continental and United mileage programs

[wendylovesdisney]

Since United joined Continental's alliance, does anyone know if we will be able to combine frequent flyer miles??

 

[DebbieB]

Actually Continental joined United's alliance - Star Alliance, which also includes USAirways among others. Continental was previously in SkyTeam, which includes Delta/Northwest. You cannot combine miles between different airlines, they all have their own accounts. However, you can book a reservation on the other airlines with the miles from your Continental account. For example, you could book a United flight with your Continental miles or vice versa.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

you can book a reservation on the other airlines with the miles from your Continental account. For example, you could book a United flight with your Continental miles or vice versa.

Do you know how you go about that? Do you call the mileage program of the airline and tell them you have an account with the other?

I have enough United miles from my 2 trips to China for a ticket but there was nowhere I would fly stateside on them from Cleveland. However, I always fly Continental from here.

 

[crashbb]

Do you know how you go about that? Do you call the mileage program of the airline and tell them you have an account with the other?

I have enough United miles from my 2 trips to China for a ticket but there was nowhere I would fly stateside on them from Cleveland. However, I always fly Continental from here.

No, you book through the program for which you have the points, but they can put you on any of the airlines.

For example, I have my points with Air Canada (also part of Star Alliance), their program is Aeroplan. Let's say I want to fly to Capetown. I go to the Aeroplan site (or call Aeroplan) and look for flights from home to Capetown. Air Canada doesn't fly into Cape Town, but I can get flights via South African Airlines (also part of the alliance).

So, I am using Aeroplan points and the Aeroplan website (or call centre) but will be flying on South African Airlines.

Sometimes, you are forced to use the call centre (rather than the website), since not all of the flights on the other airlines are loaded onto the websites.

Star Alliance has a good website (www.staralliance.com), you cannot book anything through them, but it gives you the routing between two cities on any of the airlines (or a combination thereof). This is useful since, as I said, not all flights from all the airlines are loaded into each individual website and it saves checking all the airlines. With Capetown, it is obvoius that South African Airlines will fly there, but maybe United, Continental, or BMI do as well - the Star Alliance website would tell you.

 

[DebbieB]

Do you know how you go about that? Do you call the mileage program of the airline and tell them you have an account with the other?

I have enough United miles from my 2 trips to China for a ticket but there was nowhere I would fly stateside on them from Cleveland. However, I always fly Continental from here.

You would book through United, they should have Continental flights on their website now.

Another thing with the alliance, you can credit miles from one airline to another. For example, I have a USAirways account. I haved credited United & Lufthansa flights to it, they are all in Star Alliance. I just give them my USAirways number when I book or check-in. If you are flying multiple airlines within the alliance, it's best to pick one to accumulate your miles, usually the one with the most service to your city.