Is Continental Airlines' move to the Star Alliance definite?

In other words, if I were to book a trip on Continental within the next week or so, while they are still part of the SkyTeam, for travel in 2010, can I earn miles for a Star Alliance account when I do fly?

I hate air travel -- especially when I don't earn miles.

And something else: when a new airline joins an alliance like this, is there ever an opportunity to transfer miles between different airlines' accounts, or is that only when airlines merge? (Continental seems to have very reasonable award travel fees....)

Yes.

From Continental's website:

<i>Continental's OnePass members do not need to make any changes to their OnePass accounts. When the Star Alliance transition is complete, </i>[See below]<i> OnePass members will start to have reciprocity for earning/redeeming miles on other Star Alliance airlines.

<b>Through Oct. 24, 2009,</b> OnePass members can continue to earn and redeem miles and make reward reservations on SkyTeam partners.</i>

Thanks -- that surely sounds definite to me.

Don't know how I missed reading that on the website....

And they got final DOT approval to join Star about 2 weeks ago.

<i><<And something else: when a new airline joins an alliance like this, is there ever an opportunity to transfer miles between different airlines' accounts, or is that only when airlines merge? (Continental seems to have very reasonable award travel fees....)</i>

You cannot transfer miles from one airline program to another but you can use miles from one alliance program for travel on another alliance airline.