Continental improves flight-change capability on its web site

Continental Airlines has improved the functionality of its web site (www.continental.com) so that users can now change their flight plans online at the last minute instead of going to a reservations agent or a travel agent. The change, to accommodate persons whose flights are “impacted by disruptions such as severe weather,” will not cost users any more than calling a reservations center. Depending on the cause of the disruption, the airline may allow flight changes for no fee – a factor that made last-minute online changes problematic before. However, “the new system allows Continental to make real-time updates to re-accommodation policies and recognizes when it is appropriate to waive change fees or additional fare collections,” a spokesman said.