I haven't seen this discussed on the board, so thought I would pass it on. Was on Smarter Living's website.

Continental is the latest travel provider to announce that the lowest prices for its services will only be available through its own website, instead of through third-party travel providers like Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. The airline plans to back up the new policy with a price-matching program and an offer of a $100 travel voucher if you find a cheaper Continental ticket through another online source.

A Continental spokesperson says that the new policy is designed to "give people confidence that they won't have to hunt around for the lowest fares." The airline's press release also states that not only will customers be eligible for 1,000 bonus miles for online bookings, they won't have to pay the booking fees that are often associated with third-party sites. Even so, the new policy should make you want to shop around even more, rather than restricting yourself to Continental's website.

How the offer works:
Buy a ticket through continental.com.


If you find a price at least $10 lower for the same flight, on the same day, in the same class of service, elswhere online, Continental will pay the difference and offer a $100 travel voucher for a future flight. This offer is only valid on flights operated and marketed by Continental, which means that codeshare flights do not apply.


To file a claim, call 800-490-2021 by midnight Central Time on the day you book. When you call, be very clear about where you found the lower price, because you'll only be eligible for the offer if a Continental representative can verify the price. You may want to print out the price for your own reference, but you can't send other forms of proof to the airline like faxes, e-mails, or screen captures.


If your claim is accepted, Continental will refund you the difference and send your $100 travel voucher. For more information, go to Continental's website.
While the new policy is designed to let consumers trust that they'll find the lowest fares at continental.com, it doesn't mean you should stop shopping around, since other airlines might beat Continental's lowest price on your route.