I don't know if this has been brought up yet or not. I noticed on continentals website that they now have a footnote stating the first free bag with the Continental Debit card will no longer be available after April 1.
Begin a non-silver myself (I only do around 20k of year of flying), I find losing this benefit to be a huge lose. Maybe not much of a lose for the average Elite member that already has the benefit.
Chase Continental Airlines Debit Card
Earn: 25,000 bonus miles* when you open a new Chase CheckingSM account and make five qualifying purchases with your new Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card. You’ll enjoy the many conveniences of a Chase CheckingSM account and earn one mile per $1 spent on qualifying purchases, or choose a lower fee option and earn one mile per $2 spent on qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Debit Card.
*Annual fee and restrictions apply. Qualifying purchases are purchases made without using your PIN. Cash and ATM transactions do not qualify.
Continental Airlines debit cardmembers are now eligible to check their first bag without paying a fee (savings of up to $50 round trip per passenger checking bags).**
**The fee waiver for checked bags in conjunction with the Continental Airlines Debit MasterCard will not be valid for travel on or after April 1.