Western Union and Continental Airlines Introduce New Quick and Easy Cash Payment Option When Booking

Starting immediately, Continental Airlines customers traveling in the domestic U.S. and Canada can make use of a new, easy-to-use cash payment alternative when using continental.com to book flights online. The collaborative service offering, provided by Western Union and Continental Airlines, will broaden consumer payment options and convenience for those who choose to send cash payments. Cash payment options allow consumers to send their payment for electronic airline tickets at any of nearly 45,000 Western Union Agent locations nationwide after reserving a ticket online. Many Western Union locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thirty-two percent of Americans prefer to pay for their purchases with cash, and 23 million American households do not have credit cards -- demonstrating the potential impact for airlines to tap this cash-based audience. Also, while up to 40 percent of requests for remote credit card authorizations for purchases are rejected, 45 percent of customers with credit cards are within five percent of their credit limit. Thus, as consumers continue to purchase more airline tickets online, and the airline industry continues to streamline costs by closing city ticket offices, there is a real need for this type of payment service. How it works: - When travelers book a flight on Continental they can then choose to send a cash payment for their reservation, instead of using a credit card. - After the flight is booked, consumers will be given a confirmation number to take to a Western Union Agent location. Tickets must be paid for in full, within 24 hours, to guarantee the reservation. - At the Western Union Agent location, consumers fill out a Blue Quick Collect form and give it to the Agent clerk along with their cash payment and a nominal service fee. - The Western Union Agent sends the payment to Continental Airlines and verifies the transaction through Continentals reservation system within minutes. - Customers receive a detailed Western Union receipt and confirmation number as proof that the payment was sent to Continental Airlines for their electronic ticket. On the date of departure, customers can obtain their boarding pass from any Continental Airlines eService Center kiosks, or by using its Check-in feature on www.continental.com anytime between one hour to 30 hours in advance of the flight departure.