Continental Airlines frequent flyer miles programs serves the needs of its members, whether they are the frequent business traveler or casual vacation traveler, by offering the OnePass and Elite Status programs.

Continental Airlines reward programs not only present various program benefits and ways to earn awards and miles, but also offer travel to over 250 United States and international destinations as part of the award redemption program for the Continental frequent flyer. For beginners new to the Continental frequent flyer plan program, useful tips include:

1. Learning the various benefits the OnePass and Elite Status programs offer for Continental frequent flyer plan members

2. Learning how to determine travel destinations you qualify for based on mileage accumulated

3. Earning frequent flyer miles at select grocery stores, according to program requirements

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn what benefits Continental frequent flyer award programs OnePass and Elite Status offer

Frequent flyer plans for Continental Airlines reward both the casual traveler and recurrent business traveler.

I recommend: One may earn OnePass miles and points by completing travel or bidding on VIP packages and products on the OnePass Online Auction. Miles and points earned in the OnePass program are eligible for the Elite Status frequent flyer level. In addition to complimentary upgrades, mileage bonuses and reward privileges, Elite Status benefits include priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and security screening.

Learn to determine where you can go with your Continental Airlines frequent flyer miles

With reward travel starting at 20,000 miles, one can quickly qualify for travel to one of the domestic and international destinations Continental Airlines serves.

I recommend: To assist in determining which travel destinations one qualifies for as part of their Continental Airlines frequent flyer miles program, Continental provides an Interactive Reward Chart that allows users to select their origin, desired destination, seating request (economy, first/business class or business class) and reward type to allow them to view the travel options available to them. One should also familiarize oneself with the various types of Continental frequent flyer Travel Rewards offered such as SaverPass, EasyPass and Stopover.

Earn Continental frequent flyer awards while doing business with other companies

Airline frequent flyer plans, in addition to allowing you to earn points and miles for completed travel, also allow you to earn credit patronizing their partner hotels, car rental agencies, and credit card companies. In addition to those credit opportunities, Continental frequent flyer plans also allow travelers to earn mileage credits when shopping at select grocery stores.

I recommend: Earn miles in the Continental frequent flyer award program by shopping at approved grocery stores. You can also earn miles when you do business with their financial and real estate partners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The 'Travel Information' tab located on Continentals website is an invaluable resource and serves as a Continental frequent flyer program primer. Individuals new to flying or flying on Continental Airlines may reference this site to find policy information regarding carry-on and checked baggage, individuals traveling with special needs, children traveling alone, individuals traveling with infants and individuals traveling with animals.

If you are like many airline customers and hope to build up your frequent flyer plans for Continental Airlines, you have many options. Continental Airlines offers its customers comprehensive Continental frequent flyer award programs. By enrolling in the OnePass Frequent Flyer Program, for example, you can receive points on airfare, hotels, car rentals and also on a variety of other purchases.

You can redeem your OnePass rewards for travel, upgrades, magazines and merchandise. You can also donate your miles to several charitable causes, which will use those miles to transport their volunteers as well as qualifying children and their families.

When earning points for your Continental frequent flyer award programs, remember to:

1. Present your OnePass card at participating businesses in order to earn as many Continental frequent flyer awards as possible.

2. Use a participating credit card for Continental Frequent flyer awards points.

3. Periodically check your Continental Frequent flyer plans rewards points, and then, redeem them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of the Continental frequent flyer awards points you can earn by flying

By flying with Continental and its partners, you can quickly earn many Continental Airlines frequent flyer miles.

I recommend: If you haven't already enrolled in the Continental Airlines frequent flyer miles program, OnePass, you will find its web page easy to use, informative and accessible. Continental Airlines, already a partner of Northwest Airlines, partnered with United Airlines and became a part of the Star Alliance network of airlines. If you fly with one of these airlines, be sure to use your OnePass membership.

When you book hotel accommodations, use your Continental frequent flyer plan

Frequent flier plans for Continental Airlines include many partnering hotels.

I recommend: By enrolling in Wyndham Rewards, you can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on qualifying room rates when you stay at a Ramada, Days Inn, Wingate, Super 8, Travelodge or a Howard Johnson and their other partnering hotels. You can also earn points through Marriott International Inc., Best Western International, Inc. and Hyatt Corporation hotels when you use your OnePass card. Other hotels have partnered with Continental through Priority Rewards IHG and The Hilton Hotels Corporation's HHonors program.

Frequent flyer plans for Continental Airlines also include many car rental agencies

Continental frequent flyer plans incorporate several well-known car rental agencies.

I recommend: Advantage Rent A Car, Alamo's Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc., Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. and The Hertz Corporation all honor and give OnePass frequent flyer points.

Use your Continental frequent flyer plans points at participating merchants and businesses

Many businesses and merchants will also assist you in earning points for your Continental frequent flyer award program.

