Trip Reports - BOS-EWR-DTW-CLE-ATL On CO Su. 11/14/99

Just booked the following as a segment run:
Total Cost: $74.26
Booked on CO web site for extra 1,000 miles.
Su. Oct 14:
CO9 BOS-EWR 7AM 816AM MD80
CO491 EWR-DTW 935AM 1130AM 737
CO3144 DTW-CLE105PM 2PM BE1
CO1054 CLE-ATL 220PM 413PM 737
Will post more details as I call to upgrade, fly, etc.

I recently received my online e-ticket receipt and itinerary. The document has a new look and feel. In the past, when you booked on the CO web site, these documents were sent out of some office in Atlanta. I think the documents originated from a part of Expedia (who seems to contract to process CO online bookings). The documents used to be printed on cardboard ticket like sheets, and were stappled together. Recent e-ticket receipts, including this one, were sent in one of those mailers that you tear off the top sheet to reveal the print inside. In other words, no envelope...you know what I mean. Also the mailer had the 9999 Richmond Ave. IAH address, which is a CO office. I wonder if CO has changed the specific way they process these online e-tickets. Perhaps they now issue them, and Expedia just provides the user interface? Also the new receipts do not seem to have the fare basis code on them. They have a more "consumer" oriented look I would say. Also now when you book online, CO sends you an email receipt as before. However, you are able to see your e-ticket receipt on the CO web site. If you visit http://www.continental.com/eticket
and enter your record number, and last name it will display the e-ticket receipt. When you receive the CO email, after booking online, you get a customized URL pointing directly at your specific receipt. In other words, your URL has your conf# and last name filled in. I called CO to ask about the web based e-ticket receipts. They tell me that in order for this to work, you must have requested they provide an internet e-ticket receipt. I have not tested display of an e-ticket receipt prior to requesting one. I asked them if when the e-ticket record is changed in the CO reservation system (e.g. when you upgrade) , if such changes will automatically update in the internet receipt? No, I was told. You would have to request a new receipt after any changes were needed. Too bad, I wish it was kept in syncranization with your actual e-ticket record at CO. Isn't that the point of technology? I will test this out after I upgrade, and report back at FlyerTalk of course.

NW now uses the same type of envelope that opens after pulling on the tear-off strip. NW also uses expedia, snd since the new format looks cheaper, I think that is the reason.

I'm finally back with my very delayed trip report. Well, I'm from the northeast, and we are infamous for delays right?

I did confirm that indeed, when you update or make changes to your e-ticket with CO, the web display of your e-ticket does not change. The web display of etickets is at http://www.continental.com/eticket
You must call and request a new e-ticket over the web, for changes to show up.

Upgrading: It was as routine as ever to upgrade my four segments from BOS to ATL. Very quick, no questions, etc. In fact the agent did it faster than they usually do.

Sun Nov 14:
I set my alarm clock for 5AM, so I could get to the airport for my 7AM departure. Unfortunately, I slept through it, and awoke at around 7:50AM. Called, and flight 9 was indeed almost at EWR. Then I called the elite line, expecting they would tell me to standby on the next flight. But no, not today. They said they would change my ticket to a later flight, and wiave the service charge. I didn't even have to ask. The agent said something like, it's none of my business, but do you need to go through EWR DTW and CLE? I told her I wanted to do this for the miles. They re-issued my e-ticket for BOS-EWR-CLE-ATL. No charge, and all three of these segments were upgraded from my T fare.

Getting to BOS: Took the subway to BOS. As is becoming usual, they were doing construction on the blue line (branch of subway running to airport). I had to take a shuttle bus part of the way. Still made it to BOS in time, and checked in at the gate. Flights were very routine, typical, etc. EWR-CLE was with a B757 configured for business first. All the flights were basically on time. Got my three segments, and I guess I will have to buy a louder alarm clock.