Just got this from CO:

As a frequent and valued CONTINENTAL.COM customer, we are pleased to extend the
opportunity for you to preview and Beta Test the newest version of our web
reservations system, eService Online.

The new eService Online has all the great features of today's product, with more
details on Continental service, including OnePass mileage opportunities. The
OnePass mileage for each flight is displayed in the search results, and we also
highlight our OnePass partners in car rental and hotel searches. Other new
features include improved seat selection processing, eTicketing for itineraries
involving Northwest and America West code share flights, and improvements in
navigation. Finally, since the new system is maintained within Continental,
customer service is enhanced.

ABOUT THE BETA TEST
The Beta Test is scheduled to begin later this month. During the Beta Test, you
would be expected to purchase all your Continental Airlines travel through the
beta site, and complete several brief online surveys. You will be provided with
a toll-free phone number for dedicated support throughout the testing period.

ONEPASS BONUS MILES
Beta Test participants will be awarded valuable OnePass bonus miles. You have
the opportunity to earn:

� 500 Bonus Miles for Beta Test registration and completion of an introductory
survey
� 1,000 Bonus Miles for each purchase through the Beta Test link (in addition
to the current 1,000 Bonus Miles for tickets purchased online - a total of 2,000
awarded after itinerary is flown)
� 500 Bonus Miles for the completion of a follow-up survey at the conclusion of
select purchases

REGISTRATION
If you choose to participate, please complete the registration survey and
include your OnePass number and PIN at.......
.......

THIS IS A ONE-TIME EMAIL.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS A POTENTIAL BETA TEST MEMBER.
PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS LINK, AS OTHERS MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE.


[This message has been edited by Theicom (edited 02-06-2001).]

A lot of that stuff is already there - like the OP partner info for hotels and cars. The best part is that the site is now in-house, with in-house CS!

I got the same thing today and filled out the survey. Tute84 - is it really true that CO has taken it in-house?!?! Will I be able to call the OnePass Elite line to change a reservation and not get the runaround about the fact that I made the reservation on the Internet??? I travel pretty much every week, primarily on CO, and that has got to be THE most frustrating thing about customer service with them.

Regards,

FF

This all sounds like great news, once it's implemented. The two things I most look forward to are: online reservations having parity with those booked directly through CO reservations (if this is actually to be the case), and online access to award travel.

Nobody has mentioned this so far, so I want to give CO a "thumbs up" on conducting a beta test with actual travelers before they cut over to their new system. Could it be that they learned from the EUA implementation debacle?

The extra 1000 miles bonus for using the system is nice, BUT, one must still do the math. Most ,if not all, elites have their accounts flagged for a 50% mileage bonus if they call Continetnal reservations and use a e-ticket. On a trip EWR-HKG, this is an extra 8,000+ miles versus the 2,000 you would get using the new system.

Vulcan, could you explain further about this as I have not been able to get it to work for me. I want to buy the EWR-HKG ticket next week and have to do it over the internet to get the promotional fare. How would I then get this bonus? Or does it only work when you call CO to make your reservation. I did ask about this once and they said I "had this" but I think they were confusing it with the Mileage Plus program. Thanks!

Can somebody please post the URL to the Beta site?

I dont do beta testing......period. One screw-up and then the real fun begins.

MisterNice

I would actually like for the beta site to "screw-up" while I'm testing, I'm sure I'd be compensated, and they can fix it so it won't happen to others.

CozumelJen:
For years CO has had an "unpublicized" program that provided a 50% mileage bonus to all members whose account was flagged if they made a reservation by calling CO on the phone AND accepting an e-ticket. Thus, if you do as I did, by calling CO you get the bonus. I paid $639 RT by calling on the phone. I think it is the same or a few dollars less if you book on the net, but not enough to make up for the loss of 7,000+ miles (8,100 -1,000 if you book on the net).

I am still trying to figure out why CO is encouraging peole to CALL on the phone and tie up one of their agents. One would think it should be the other way around. I have just given up trying to figure it out and i just take the miles.
UPDATE: I just priced out the same days, March 14-18 on the CO website and got a price of $610. So I guees my cost for 7,100+ miles was ~$29. It seems like a good deal.
Email me if you have any questions.

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 02-07-2001).]

quote from Theicom:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"....like for the beta site to "screw-up" while I'm testing, I'm sure I'd be compensated...."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you believe this, then perhaps you would be interested in a slightly used bridge I happen to have for sale. Cash only. Of all the people I know who have tested "beta" products from the likes of Microsoft, Oracle, dBase etc I know of no one received any viable compensation for computer crashing, lock-ups, down-time etc. Oh yes, and that (once) included me.

Secondly the current CO site does not contain ALL available fares, and no guarantee this new beta site will either, and one is obligated to make all ticket purchases using the beta site. IMHO not a good deal as you may not get the lowest price.

And lastly Vulcan again continues to give excellent advice regarding the nice 50% mileage bonus.

MisterNice

Vulcan:

Does your account have to be flagged for this secret 50% promotion (call-in for e-ticket)?

I just purchased three e-tickets by phone, but went to a Continental office to pay for the tickets and pick up the itineraries.

Hmm...

AKelley728 ,
Yes, your account must be flagged to get the 50% bonus. Call Onepass at 713-952-1630 to find out if your account has the flag for the 50% e-ticket bonus. Also you should get the bonus as long as you buy an e-ticket from CO reservations, CTO, or ATO...so long as it is a CO e-ticket. Also, can someone please post the link to the test e-service site?

arturo git emale bout thes an et sed thet a lenk wood be sint whin a bata site es reddy.

Is the agreement that one may not use the telephone reservations? It is absurd. Overly restrictive. I read it to intend to mean all ON LINE purchases . Hence, you could not use the e-service.

Yeah, I know what the vebriage says but I think it a case of sloppy writing .