Continental, Delta, Northwest start Alliance

Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines today announced that customers of the three airlines will be able to take advantage of new frequent flyer program and lounge benefits on all three carriers beginning June 18, 2003.

While Continental, Delta and Northwest will continue to operate independently and compete vigorously with each other for customers, the alliance will enable each carrier to access a greater number of customers and, in this weak economic environment, will preserve service to small communities and those communities' access to broad route networks.

Members of the airlines' respective frequent flyer programs will be able to earn miles on flights operated by any of the three carriers including flights operated by Continental, Continental Express, Continental Micronesia; Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle and Delta Connection Carriers including ASA, Comair, ACA, SkyWest and Chautauqua; Northwest, and Northwest Airlink partner airlines Pinnacle Airlines and Mesaba Airlines. (Delta's Song and Delta Connection flights operated by American Eagle are not included under the terms of this program, but remain eligible for Delta SkyMiles accrual.)

Frequent flyers of the three carriers can earn miles while traveling on any of the three airlines' worldwide route networks.

Elite members of the three carriers' frequent flyer programs also will enjoy: 

· Access to elite member check-in counters

· Priority boarding on all Continental, Delta and Northwest-operated flights

· Elite-tier bonuses for Silver, Gold and Platinum members

· Elite-status qualification mileage accrual.

Because Continental, Delta and Northwest each calculate elite-status qualification differently, the number of elite qualification miles earned on each partner-operated flight may vary.

Members of the airlines' airport lounge programs Continental's Presidents Club, Delta's Crown Room Club, and Northwest's WorldClubs will have access to each other's worldwide facilities. The three carriers offer customers 94 lounges in 49 cities around the world.

Delta Crown Room Club members entering any of the Continental Presidents Clubs and Northwest WorldClubs lounges will need to present their same-day ticket or boarding pass on the carrier whose lounge is being accessed, their club membership card and government issued identification at the front desk. The same provisions apply to Continental and Northwest lounge members entering a Delta Crown Room Club. Presidents Club and WorldClubs members will continue to have full access to each other's club facilities without restriction. Admission to any of the lounges is valid for up to two guests or a spouse, and children under 21 years of age.