tcook052

HOUSTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines
(NYSE: CAL) today announced it has implemented new payment options for tickets
purchased through the carrier's acclaimed Web site, continental.com.
Customers purchasing tickets on continental.com are now able to pay for
tickets using a personal checking account, a pay later option, or cash.
"Continental.com is the first travel Web site to offer the payment options
of cash, check or deferred payment in addition to credit and debit cards,
making the purchase of tickets online easier than ever before," said a
Continental Airlines spokesperson.
Customers purchasing tickets at continental.com using the cash, check or
pay later options before Dec. 31, 2004 will receive an electronic certificate
valid for a five percent discount on a future Continental Airlines ticket.
Customers in the United States paying with a personal check over the
Internet can use First Data Corporation's TeleCheck Internet Check
Acceptance(R) (ICA(R)) service. By selecting "Pay By Online Check," the
customer provides information to authorize a debit from their checking
account. The ICA(R) service is fast, convenient and utilizes the same system
that is used for automatic payroll deposits. Once a transaction is approved,
a reservation confirmation e-mail is sent to the customer.
Customers in the U.S. using the Bill Me Later(R) service can make
purchases without the use of a credit card and have the option to buy tickets
immediately, but pay later. After selecting "Bill Me Later" when making a
continental.com purchase, a reservation confirmation is sent via e-mail upon
approval of a short application. A Bill Me Later(R) invoice is then sent to
the customer in the mail.
Customers booking their flights at continental.com or with a Continental
agent may take their reservation confirmation to any Western Union(R) Agent
location and submit cash payment for tickets within 24 hours. This service is
available at more than 45,000 Western Union(R) locations throughout the U.S.
and Canada, 2,280 locations in the United Kingdom, and many other locations
throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean.
Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline with more than
3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental
serves 151 domestic and 120 international destinations -- more than any other
airline in the world -- and nearly 400 additional points are served via
SkyTeam alliance airlines. With 41,000 employees, the airline has hubs
serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately
51 million passengers per year. In 2004, Continental has earned awards and
critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. FORTUNE
ranks Continental one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America, an
honor it has earned for six consecutive years, and also ranks Continental as
the top airline in its Most Admired Global Companies in 2004. The carrier won
major awards at the 2004 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Airline of
the Year," "Best Airline Based in North America" and "Best Executive/Business
Class." For more company information, visit continental.com.

detouring

Any benefits to these alternatives?

Just Passing Thru

Yes. CO gets your money quicker, and with less effort on their part.


Oh. Wait.


You meant benefits to the customer. Never mind.

detouring

HAHAHA! Just as I suspected.

Analise

More ways for CO to take their customers' money....and what are they giving to their customers to equal the value they pose on more ways of paying them? .............

Exactly. That's why I have dumped them as a vendor.

Doppy

Well, not all of the new options.

The "bill me later" option increases the cost and risk to Continental. And it seems to require a credit check.

I guess the idea is to try to reel in more fish, even if you lose some along the way.

jwhite4

If they were an airline at risk I certainly wouldn't do it, as paying by credit card often provides excellent results at getting a refund if the carrier goes out of business.

Jeff

SPN Lifer

There are airlines to which one might not want to give one's checking account number.

Just Passing Thru

I think it would be a bad idea to give one's checking account number to any merchant, unless of course you were writing them a check in the first place.