Originally Posted by gary_nj
I am thinking that I might try to make a reservation and
use one of the non-credit-card payment options and see
if I can hold the reservation on the new flight that way.
Don't bother: they use your old confirmation number to build the new itinerary. The only thing a hold does is block an extra seat on your flights, potentially raising the fare.
As long as you paid through continental.com in the first place, your 100% EQMs will post, even if you make changes by phone.
Sorry: that happened last year, but is apparently no longer the case. An itinerary I booked online but changed by phone got half EQMs and no points on a segment in X (discount economy).