How to Create Your Own Continental One Way Award
UPDATE: Continental is now part of United.
Of all the US legacy carriers, I think Continental.com is the best when searching for award tickets. It's a pretty shrewd engine that smartly searches award availability on United and US Airways as well as a host of other Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa, Air Canada, LOT, TAP, BMI and Virgin Atlantic (note: Virgin Atlantic isn't a Star Alliance partner, but a special Continental Onepass partner).
While Continental has a great award search engine, my single main issue with the program is that it charges the same price for a one way award as it does for a roundtrip. However, they are very flexible with award pricing, which you can use to your benefit. Continental's award system prices an award based on two portions: outbound and return, whereas unfriendly engines, like US Airways, will charge you for a first class award, even if the return is in coach. NOTE: Sometimes continental.com will code a multi-stop option as business class when the longest portion is actually in coach, so read my post on "sneaky" pricing before you do any continental.com bookings.
For example, if you only needed a one way North America to Europe award in business class, instead of paying 105,000 for a round-trip business class award (which is what a phone rep would quote you), you could book a multi-city itinerary that looks like this:
Leg 1- The trip you want to take, for ex JFK-FRA in business class (105,000 /2 = 52,500
Leg 2- FRA- MUC This leg would be included in the pricing of leg 1 because it would count as a stopover
Leg 3- MUC- LHR This leg is your "return" so choose a coach level intra-continental award (25,000 / 2)= 12,500
Total price of itinerary: 65,000 miles. While not 52,500, its definitely better than paying 105,000. Below is a screen shot of my fake example. While I included "fake" intra-european legs, you can also tack on domestic US flights that you may actually use in the future. I'm pretty sure Continental wouldn't support this method of ticketing, but until Onepass merges with United, or Continental decides to allow one-ways, it is an effective way to create your own quasi one way awards (at least for international trips).
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Top rated mobile app