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Sunday, November 8th 2009


Continental frequent flier fees and rules

By Emily Starbuck Gerson

The airline industry is changing, and frequent flier award tickets are no longer free. Here is a chart of fees you can expect to pay if you plan to cash in your air miles. Click on the tab for your airline.

Continental

Award processing fee
(fee for cashing in miles):
n/a
Service fee
(based on how you redeem award):
$15 if booked in person or online
Quick ticketing fee: Currently, if you use miles to book travel within 4 to 14 days, pay $50, and if you book travel within 3 days or less, pay $75. As of Aug. 17, if you use miles to purchase a ticket within 20 days of travel, pay $75 per transaction
If you want a paper ticket: $50
Fees for changing dates, times and reissuing tickets: Currently $50. As of Aug. 17, $150
Redeposit fee (if you don't use your award ticket and want the points credited back to your account): Currently $50. As of Aug. 17, $150
Preservation fee: n/a
Reactivation fee: n/a
Standby fee: n/a
Fuel surcharge: n/a
Partner handling fee (if you fly any leg of the trip with a partner carrier): n/a
Express delivery fee: If you book within 10 days of travel, a $35 express delivery fee applies.
Expiration: Will not expire unless you do not earn any miles for 18 months.
Annual fee: Presidential Plus MasterCard: $375. Platinum MasterCard: $65. World MasterCard: $85. TravelBank MasterCard: no fee first year; $29 thereafter. Business MasterCard: $85 (each additional card $20). Preferred Banking Card: $65. Banking Card: $25. KeyBank debit card: $30.

Fees, as always, are subject to change. To report an update, write Editors@CreditCards.com.

See related: Is it time to cash in your frequent flier miles?, The evolution of frequent flier cards and programs

Published: August 12, 2008

Three most recent Frequent flier programs, airline rewards stories:
  • AmEx, U.S. Bank contend for rewards card customers – In the wake of Delta's merger with Northwest Airlines, American Express announced April 27 it will be taking over Northwest's WorldPerks rewards program. Meanwhile, WorldPerks' former provider, U.S. Bank, sought to stay competitive by introducing its own expansive rewards card ...
  • U.S. Bank, AeroMexico forge airline rewards partnership – U.S. Bank has partnered with Mexico City-based AeroMexico to offer a frequent flier program through the AeroMexico Visa and AeroMexico Visa Signature credit card ...
  • Airline frequent flier fees and rules – The airline industry is changing and frequent flier award tickets are no longer free. Here is a chart of fees you can expect to pay if you plan to cash in your air miles ...


Credit Card Rate Report

Updated: 11-08-2009

National Average 12.64%
Business 9.69%
Low Interest 11.91%
Cash Back 12.36%
Reward 12.85%
Instant Approval 13.32%
Balance Transfer 13.46%
Airline 13.60%
Bad Credit 14.29%
Student 14.45%

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