One way reward booking starts on Continental (CO)

I suddenly realized, we are into June 15. One step closer to integration of United (UA)/Continental (CO) and mostly inflated award charts. The major benefits of the changes are two fold

One-way booking is now allowed on continental (Fig 1)

Fig 1. One-way reward travel is now available on Continental (CO)

One-way reward booking offers huge flexibility. United (UA), American Airlines (AA) already offer it. Hope Delta and US Airways follow suite.

· Only 10K one-way in economy for trips smaller than 700 miles. Note that the total routing can be longer than 700 miles. However, the distance between origin and destination should be less than 700 miles. This opens up high cpm (cents/miles redemptions). For example, consider New York to Halifax (Fig 2). One-way tickets are frequently ~$500 even in economy. In this example, the routing is via Washington. Washington to Halifax award is 12500 miles. However New York to Halifax, via Washington is just 10K miles. This is weird and may invite foul play.

Fig 2. One-way reward between New York and Halifax, Canada is only 10K miles

Anyway back to the point; the same ticket would have cost atleast $495 making this redemption worth 5cpm! That’s almost the highest one can expect by redeeming in economy (Y)! Nova Scotia, here I come.

Fig 3. The same ticket is $495.

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