New search functionoality on Co.com
 

Considering all of the (normally well-deserved) criticism of CAL's programming staff, I thought I'd give them credit for adding the ability to search nearby airports by checking a box. OK, so Orbitz mastered this some time ago, but they don't deliver full EQM. Also, search results now report the lowest refundable fare at the top of the page.

Cool! How near are the nearby airports that it searches? It substituted LGA for EWR and SJC for SFO in my test search. I'd like to see PHL substituted for EWR.

Without any guidance from CAL it might be difficult to tell since it will only substitute airports if it yields a lower fare.

For the optimized search options - search on Orbitz, book on Continental.com.

When they had previously replaced the price/schedule/combined options with just price & price & schedule I had complained that the search results were not as comprehensive. That seems to of been corrected, and once again with the right parameters I can get it to spit out the itinerary I am looking for. Now with the new nearby city search, you can save a trip to orbitz first. An "enhancement" I can live with!. :)

I also (might) like the ability to sort rewards by "Standard First/BF". However, all it has ever done for me is rearrange the list of unavailable rewards!