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Saying “Bye” to Continental’s Name... And Free Food

Posted by Kaleel Sakakeeny on October 1, 2010 at 9:41pm
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Saying “Bye” to Continental’s Name... And Free Food

With the Continental-United merger a done deal watch for the legacy name “Continental” to fade into history.

The Houston Chronicle says that Jeff Simisek, Continental’s CEO, starts his new job as CEO of the new United Airlines, a fleet now carrying the name of United but the Continental emblem.

The Continental name and logo won’t disappear tomorrow, and the airlines will continue to fly separately for a 18 months or so until they get a “single operating certificate” enabling them to merge crew, fleet and programs.

But effectively this is the beginning of the end of the Continental brand, and with a single signature, the end of Houston as a home for the giant carrier. All operations of the new United move to Chicago.

Simisek says in the spring passengers will experience “Customer Day One” when all kiosks, websites and services will be combined.

He predicts happy flying days for the public.

Meantime, Continental announced that starting October 12 it would begin charging for meals.

The airline was the last to offer complimentary meals, but now will only offer them on intercontinental flights, and long-haul domestic flights, those that are longer than 6 hours.

Of course Business and First Class will still get complimentary meals, and non-alcoholic beverages will be free in all classes.

There will be a pay menu for those wanting to buy food.

In addition to Angus cheeseburgers, cheese and fruit plates, for $8.25 you can buy the chicken and spinach salad or for a $1.50, a tin of Pringles.

Airline meals were the first “amenity” to be dropped when the airlines were cutting services in an attempt to cut costs and generate revenue.

Most of us can barely remember that airlines served something other than a small packet of pretzels.

Even the pretzels are an endangered species, just like he Continental name.





Tags: Continental, United, air travel, airlines, flights, in-flight meals
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Comments

  • Kaleel Sakakeeny October 12, 2010 at 6:10am
    Well, anyone who has no regrets is my hero! Congrats on a job well done and stay in touch!
    Thanks for writing in too
    Cheers
  • Vintage Travel October 12, 2010 at 3:50am
    No regrets whatsoever, and in my time in the Route Planning dept. my crowning achievment was launching the Newark - Athens flight a few years back. I'm kind of glad I'm a Travel Agent now.
  • Kaleel Sakakeeny October 9, 2010 at 12:10am
    Well, many of us are nostalgic about the Continental name, but you certainly have a deeper association.
    I hope you had a good run and have no regrets!
    Thanks for writing it and good luck
    KS
  • Vintage Travel October 8, 2010 at 8:41pm
    After 13 years in the industry (and 5 years at Continental) I said my good-bye on my last flight on Sept. 30 from Athens, Greece to Salt Lake City via Newark and Houston.
  • Kaleel Sakakeeny October 2, 2010 at 5:11am
    Right, David!
    If anyone has pay toilets, and they are coming, it'll be Ryanair. Pay to pee is a real possibility
    Thanks for writing in!
    Kaleel
  • David Lawrence October 2, 2010 at 4:21am
    Always complained about the lousy food, but honestly, I was always glad it was there. Sad day. Next stop: Pay toilets in the sky.
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