 percent bonus (down from 125 percent) and “Silver Elite” members will get a 25 percent bonus (down from 50 percent).
The “Gold Elite” bonus of 100 percent remains in effect.
The carrier further said it will stop awarding a minimum of 500 frequent flier miles per trip even if the distance traveled is less. Actual flight miles will start being awarded for tickets purchased Nov. 15 and beyond for travel on or after Jan. 1.
Until now, Continental had somewhat distinguished itself from most of is legacy competitors, providing “meals at mealtime” and avoiding many of the annoying fees that other legacies have enacted. Further, Houston’s hometown airline had largely insulated its OnePass program from truly detrimental changes. No longer. It’s not as bad as it might have been (big fees on reward tickets and elimination of ALL bonus mileage for elites, moves that some carriers have made), but that doesn’t make it good. And it’s likely to be counterproductive, since infrequent travelers will probably now be lugging oversized bags onto the plane and slowing the boarding process considerably.
Boo, Continental. Bad moves.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It’s a Sport.
UPDATE: Continental does seem to have enough cash flow to sponsor awful basketball. So at least they’re giving something back (so to speak) after ripping customers.
