Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay (MVD) and rarely GNV
Programs: AV LifeMiles, CM ConnectMiles, BA Exec Club. Former:ex-ASGold, ex-UA1K, ex-COPlat, ex-NWGold.
Posts: 2,673
Continental didn't treat occasional, non-status passengers like crap (once we got into the 2000s - not talking about the 1980s and 1990s when they most certainly did.) Legacy United did. It's as simple as that.
Note that you don't hear regular people bewailing how much better United was than Continental. Au contraire.
At 50K/yr/Premier Executive vs OnePass Gold Elite and up, United gave better treatment. Below that, United was horrible compared to Continental (or Delta, PMNW or PMDL, AA, or even US). Worse call centers, longer lines both telephonic and airport, bigger distinction between haves and have-nots.