I flew Continental Newark-Madrid and found their inflight service and courtesy the best. As a matter of fact, I believed Continental has won several years in a row the customer service awards. Yes, the plane seats are kind unconfortable, blah, blah, blah, but at least they take USAirways anyday on courteous flight staff.

Just take a good book with you. Tons of recs for that in this forum, too.

rkkwan, maybe we just had bad luck that day I don't know... I haven't flown Continental before so I can't compare it to other trips. It wasn't so bad however that I wouldn't fly them again, it's just that I can't relate to some posts raving about Continental. The most important thing to me however is that an airline is safe and reliable and I have no complaints there. I just read that KLM (an airline that I've actually much more enjoyed flying with) has the highest rate of lost luggage of all european airlines on intra europe routes!

So why take 2 rows of three on the same side rather than across from each other? Curious...

loves2sing - Much easier to talk to one another with two rows on one side. Also, lower chance of getting into disputes with other passengers about seatback angles, kicking of seatbacks, etc.

Herein lies my dilemma...

Actually, I have always found it difficult to talk to the people behind or in front of me as the seat backs are so high up (and I'm short). In fact, I can't even see them. Whereas if they're across from me I can at least lean forward to tell my kids "sit down, shut up, and be grateful!" Or so they can see that I haven't eaten my cardboard brownie and may then inquire if they can have it

I have never had any disputes about seat back angles. If I did, my heart just might stop singing ....but only for the moment. Or maybe the words would just be sung backwards

But yes, I have thought of how being in front of my own 11 year old would save someone else from his torture. But actually, I prefer to keep him next to me so I can keep a close eye on his airplane manners. However, if his 18 year old brother were in front of him, my little one may just throw caution to the wind and kick away at his older brother....just for "kicks"

I flew San Francisco - Zurich with a layover in Newark in May, and will be flying SF - Tel Aviv in March.

The food... nothing to brag about, but not bad either. Nice supplement to the snacks you bring along Plenty of non-alcohol drinks. Alcohol is $5 each, but you can buy coupons in bulk cheaper. It's on the website.

Enterntainment is not bad, I remember several radio and TV channels (once you figure out their remote, LOL) and you can always see where you are on the world map what is so cool!

And yes, adjustable (flexible) head rest! But don't be fooled, you still need a pillow. They do provide small pillows which I always lose, and then somebody wakes me up after picking it off the floor

Don't worry, despite lower prices this airline is on the better side!

loves2sing - If you go online at continental.com to select or change your seats, you can try getting A/C and D/F seats only. Get 3 pairs of such seats.

If the plane is indeed 100% full, then switch seats with the persons in the B or E seats. I am sure they won't mind having a window or aisle seat, rather than sitting between your 11- and 18- years old.

If the plane is not full, then you'll have more room to spread out.

Yeah, thought of that, but it's a June flight (prime family vacation time...just as school lets out, just before summer school starts...very narrow window). Do you really think it might not fill up?

loves2sing - I certainly can't say. But since EWR-CGN is a brand new route, load factor may be lower early on, as not everybody may know about this routing.

Last May, I flew the brand new EWR-BRS (Bristol, UK) maybe a week after its inaugural. Despite the 50%-off mileage special, I got three seats for myself on the way over. Coming back 3 days later, the flight was 80% full, however.

I have flown PIT-EWR-CDG, and the configuration was 3-3-3. I thought it would be claustrophobic, but the plane seemed "deeper", or with a higher ceiling, and it was as good a flight as I've had going to Europe in coach. On the return we had the last 2 seats at the back of the plane(something I had read on www.seatguru.com led me to choose them), and that was just fine, too.

We are frequent flyers on Continental. My husband will only fly Contiental because it is a Boeing airplane. We have traveled internationally numerous times both coach and business and have no complaints. As suggested go on seatguru.com and check out where your seat will be and if if is an ok seat. We are fortunate that we fly towards the front of the plane in coach but our children have had no complaints flying internationally in coach. Good luck and enjoy. Oh yes, suggestion would be to get eye shades and ear plugs no matter where you are on the plane.

I will be flying Continental from Newark to Manchester UK, and I snagged a bulkhead seat. Someone recently posted that that's the last place they'd want to sit. Have I made a mistake?

Guy18 - When are you flying? Manchester is now usually served by two daily 757s. Is that what you're flying on?

On the 757, there's really no advantage of getting Row 8. The only real good row is 16, but 16DEF is blocked for crew rest; leaving only 16ABC as assignable - and they're reserved for Platinum elites (or if you get really lucky with a friendly phone agent).

The description on seatguru.com about all CO planes are pretty much correct.

Again, I'm feeling happy I'm flying Continental. And my travel partner who didn't want to spend the extra $60 in order for us to be on the same flight to Amsterdam (he's in Chicago)...I can't wait to brag at all the nice things Fodor's people say But seriously, I still am bragging about the price too. Total flight, with fees and taxes, Newark to Amsterdam $430 Departing March 23rd, Returning April 5.

This is the plane Continental will fly to Europe on my trip. Sounds like a winner http://seatguru.com/airlines/Contine..._767-400_A.php

Looks like a good choice-http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/02/which_company_i.html

I've flown with Continental a lot these last few years and have been very pleased with all my flights with them. Also, Newark is a really easy airport to change at compared with my other experiences at JFK, Chicago, Philly and Toronto.
Carolena

My husband and I are flying to Europe for the first time. He will join me after I'm there for 2 months. We each have a flight from Sacramento, CA to Houston, TX on Continental. We have exactly 38 minutes to change flights to catch the plane to Paris.

We are glad to read the responses about Continental Airlines. For those of you who are familiar with this.....do you think we'll make our connecting flight okay? We are a bit nervous about that particular 38 minutes!

Thanks.

I don't like Newark (EWR). It has the following problems:

- CO's flights to/from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, DC use Terminal A. While CO's CEO has promised an airside transfer "soon", right now one has to get out of security to change between A and C. It's pretty ridiculous that it takes EWR and CO so long to NOT get a solution.

- With the growing number of CO international flights, they often run out of gates in Terminal C in the afternoon that has access to customs/immigration. So, it's not uncommon for those international arrivals to sit on the apron waiting for a gate.

- The security lines at Terminal C is always crowded. While the lines do move, I find it pretty stressful to reclear security after an international arrivals. Do keep in mind that the lines at security near Gates 70-99 are usually faster than the others, particularly the one closer to gate 120-139.

jackster748 - relax, transit between gates at IAH is actually pretty smooth; CO has done a good job with installing an airtrain/monorail that stays in the secure area and short cut hallways between terminals. When you check in at SAC you will check through to CDG and not have to stop at the desk in Houston, just get from one gate to the other. The flight from SAC arrived today a few minutes early (5:53) into gate C36 and the Paris flight departed from gate E7 - that should be do-able in your time frame, though I would not stop along the way to browse!
CO inflight staff are usually good about letting you know at which gate you will arrive and you can take a look at the terminal maps in the inflight magazine to see how to get to your connecting gate. Also, when you arrive from SAC speak to the agent (usually in a red coat) at the gate to let them know you have a tight connection to an international flight - if it is really close he or she can call the Paris gate to let them know you are en route and get you an electric cart.