We have been e-ticketed with Continental since Feb to fly to Portland Me from Houston IAH, leaving this Saturday. I had not checked my status until yesterday when I found--horror or horrors, not only was our itinerary COMPLETELY scr*wed by them with changes(we now arrive at 10P instead of 2p with 5 hr. layover)--we are only on Continental 1 leg of a very convoluted trip--they dumped us onto Northwestern! I hate Northwestern! That is why I fly Continental! My question in the midst of all this angst--with a fairly tight connection in HOuston and with the change of carriers, how likely are we to arrive in Portland with baggage? We are not staying near the airport and certainly don't want to drive back there if there is a problem. Any voices of experience out there to give me hope? Many thanks!

I'd be worried too if they'd put me on "Northwestern", unless they were something to do with Northwest.

First piece of real advice, get online and do some research. Use this Galileo interface or this multiple interface and see whether you can build a CO itinerary that's better for you than what they've given you. (You are looking for flight numbers without an "@" sign next to them. "@" means codeshare.) Try to build several different alternatives. Then get on the phone to CO and see if you can negotiate yourself onto one of your preferred options.

Thanks Globalizer--of course I meant Northwest--I was in such a snit, I was not thinking, but I don't like them anyway--NW or NWern!! Bumped WAY too many times from their flights!! One time in Memphis, the gate attendant announced overhead that there were more people booked than seats available and suggested we work it out amongst ourselves!!! I will try the interfaces you gave and thanks for the help!

Just a word of advise (too late I know) but I always check my itins on line from time to time before my departure date. 9 times out of 10 the airline has changed something, be it my seat, flight time, equipment or whatever. Sometimes you get a courtesy email with the change, but most likely your on your own to follow up and re-confirm.

You are so right egtravel! I really miss the days of paper tickets and itineraries that did not change! I have been checking daily since I discovered my new "flight plan"!