I was thinking that while we have a list here of all the things we would like or suggest, I thought there should be a list of what we really like about Continental that makes us fly them over the competition. Of course, many would say a friendly, dedicated, professional staff (and for many that might be enough), but I think there are other reasons that may not be readily apparent, but are very important.

These are the things that might keep one from flying another airline or another alliance�the things that WE do not want CO to change and are just as important, and maybe more important, than what we would like.

If others think this is useful, it might be helpful to have someone manage this list. Unfortunately, I will not have time this week, but look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.

My first most important reason is:

Big overhead luggage bins and great carry-on rules.

This saves me lots of time (especially on international arrivals) and avoids lost luggage problems, both of which have happened too often on other carriers.

Actually, CO once went to court to protect our rights to carry on baggage at one airport. Some European airlines (and especially some UK ones) have atrocious rules and for that reason alone I will not fly them.

i really like the fact that all the planes look the same inside and out. seat fabrics and design are the same (except the handful of seats w/out "adjustable wings for superior compfort"), cabin layouts the same per AC type.

the planes always seem modern and clean. i feel much more safe and sound on CO fleet than any other airline.

I really like that they dont board in zones and i know many of you think its dumb, but i love elite access.

CO's service is excellent. The planes are always clean. The upgrades come through with reasonable frequency given my riff-raff domestic fares.

I highly value CO's commitment to flying to TLV.

I know I'm often critical of CO's IT, and yes there are always improvements that can be made. But you know, CO's got it right.

I have an upcoming trip on UA. I bought it a while back using a bump voucher. To utilize the voucher, I had call in my res (no online hold), go to the airport after work (no electronic voucher, it's paper), pay for parking , wait in line for half an hour behind a half dozen or so folks doing the same, get a little bit of 'tude from the agent, pay the difference, and get my tickets issued.

How would it work on CO: electronic voucher, applied to res I created and held online, from the comfort of my home.

Then, a few days ago, UA ran a schedule change, and tweaked some flights. No big deal, but had to call and sit on hold to get an agent to confirm the new schedule.

How would it work on CO: click on Continue to approve the new schedule.

Then, after I hung up, I realized that in the aircraft change, an aisle seat was changed to window. Again, I had to call and sit on hold to get an agent to change a seat.

How would it work on CO: Pull up the res online and click View/Change Seats.

New Years Day 2002. Huge snowstorm here in NJ. My wife was scheduled from Lima to EWR on a reward Y ticket I had booked for her. Flight was canceled. Whe I called CO Elite line to find out when she could get back the agent initially told me that since the fight was canceled the next available reward seat was mid January. Without getting hysterical I aked her to check with her supervisor and explain my situation.

Two minutes later she returns and tells me , "as a Platinum member we are going to put your wife in BF on the next outbound"

My wife gets to airport in LIma and through the absoulte bedlam strolls to the BF line and was treated like royalty all the way home - while what she described as a war raged around her.

Bought my business ^ ^ ^

I agree with Channa RE: CO IT. Yes, it has its moments but IMHO their online service are far superior to the other majors out there.

Another reason is the ATL PClub staff which in their own right keep me coming back to this airline. ( DO YOU SEE THAT CO LURKERS????? THE ATL PClub Staff are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dan

CO has many good things going for it. But,

1) about the worst seats for overseas travel (too small and hard)
2) too many RJs. Out of CMH, its mostly RJs to CLE and Houston.
3) 0 for 10 in upgrades this year. I have to book months in advance to get a good seat.
4) too many 737-300s. If I wanted to fly dilapidated 737-300s, I would fly United!

• President's Club - both the lounge decor/setup, free wireless and reciprocal agreement with NW's World Clubs.
• Rewards - Qantas= ^ , availability has always been good for myself at the Platinum level.
• FC Product - one of the best and it is enough to make me 'risk' Y on CO rather than Jet Blue.
• Routes - I live in Houston... need I say more?
• Consistency - face it, when it comes to standardization CO wins by compression to the other legacies IMHO.

I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't asked to talk to a supervisor? I don't care if you're a base member, they should take care of someone on a cancelled flight better without having to go up the chain of command.

"Then, after I hung up, I realized that in the aircraft change, an aisle seat was changed to window. Again, I had to call and sit on hold to get an agent to change a seat.
How would it work on CO: Pull up the res online and click View/Change Seats."