I recommend: Target.com, Zappos.com, Inc. and Circuit City represent just three of the popular online retailers that can help you earn your OnePass frequent flyer points. Continental Airlines sponsors a great ShopOnePass site, with many retailers listed. Once you click on the retailer you want, you can very easily enter your OnePass membership number.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Stay up to date by signing up for the e-mail alerts for OnePass, Continental Airlines' frequent flyer program, when you sign up for your membership.

If you are part of the frequent flyer plan for Continental Airlines, OnePass, then you know how much money you can save your business by being part of the program. Continental frequent flyer award programs allow members to earn miles and use them towards future flights.

To stay up to date with the latest, you will want to look into Continental frequent flyer news and trends. When you do this, you should know when special offers, like double miles and discounted fares are available.

1. Join one of the Continental frequent flyer plans. Your choices will include the standard program and Elite Access for business professionals.

2. Search the web for Continental frequent flyer news and trends. This may involve changes to the program or specials that are being extended to OnePass members.

3. Start earning Continental frequent flyer awards. Give your card information to Continental as well as partner companies to earn more from your Continental frequent flyer plan.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out news on Continental mileage plans through OnePass sites

One of the best places to stay up to date on your OnePass membership is by regularly checking Continental websites or subscribing to their RSS feeds. Partner sites will also obtain valuable information.

I recommend: On the Continental Airlines website you will find the most information about the Continental frequent flyer award program. Browse through the different section to view current offers, news and more. You can also subscribe to the site as a RSS feed. WebFlyer has information provided by Continental on the program as well as links to current articles about OnePass.

Join a Continental frequent flyer forum

Forums allow members of OnePass to communicate about news and trends that they may know about. These forums typically post information about offers for members as well as policy changes that may affect your Continental Airlines frequent flyer mileage.

I recommend: FlyerTalk has a specific thread dedicated to discussions regarding Continental OnePass. Membership is free and registration will only take a couple of minutes. FrequentFlier.com also has a free forum that provides users with news and trends that can affect their OnePass program.

Browse blogs to discover Continental frequent flyer news and trends

Since frequent flyer programs continuously change their offers, you will want to look for blogs that are updated on a fairly regularly basis. For instance, you won't find news about Continental frequent flyer plans from several months ago useful.

I recommend: Boarding Area is blog that is updated on a weekly basis with different information on the Continental OnePass program. You can bookmark the posts in order to save the information provided. Frequent Flyer Miles Blog is an online resource that details information about Continental OnePass as well as updates the mileage you can earn through the program.

Continental Airlines not only provides domestic and international flights to over 500 destinations worldwide, but also offers a frequent flyer program that rewards its members. The OnePass Frequent Flyer Program allows members to earn miles in a variety of ways, such as patronizing their Star Alliance network partners. Members may also earn miles through their day-to-day purchases through the ShopOnePass program or earn cash back on travel booked online through The continental.com Club. Travelers who are members of The Presidents Club Lounges may relax or conduct business during layovers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

OnePass Frequent Flier Program

The OnePass Frequent Flier Program allows passengers to earn rewards through travel, purchasing VIP packages or by purchasing merchandise via the OnePass Online Auction. OnePass members may also earn miles by utilizing services provided by Continental's OnePass Partners.

I recommend: Refer to FrequentFlier.com for detailed information on the benefits this program has to offer.

Elite status

OnePass Frequent Flier Program members may reach Elite status based on miles flown or points earned in a calendar year. Benefits of Elite Status include priority boarding, baggage handling, security screening and complimentary upgrades.

I recommend: To learn more about this program and the benefits it extends to its members, refer to the SkyTeam website.

Star Alliance

Continental Airlines announced in 2008 that it would join the Star Alliance network that would provide rewards to Continental Frequent Flier members. Airlines in the Star Alliance network include Air Canada, United and US Airways.

I recommend: Refer to the Star Alliance website to learn more about the benefits extended to its members.

ShopOnePass

ShopOnePass allows Continental's frequent flier program members to earn miles by utilizing their Continental Airlines credit card to make purchases from companies such as Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, FTD, Home Depot, Macy's, Office Depot, Sears, Target and WalMart.

I recommend: To learn more about this program as well as other participating merchants, refer to the WebFlyer website.

The continental.com Club

The continental.com Club has an annual membership fee and allows members to earn $5 back on every Continental Airlines ticket purchased online which can translate into significant earnings for frequent travelers. Monies earned in The continental.com program are available for future travel on Continental, Continental Express or Continental Miconesia. Other benefits of this program include special rates on travel packages.

I recommend: Refer to The continental.com Club webpage to learn more about how this program can earn you money.

Presidents Club lounges

Continental's Presidents Club lounges allow members to relax, conduct business or return phone calls in a private environment. Passengers traveling in the BusinessFirst or International Business Class may access the Presidents Club Lounges when presenting their boarding pass.

I recommend: Refer to the Presidents Club Lounges webpage for more information on membership and amenities.