Forgive me if this topic has been beaten to death, but I am a newcomer to CO and its award program.

Booking a One Pass award seat is apparently very difficult, am I correct? It seems that using your accumulated mileage is useful for upgrades, but not free seats?

I'm disappointed -- I phoned tonight and was told for some dates in August a domestic coach seat would cost me 50,000 miles. After asking about the 25,000 mile award, the agent suggested that perhaps it is too early and that is why a One Pass award seat is at the 50,000 level, not 25,000.

The agent suggested I continue to phone back and check for a 25,000 seat. Tell me -- am I correct in thinking that's a total waste of my time and I should just plan on using mileage for upgrades?

Call back Continental and ask them if they have the 25,000 mile coach award seats available to your destination on either Northwest or America West. Most agents don't bother to look at anything besides CO metal.
You also need to keep calling since training is inconsistent or they just tell you nothing's available to get you off the phone.

As far as using miles, first class free seats will be virtually impossible to book, coach freebies sometimes available but mostly on partner carriers, and upgrades may be possible overseas if you are willing to pay really high fares.