For the first time since just after 9/11, Continental has just released a double elite qualifying miles offer in response to AA and United’s offer!
Double EQM’s Offer Registration Linky
Best of all, unlike AA and United’s offer there are no exclusions for previously bought tickets!
All travel between 03/20 and 06/15 will earn double elite qualifying miles!
While most of the other airlines often have yearly elite qualifying mile promotions, Continental has traditionally been very careful about offering any sort of elite shortcut.
In my opinion Continental’s bottom and mid-tier Silver and Gold status levels are the best of any domestic airline. Silver status requires 25,000 elite qualifying miles flown in a calendar year, while Gold requires 50,000. Status earned now will last until February 28, 2011. Benefits from being elite include 2 free checked bags for you and your companions, bonus miles on each flight, free upgrades to the best domestic first class product, and even free upgrades on non-BusinessFirst international routes. Here is the list of elite benefits on Continental.
On Y and B coach fares (which are automatically upgraded for elites at the time of booking) as well as on all Business/First fares you will now earn at least 250% elite qualifying miles. Thus a single BusinessFirst flight from NYC to Israel will make you elite.
Continental’s upper-tier Platinum level however is altogether disappointing, and is nowhere near the benefits of upper-tier Executive Platinum on AA. The only redeeming factor is that Continental Platinum only requires 75,000 elite qualifying miles, while AA’s EXP level requires 100,000 elite qualifying miles.
Does double elite qualifying miles also mean that i get double miles to be redeemed on flights or it’s just for status (silver, gold)?
It’s only eqms and can’t be used to redeem awards.
Great timing for a long lhr run tomorrow!
Continental couldnt tell me anything about the 250% you wrote about for Bus Class….how did you figure?
@dealchapper:
BusinessFirst normally earns 150% EQM’s, with this promo it will earn a bonus 100%.
if i booked on flight already, how do i get this offer to apply? will it automatically be applied by continental or do i have to hock with them over the phone for it?
@david:
You’ll be fine as long as you register before taking the flight.