Continental Matches Elite Offers from American, United

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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When [% 3561866 | | American %] announced its latest double elite-qualifying mile (EQM) promotion more than a week ago, the question wasn’t if other mainline carriers would match, it was when they would match.

[% 3565173 | | United’s %] counter-offer—double EQMs, plus double elite-qualifying segments—came the very next day.

And then … silence.

Until today, when Continental matched American’s offer point for point: double EQMs for flights on Continental, Continental Express, Continental Micronesia, Continental Connection, Copa Airlines, and AeroRepublica; through December 15, registration required.

With three of the Big Five airlines offering double EQMs, the competitive pressure on Delta and US Airways to follow suit is intense. Once again, the question is: When?

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