Call back Continental and ask them if they have the 25,000 mile coach award seats available to your destination on either Northwest or America West. Most agents don't bother to look at anything besides CO metal.
You also need to keep calling since training is inconsistent or they just tell you nothing's available to get you off the phone.

As far as using miles, first class free seats will be virtually impossible to book, coach freebies sometimes available but mostly on partner carriers, and upgrades may be possible overseas if you are willing to pay really high fares.