Continental Airlines Joins Star Alliance

Strategic Network Expansion in the Americas, Asia and Europe

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The CEOs of the Star Alliance
member carriers today welcomed the alliance's 25th member: Continental
Airlines. Continental's joining Star Alliance will further enhance the
alliance's three main customer benefits: global reach, worldwide recognition
and seamless travel. Continental's membership follows last year's announcement
of a strategic partnership between Continental and United Airlines. Experts
from both airlines and Star Alliance have been working together over the last
18 months in order to ensure the first successful transition of a major
airline from one global alliance to another.

(More information about Continental Airlines joining Star Alliance is
available at: continental.com/staralliance)

"Bringing Continental Airlines into Star Alliance has been a truly unique
experience. This is the first time an airline has moved directly from one
alliance to another and I would like to thank all those involved in ensuring a
smooth switch," said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance. "Our travelers can now
begin to appreciate the advantages Continental brings to the Star Alliance
network, while Continental's customers now enjoy enhanced alliance benefits."

"Continental's transition to Star Alliance is one of the most important
strategic moves we have accomplished in my career at Continental," said
Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner. "Our membership in Star Alliance positions us
to deliver a broader network to our customers, and to achieve better business
results and a stronger future for my co-workers, our customers and communities
as a result of the benefits from participating in the world's largest airline
alliance."

"Continental's joining makes the Star Alliance network even more extensive,
offering our customers the broadest global access and greatest choice of
service," said Glenn Tilton, chairman and CEO of United Airlines. "We welcome
our partner, Continental, which brings tremendous value to our customers, our
employees and the communities we serve."

Global Reach
Due to the limited overlap between Continental's and Star Alliance's networks,
Star Alliance customers now have a choice of 19,500 daily flights serving some
1,071 airports in 171 countries. The main network enhancements are taking
place in North America, to and from Latin America, as well as across the North
Atlantic and the Pacific.

In North America, Continental adds its three hubs - New York/Newark, Houston
and Cleveland - to the network, providing more choice to Star Alliance
customers. Continental's extensive Latin America network will increase travel
options for Star Alliance customers to Mexico, Central America, South America
and the Caribbean.

Across the North Atlantic, Continental will also add choice for Star Alliance
travelers, especially on the very important New York to London market. Options
in the Pacific region are enhanced by Continental's trans-Pacific flights to
mainland China, Hong Kong and Japan, and by Continental Micronesia flights
centered on Guam.

In addition to the network benefits, Continental flights can now be used to
create itineraries for the Star Alliance Round the World fare as well as for
the North American Airpass. Moreover, Continental will sell all 13 Star
Alliance fare products as well as participate in the Star Alliance Conventions
Plus product.

Worldwide Recognition
As part of its Star Alliance membership, Continental OnePass members will now
be able to earn and redeem miles on all other Star Alliance member carriers.
OnePass Gold and Platinum Elite members automatically have Star Alliance Gold
Status, and will receive benefits such as access to more than 954 lounges,
extra-baggage allowance, priority baggage delivery, dedicated check-in
counters and priority waitlist (reservation) and airport stand-by. OnePass
Silver Elite have automatic Star Alliance Silver Status, entitling them to
priority waitlist (reservation) and airport stand-by.

Participants in any of the existing Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Programs can
now earn and redeem miles on Continental. Moreover, OnePass members will be
able to use their miles as part of Star Alliance Upgrade Awards for a one
cabin upgrade when traveling on participating* Star Alliance member carriers.

Seamless travel
The Star Alliance network aims to provide fast and convenient connections for
customers needing to transfer between flights of different Star Alliance
member carriers. Effective immediately, through check-in from the originating
airport is available for any itinerary involving a Continental flight in
conjunction with another Star Alliance flight. In addition, all Star Alliance
Connection Centers will now also encompass all flights operated by
Continental. These special behind the scene centers look after passengers and
baggage transferring between Star Alliance member carriers, in case of flight
irregularities. These centers are currently in operation at selected airports
across the network like, Frankfurt, Munich, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo-Narita
and Bangkok. Moreover, plans are already underway to co-locate member carriers
in the same airport area or terminal at numerous destinations served by
Continental. By the end of this year Continental will have physically moved
airport operations at 11 airports around the world. For instance, on October
27, Continental moves to Terminal 1 at Frankfurt and on November 1, to the
South Wing of Terminal 1 at Tokyo/Narita. Other airports where co-location
moves have been made include: Beijing, Chicago, Honolulu and Shanghai.

About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global
airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to
the international traveler. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized
by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award,
Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The
member airlines are: Adria Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand,
ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Blue1, bmi, Continental Airlines, Croatia
Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines,
Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS,
TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Aegean Airlines,
Air India, Brussels Airlines and TAM have been announced as future members.
Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 19,500 daily flights to 1,071
airports in 171 countries.

* the following member carriers currently offer Star Alliance Upgrade Awards:
Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Continental
Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai
Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and
United

SOURCE Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines, Corporate Communications, +1-713-324-5080, Fax,
+1-713-324-2087, corpcomm@coair.com; or Star Alliance Press Office, +49 69
96375 183, Fax, +49 69 96375 683, mediarelations@staralliance.com