Good morning -
I'm contacting you as I've had a number of different responses from
the elite desk reward trying to book a reward flight to Beef Island
tortola from CLE
About a month ago I noticed that the reward calandar would not load
for any flights to EIS. I know that have in the past booked saverpass
inventory via EIS. I spoke to the elite desk at that time who said
there was a computer issue with reward inventory not transferring
properly from Cape Air. The note is see online when attempting to
search is
"Continental.com could not find any available flights for reward
travel meeting your requirements.
I called back a few days later and received the same claim of
"computer glitch" from another elite agent and was isntructed to wait
a week and call back.
Today I spoke with an elite agent who claimed that Cape Air flights
could only be booked for reward ex-florida and had been so "as long as
I've been working here...at least 10 years." Since I know this to be
incorrect as I have fregquently noted saverpass reward inventory on
the CLE-SJU-EIS routen in the past I am trying to get some assistnace.
The Co.com website, with regards to Cape Air notes:
"Cape AirCape Air's Caribbean operations offer codeshared connecting service
from San Juan, PR (SJU) to the following destinations: Mayaguez, PR
(MAZ); Ponce, PR (PSE); Vieques, PR (VQS); St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
Islands (STX); St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT); and Tortola,
British Virgin Islands (EIS)
In addition, there is connecting service
from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin
Islands (STX). Cape Air flies a fleet of Cessna 402 aircraft in the
domestic U.S. and Caribbean and ATR-42 aircraft in Micronesia.
Continental OnePass members can earn and redeem rewards on all
Continental Connection and codeshared flights. OnePass miles and Elite
Qualification points earned on eligible Cape Air flights count toward
Elite status."

If someone could help me work through how to go about booking this reward it would be much appreciated.
>
Thanks alot!
dergon darkhelm

Dear Dergon Darkhelm:
Thank you for contacting Continental Airlines. Please forgive our delayed
response.

We are committed to excellent customer service, and we make every effort
to accommodate our customers. I regret I am unable to quote availability or
make reservations in response to e-mail requests because of the complexity
>> of some routings, the frequent changes in fares and availability, and the
>> lag time in communicating via e-mail.
For schedules and OnePass information please visit our website under
>> "Onepass Frequent Flyer" and choose "Make Reward Reservation" from the
>> dropdown menu.
>
>>
>
>> You may wish to review our web site for available options at:
>> http://insidecoair/Reservations/trai...okingguide.asp
>
>>
>
>> To review destinations served by Continental Airlines and its partners you
>> may wish to review this link below.
>
>>
>> http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...es/served.aspx
>
>>
>
>> We appreciate your business and hope to see you on a future Continental
>> Airlines flight.

I'm sorry for any misunderstanding in my email.
>
>
>
> I am not asking you to book the reward ticket for me via email.
>
>
>
> I am asking for clarification regarding the policy on reward travel to
>
> EIS via Cape Air. Per all information on co.com (as quoted below and
>
> seen by me during reward searches in the past), Cape Air flights as CO
>
> codeshares should be available for reward travel booking. However,
>
> both the website and the elite desk booking agents show nothing for
>
> these flights.
>
>
>
> Thank you for the links.... but I have already used the website and
>
> they reward bookings are not loaded.
>
>
>
> So... If you could please clarify the relationship with Cape Air, the
>
> availabilty of Cape Air codeshares for reward travel bookings, and
>
> help to guide to an elite desk agent who can help (or direct this to
>
> the website managers for correction) then you would be of some
>
> assistnace.
>
>
>
> Thank you,

dergon

Dear Mr. Darkhelm

Thank you for your reply.
>
> The links I provided should reference available flight routes even utilizing
> our Star Alliance partners. Regrettably, I too was unable to locate the
> destination you desired.
>
> It is possible the destination may have been available at one point. Please
> keep in mind, flight schedules are often evaluated and available routes
> offered may change seasonally. .
>
> Decisions to reduce service are made following careful consideration and
> market analysis. We strive to maximize our resources by strategically
> placing each of our aircraft in a market or route where it will provide the
> most benefit. We continue to review alternatives to make sure we do what is
> best for our customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve.
>
> We truly regret disappointing or inconveniencing our customers. I regret
> that I was unable to offer further assistance with this matter.
>
> Your comments have been included in a report that is distributed to senior
> management for internal review.
>
> Again, we appreciate your e-mail and hope to see you on a future Continental
> Airlines flight.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> CO CSR

Hi CO CSR-

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Now we're getting somewhere - and I appreciate your efforts thus far.
This is where I need you for the formal clairification so I can on to
the business of booking my travel.


1) Contintental does provide service via it's codeshare partnership
with Cape Air to EIS. Therefore it is not a service reduction. The
relationship with Cape air remains unchanged based on all published
materials.
2) "Cape Air's Caribbean operations offer codeshared connecting
service from San Juan, PR (SJU) to the following destinations:
Mayaguez, PR(MAZ); Ponce, PR (PSE); Vieques, PR (VQS); St. Croix, U.S.
VirginIslands (STX); St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT); and
Tortola British Virgin Islands (EIS)."
3) Continetal's agreement with Cape Air specifies "Continental
OnePass members can earn and redeem rewards on all Continental
Connection and codeshared flights. OnePass miles and Elite
Qualification points earned on eligible Cape Air flights count toward
Elite status."

So - we have three things that all add up to bookable reward travel.
I need to figure out if it is a computer glitch, a change in the
loading of inventory, an unpublished change in the relationship with
Cape Air (the 3 leading explanations I have been given by telephone
elite desk agents) or something else.

I truly appreciate your taking the time to forward this up the chain.
If you could cc me on the follow-up email to this it would be
appreciated so that I can contact other directly as well.

Thank you again for your efforts on my behalf.

dergon