Continental Notebook

Pilot Program

Continental first officer Becky Duke was an elementary school teacher in Cleveland when her parents gave her an introductory flight lesson as a birthday present. “I fell in love with flying immediately,” she says. She left her teaching position to take up flying full-time, and before long she had a career flying the “big jets” with her hometown airline.

Duke found that she missed teaching, and “her kids.” So she became involved with Pilots for Kids, an organization sponsored by the Airline Pilots Association. “The Continental pilots visit children in local hospitals during the holiday season and bring them bears, airline wings, and a warm smile,” she says. Duke started as a volunteer with the organization at her base in Cleveland but soon took the lead in organizing the purchase of bears and getting the volunteers to make the visits. “We can take only eight pilots when we visit the hospitals, but I actually have to turn down volunteers, which makes me so proud of my fellow Continental pilots,” she says.

The children get a kick out of the visits from the pilots. Dressed in full uniform, they spend time talking with the kids about school, family, the books they like to read, videos they watch, and the toys they have. “The kids feel special that we take the time to come and visit them,” Duke says.

Her passion for inspiring kids doesn’t stop with Pilots for Kids, though. Duke now also spends free Sundays — when she’s not flying — teaching Sunday school to the preschoolers at her church. She was also honored when she was called to duty to fly 90 of her Cleveland co-workers to Houston after Hurricane Ike to assist with reopening the airport and getting Continental’s operation up and running.

“I’m so proud to be a part of Continental and its great reputation after overcoming some pretty big hurdles,” Duke says. “I’m also so proud of Pilots for Kids and knowing we made a part of a child’s hospital stay a little more pleasant.”

Chase Away Checked-Bag Fees

Continental Airlines will now waive fees for the first checked bag for cardholders who use their Continental Airlines Chase credit or debit card.

Primary credit and debit card members will be eligible to check their first bag without paying a fee, while Continental Airlines Presidential PlusSM card members can check up to two bags without a fee. Customers traveling with the primary card member will also be eligible for waived fees.

“Waiving the first checked-baggage fee offers a significant benefit to the more than one million customers who carry a Continental Airlines Chase credit or debit card,” says Mark Bergsrud, Continental’s senior vice president of marketing programs and distribution.

These fee waivers will apply to all Continental Airlines, Continental Express, and Continental Connection flights. Complete details are available at continental.com. — L.O.

New Esta Requirement Takes Effect January 12

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requirement for all Visa Waiver Nationals who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure on or after January 12, 2009. To apply for ESTA authorization to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, travelers can log on to the Web-based ESTA system at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov to complete an application. More information may be found on the Web (cpb.gov/esta). — L.O.