Chase Continental OnePass Plus MasterCard Review
The Facts
The Math
You will maximize the value if you charge exactly $25,000 a year to your card. The annual mile booster essentially makes it returning 1.4 mile/$, which is very good indeed. If you can negate the $95 annual fee by charging enough Continental airfare, you need to value miles at 1.43 cent a mile to beat 2% cash back from Fidelity Amex since 1.43 cent/mile x 1.4 mile/$ = 2%. Of course you charge more on airfare and/or value miles higher, this is a no-brainer. You may also enjoy the added features such as lounge passes, waived check bag fees, discount certificates, and primary rental car collision damage waiver.
A comparison to Amex PR Gold is difficult. Both have the annual spending booster, making 1.4 mile/$ and 1.5 point/$, respectively. Amex PR Gold has $90 more in annual fee but also more 3x and 2x bonus categories; Chase Continental has the annual discount certificates and club passes. But since Continental is discontinuing partnership with Amex, the comparison doesn't mean much anyway.
The Conclusion
This is a great card for Continental flyers. The only concern is the uncertainty of the future program after the merger.
Last updated 9/6/2011.
- Annual Fee: The first year free & $85/year thereafter
- Signup Bonus: 25,000 miles + 5,000 miles by adding an authorized user + $50 cash
- Rewards: 2x Continental and 1x everywhere else. If you spend $25K a year, you will also get a 10K miles booster.
- Best Use of Continental OnePass miles: OnePass is the frequent flyer program of Continental Airlines, a member of Star Alliance. Continental miles are generally valuable for redeeming on Continental or partner metals. Most frequent travelers consider them more valuable than United miles since Continental, unlike United, does not practice the notorious “StarNet Blocking”. Since Continental is merging with United and their mileage programs will merge eventually, we are suspecting that after the merger the Continental miles (which will turn into United miles) will depreciate unless StarNet blocking is removed. Note that Continental is ending its partnership with Amex on September 30, 2011, so if you are using one of Amex MR cards (Green, Gold, PR Gold, or Platinum) you won’t be able to transfer your MR points into Continental miles any more after that.
- Other Benefits: 2 lounge day passes and 2 discount certificates (up to $200) upon anniversary. The discount certificates have blackout dates and many restrictions and can not be used on most discount economy fares, which makes them almost useless. You also get your first checked bag free for you plus eight guests on the reservation on Continental. The Luxury Hotels and Resorts (LHR) Collection give you complimentary upgrades based on availability, free continental breakfasts for two, late check-out and other benefits. However, unlike Amex Platinum's Fine Hotels and Resorts program or Visa Signature Hotels program, LHR normally charges you more than the best available rates so it is not a good deal mostly. Finally, this card comes with Primary rental car collision coverage. Note while most credit cards provide rental car insurance, they are secondary, meaning your personal insurance's collision damage coverage kicks in before the credit card's. Please see our featured review on credit cards that come with primary rental card insurance for details.
The Math
You will maximize the value if you charge exactly $25,000 a year to your card. The annual mile booster essentially makes it returning 1.4 mile/$, which is very good indeed. If you can negate the $95 annual fee by charging enough Continental airfare, you need to value miles at 1.43 cent a mile to beat 2% cash back from Fidelity Amex since 1.43 cent/mile x 1.4 mile/$ = 2%. Of course you charge more on airfare and/or value miles higher, this is a no-brainer. You may also enjoy the added features such as lounge passes, waived check bag fees, discount certificates, and primary rental car collision damage waiver.
A comparison to Amex PR Gold is difficult. Both have the annual spending booster, making 1.4 mile/$ and 1.5 point/$, respectively. Amex PR Gold has $90 more in annual fee but also more 3x and 2x bonus categories; Chase Continental has the annual discount certificates and club passes. But since Continental is discontinuing partnership with Amex, the comparison doesn't mean much anyway.
The Conclusion
This is a great card for Continental flyers. The only concern is the uncertainty of the future program after the merger.
Last updated 9/6/2011.