Continental Mastercard Double Miles for Online Shopping Ends July 19

Via Milepoint, Continental is eliminating their offer of double miles for shopping through the Onepass portal for customers with the Continental Mastercard.

On July 19, 2011, the ShopOnePass Twice the Miles program will be ending. Although you’ll no longer receive double miles on purchases made with your Continental Airlines Chase credit or debit card after the program ends, you will continue to earn valuable miles when you shop at ShopOnePass.

I loved double miles for online shopping via the Onepass mall for having the Continental Mastercard, it’s why I kept the card.

This benefit was one of the few differences between Chase’s offerings between United and Continental, none of the United cards had this feature. Although in nearly every other case where United and Continental have been different, the two carriers have gone with Continental’s way of doing this, I worried that this benefit wouldn’t last because the United relationship with Chase was the stronger one so the default seemed to be however the United-Chase deal was set up. Continental was able to have an American Express relationship but that disappears with the merger because of Chase’s influence on the combined entity which exceeds their influence over just Continental.

Now, I’m not cancelling my Continental Mastercard right away. I have no other real use for it, I even still have a United Visa primarily (or even exclusively) because it is by far my oldest line of credit. I knew I wouldn’t ultimately keep both cards, I’ll cancel this one eventually in order to make room for some other Chase product that comes with a nice signup bonus. But I’m waiting to make that decision. I’m interested to see what kind of offers if any Chase puts on the table for Continental Mastercard holders to keep their cards when those cards become co-branded with United instead. Next year the Onepass program should be going away, Chase doesn’t want to lose customers who are emotionally connected to the Continental program but not United’s. So there could be bonuses, and I want to hang around in case they’re good… plus my annual fee doesn’t come due for over 6 months, so there’s no rush.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  1. I saw this and immediately thought, why do I need this card now? I guess I have until July 19th to find a reason to keep this card. This was one of my favorite features of the card.

  2. That sucks…I just got this card for the 50K signup bonus, but was planning to keep it around for this specific feature. I’m not a card “churner,” but I might just cancel this card and get the new Saphire card with 50K bonus (or the Hyatt card). We’ll see…

  3. I almost never get the miles when I shop through the Continental shopping portal. I have resigned myself to making note of 8 weeks from the purchase date and then send in the order information to have the miles manually added. It’s really too much of a pain.

  4. Dan—I had the same problem with a.a. citi card , had to make notes and send e/m follow up’s — did get the point -but!! had to work for them

  5. This is a nice feature if it works. Every single time though I have to chase and chase to get the miles. Maybe that’s the idea to get the chase name in your head. I have never had any problem getting miles through AA portal, post every time without question or challenge

  6. I would keep the United Chase card “jsut because its your oldest line of credit”.

  7. Just renewed the MP card, guess I’ll cancel the One Pass card before paying the annual fee.

  8. Disappointing. I too have had a CO Chase card since 1999 cause its a close hub airline for me. I specifically look at ShopOnePass before making any online purchases to max miles. I guess I’ll be shopping other portals come July 19th.

  9. check out the Chase Priority Club Visa card out right now, with a link at PC’s web site for 60k signup bonus, 1st yr free, no for. trans. fees.
    Priority Club’s mall is HUGE, includes more retailers than you can truly imagine. A lot of the points-per-dollar offers are same or higher than what you’ll find at the Onepass mall.
    My PC mall purchases have taken some time to post, but have posted all the same. Like many of you, I’ve been frustrated with Onepass mall and have had to always mail in mileage requests to get what I’m owed.

  10. Appreciate the update Gary. My take on retention bonuses for moving folks over to the UA visa from the Cont Master Card is that it won’t be too exciting.There will be less competition with Continental being gone and chances are they will figure anyone entrenched with Star Alliance is being sucked down into the one way drain when United becomes a big billion dollar gorilla on the block.US AIR?
    As always for new cardholders I think we will see a fair amount of tempting offers especially as all banks have had to put more on the table to get new perspective card holders to bite……..
    Remember when banks simply offered 5000 or 10,000 miles for credit card sign ups?When Diners Club couldn’t part with a second sign up bonus for returning customers even years later?Its a customers lottery winning out there now
    for new sign ups wow!

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