CO is not so good sometimes. In checking to see if upgrades came thru for the Houston meeting last night, I found that our return to PHL had been changed timewise. I dutifully cklicked to acknowledge it, only to find that our seat assignments gone and the message that "an agent will assist you at check in with seats". And yet there were enough seats so I could still get us aisle seats.
If CO is going to make changes, at least email me to let me know, rather than be surprised at the airport and end up in a middle seat. This is NOT customer friendly.

I fly CO primarily because of the elite upgrades. If I lived in Newark or Houston I would fly CO because of the convenience. About 75% of the time CO is not the most convenient flight for me because of the city I live in and where I am going to. For me without the upgrades CO has much lower attraction.

Service is fairly good now but the luggage loss rate in the last quarter of 2004 was unacceptable. I have been with One Pass since about 1981, have been through years of horrible CO service, and at one time down to one flight a day to Houston from my city in the mid 1990s, and the elite upgrades brought me back to CO. I lived with CO from worst to first, and hopefully not back again.

CO does not have a President�s Club in my city, and for me it is often difficult to use it in Newark or Houston unless I have a long connection. I am usually running just to catch the connecting flight.

I have been with CO longer than most of the employees at my home station. The station is small enough that I have seen them come and go over the years, and we recognize each other and I know their names. Despite the inconvenience for me I was flying CO as a matter of habit.

I would never fly a CO 777 in coach on an international flight in coach because it is too cramped and no personal air vents. Too many middle seats on the 777. The 767 is a great plane but reluctant to use it internationally in coach because no personal air vent. I was always boiling in BusinessFirst on the 777 and 767 and could not imagine what it would be like in a fully loaded coach cabin. Also without a personal air vent in coach I could not imagine sitting next to someone for 10 hours who had bad breath or severe body odor. The last time I did that in coach was May 1988, EWR-Paris, in the DC-10 which also had no air vents. A guy from Boca Raton made a fuss and forced the French to put their shoes back on. That helped a bit. Two weeks later CO flew a 747 from Paris-EWR and that plane did have personal air vents. A more tolerable flight.

For me personally, I find CO�s coach seats uncomfortable, but some other carriers have far more uncomfortable seats.

Based on my situation, I fly CO mainly because of the upgrades and habit.

Continental ranks among the best.. reason enough...

Although I fly Continental mainly because:

--I live in North New Jersey - EWR just makes sense...
--Upgrades as usually decent if I play the "book thr roight flight game"
--FC product is among the best domeestically (US Air scares me)
--Amtrak Codeshares make my life so much easier sometimes.
--Thier crews have have real personalities, and make the flights really enjoyable if you get a chance to interact with them.
--BusinessFirst is a totally decently competitve product.
--Fares are resonable...
--Most International Destinations...

--Who ELSE would you SERIOUSLY consider flying?--

-Vincent

My experiences are limited to long haul routes.

Cleanliness of the planes - there is nothing better than going to sit down and find a fresh blanket wrapped in plastic waiting for you. Or going to sit down in the seat and not have it look like someone crunched a packet of saltines over it. I have flown on Delta and American to make me appreciate this.

IFE - I like the fact that Continental has IFE in the back of the seats on the 767 and 777 is very nice. Delta and Amercian made me appreciate this. The 3 inch screens on the 757 leave something to be desired .

EWR - the airport is the best way to get out of New York in my opinion. You can take a 15 min train ride and be in Penn Station. Try that from JFK or LGA. Driving to JFK is a nightmare. Terminal C is clean and modern, there are a variety of shops/restaraunts. If you get stuck there you will not be completely bored. I flew American from JFK to LHR on a 777. The waiting area had seats for 40 people. All of the gates were going to international locations had the same seating arrangement. It was a mess, there were no real restraunts behind the security area. Just a snack counter on wheels selling water for $5 dollars a bottle.

Presidents Club - Alcohol that is good and free. I grew to appreciate this after being stuck in IAH all day due to mechanical problems. The food could be a bit more substantial in the afternoon but I prefer a continental breakfast. No pun intended. A cup of coffee, some OJ, and a bagel with cream cheese is all I need to get the day started off in the right direction.

Flight Attendants - I have never had a bad experience with them and have always enjoyed the service. Flying with Delta and American makes you realize the difference.

Management - There appears to be a positive relationship between the employees and management. I think United has to be managed the worst.
Glenn Tilton made over a million and got a cushy bonus while asking the empolyees for more money. What did he get a bonus for? Congrats Glenn, "The airline lost 1 billion instead of 2, here's your bonus, keep up the good work". Granted Larry is not as charismatic as Gordo but I like the direction they are going in. I like the fact that they told the employees management will not benefit from your loss.

Disclaimer:
My experiences are limited to long haul/international routes.

Kampai,
Klaxon