Here's some recent observation from my parents (Gold and Silver Elites) and myself (nothing) on Continental Airlines:

- CO IAH-EWR 9/4: The flights between the two CO hubs are so full these days it's not even funny. This is a 6:45am Saturday morning flight on a 737-700, and it's packed. So bad that when I checked in online exactly 24 hours prior to departure, and got boarding pass Seq #2, the two exit row window seats were already taken. Those can only be claimed early by Platinum Elite, so that means there are Plats that didn't get upgraded.

Anyways, flight was uneventful. Banana and cereal for breakfast, and Shrek 2 from dropped down monitors. Departed on-time and arrived early.

- CO 1459 JFK-IAH 9/6. Again totally full flight. At least this time I got the exit row window seat, as I was 3rd to check-in online. Departed on-time and arrived WAY early.

- CO 1510 IAH-EWR 9/9. My parents were on 9:00 am flight and once again no seats left. They were on a BusinessFirst ticket to HKG, but the FC was already filled on this domestic leg. They got themselves window/aisle seat, hoping no one will get the middle, but flight was 100% full, so they have to move. EWR is having extensive delays as one of the main runways is closed for repaving. Continental.com says 180-minute delay, but their flight was only held in IAH for about 60 minutes, and arrived EWR 45 minutes late. Enough time to make 90-minute connection, but not enough time to go to President's Club.

- CO 99 EWR-HKG 9/9. My dad has travelled international BF (complimentary upgrade right after 9/11/2001), but first time for my mom. [Both have got domestic upgrades often on the 772 before, so they're familiar with the seats.] Service and food was wonderful. The duck and the steaks are better than on mainstream cruises like Carnival, Princess or Norwegian. So good that they decided CO's BF product to HKG is worth the ~$1700 + 50K miles cost, if not the $4,000+ cash price.

Other stuff:

- Bulk/consolidator international fares not upgradeable. Found out that despite a high booking class of "V", such consolidator tickets to HKG is not upgradeable. They do earn 100% mileage and 100% EQM, though.

- I cannot get preferred seatings on KLM (Q fare, 100% EQM) to Europe for my parents. KLM/NW's website suggest that CO's Gold Elite should have access to them, but I guess because my parents are on same itinerary, the lower level applies; and I don't want to split them up.

- It's not easy to come back to IAH from HKG. I am going to HKG myself for Christmas. No problem getting IAH-EWR-HKG outbound routing, but seats are hard to find on the way back. Can't get NW seats from HKG-NRT to connect to CO either, so it's CX from HKG-NRT, meaning fewer Onepass miles for the trip. [The low fare class means no AAdavntage miles from HKG-NRT either; so I signed up for AsiaMiles to salvage something. ]

- Both my parents will qualify for Gold Elite for 2005. Hopefully, with the more restrictive Elite rules starting 2004, that'd mean fewer Plats and Golds overall, and better chance for upgrade; at least on the planes that CO aren't removing FC seats fast enough.

As a Northwest flier who used to take some Continental flights in the past, I've consciously avoided using any CO metal since they began following Delta down the path of diminishing their FF program.

Flyboy - Since we fly the lowest fares most of the time, the 50% EQM stuff that CO implemented this year (following DL) was a huge concern for us. And we seriously considered bailing out and switched to UA, mostly because of its frequent flights to Asia and E+ seats.

However, things didn't turn out to be too bad. Two particular points:

- From what I've read on flyertalk.com, CO has quietly extended its offer to let people get 100% EQM on most of its fares if booked on continental.com. Previously, they said it's only for 2004; but now people have been seeing indications for 100% EQM with 2005 flights.

- Even though as I mentioned above that some consolidator fares are non-upgradeable, they are actually high "V" fares that earn 100% EQM.

Therefore, both my parents will qualify for Gold Elite next year, and in my opinion, CO does treat its Elite member alright. As Houston residents, the Elite check-in and security lines at IAH is a big plus for us. And I've consistently found the phone agents at CO pretty well trained.

So, CO is still tolerable, especially for us living in Houston.

Another longtime CO FF here who bemoans the diminshed mileage accumulation for discount fares but remains a CO fan. I tried a couple other carriers (AA, United) but found the service lacking. There's a reason those CO flights are so full - people have learned that while all carriers must deal with things like weather, construction delays and overbooking, CO has really done a good job of providing a consitently good product at a very competitive price, and do go the extra mile (so to speak) to accomodate when bad things happen. JMHO...

If they continue to credit 100% mileage for tix booked on their website, that would certainly be a move in the right direction.