As I live not too far from Newark, New Jersey, many of my flights around the country are serviced by Continental Airlines, an airline with a significant hub at Newark Liberty International Airport. Like all airlines, Continental has been cutting services and adding fees to keep fares low, but I’ve never had a bad experience with the airline. I came very close to cashing in 30,000 miles in exchange for first-class upgrades in a recent trip, but the seats never became available. It took a few days for the unused miles to be credited back to my account, but even customer service was helpful.
Since I travel every year, I’ve decided to begin using the Chase Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card to improves my benefits. While cash back credit cards have done well for me for many years, I never earn more than $500 a year. With a credit card providing a mile for every dollar spent, a number of bonus opportunities, and a free checked bag on every flight, I could probably receive more in benefits that with my two cash back rewards cards. This is despite a $95 annual fee that kicks in after the first year.
The Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card offers benefits similar to my (no-fee) Visa Signature card, such as concierge services, extended warranties, and price protection. There are some promotions right now, too:
- Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free ($95 value)*
- Now with priority boarding privileges on Continental and United flights
- Check your first bag for free on Continental and United flights, up to a $50 value
- Visit the United Club with two complimentary passes every year, a $100 value
- Earn 2 miles for $1 spent on tickets purchased from Continental and United and 1 mile per $1 everywhere else
- Your miles don’t expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn
After completing my application, I was accepted in under 60 seconds. Oddly, the acceptance page was blank in my web browser and I couldn’t determine the next steps. Reloading resulted in an error and completing the application a second time would probably raise a red flag. Thankfully, everything worked out well and I received the card about a week later. As miles aren’t a real currency, they are always in danger of being devalued. This type of systemic risk isn’t for everyone, particularly if the rewards drawn don’t compensate for the annual fee.
With the potential to earn 40,000 bonus miles the first year and 10,000 bonus miles every year thereafter, the Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card is a great credit card for frequent fliers of United and Continental. The annual fee is a reason not to own this card but the savings and benefits for fliers is far to great too ignore, even if it costs $95 a year beginning in the second year. If you’re interested in filling out an application, visit the Continental Airlines OnePass® Plus Card application.
Updated November 8, 2011 and originally published July 28, 2011. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
with a platnum plus card. do i have to pay for a secont cheked bag going from chicago to costa rica ?
I missed My early flight with delta and they could not help me , i meede to in phx asap and went to the continental counter to find out options, the ladies at the JAX airport Ms Strong and Ms Quinto showed concerned for my situation and went beyond possible to get me to Phx asap, they were customer focused and they would not give up until they can help me . This is the type of customer service reps many corporates would like to have to really represent their firms . Thanks to these ladies an continental for training them to prioritize customer needs.
I just booked a flight on Continental for August. I passed up the offer of a card because of the fee attached to it. Maybe I should have applied.