Continental launches Filipino elite promo

Continental Micronesia launched its Filipino Elite program dubbed “Irekomenda sa Kaibigan” or refer-a-friend promotion Saturday.

The airline hosted a breakfast gathering for the Filipino community at Aqua Resort Club Saturday for the event.

Lou Sanchez, Continental Airlines marketing and sales manager for Guam and Micronesia, said Manila remains one of the largest market for the airlines for 20 years now.

Right now, Continental flies from Guam to Manila nine to 13 times a week and two to three times a week from Saipan.

There are about 45,000 Filipinos on Guam and there are some 20,000 in the CNMI.

She said the refer-a-friend promo is a way of giving rewards to eligible Filipinos or their organizations, who would refer Continental to their Manila-bound friends.

A person does not have to travel to participate in the program.

“If you want to join and travel at the same time between now and December, you can refer yourself. That’s fine,” said Sanchez, smiling.

A person or organization must register with the airline’s sales and marketing office to participate.

A purchase of one-way ticket coach class is considered one entry; a roundtrip makes two entries.

For business class, a purchase of one-way ticket makes five entries and a two-way gives 10 entries.

Drawings of entries will be held on Nov. 1 and Dec. 1, 2005.

Prizes to win include one roundtrip business ticket to Manila, two roundtrip tickets, 1,000 bonus One Pass miles (five winners), and 500 bonus One Pass (five winners).

Participants must be 18 years old and older and are not employees, immediate families, or affiliates of Continental Airlines.

During its Saturday program launching, Sanchez’s team generously gave away three roundtrip tickets to Manila and about five 1,000 and 500 One Pass miles to guests.

The event, which began from 9:30am, was attended by officials from the Philippine Consulate General led by Consul General Wilfrido Maximo, Consul Wenceslao Gayola and Labor Representative Bing Lavilla, as well as officials and members from some 18 Filipino organizations in the CNMI.

Continental Airlines will resume its Tuesday flight to Manila on Dec. 6, making it the third weekly flight to the Asian country.

Currently, the airline flies to Manila only on Thursday and Sunday evenings.

Continental offers travel packages of $369 per person from July to Dec. 11, 2005.

From Dec. 12 to 31, its travel package is $425 per person.

The rates do not include taxes and surcharge fee. (Liberty Dones)