American, Continental Launch E-Ticket Interlining

Following up on its announcement two weeks ago that it had launched electronic ticket interlining with rival United Airlines, American Airlines today announced a similar agreement with Continental Airlines.

Effective immediately, customers can book e-tickets for itineraries that include segments on both American and Continental, and more easily switch between the two carriers in the case of flight cancellations. Currently, interlined e-tickets only are available from both carriers' reservations centers, airport locations and city ticket offices.

American's e-ticket penetration has reached 65 percent of total tickets issued. Continental said its domestic e-ticket usage exceeds 70 percent. Earlier in the month, United noted that 73 percent of its domestic travelers use e-tickets.

American, after losing its only e-ticket interline link in 1999 when Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines, in just two weeks has progressed nearly as far as any major carrier in interlining e-tickets. United has similar pacts with Continental, Northwest Airlines and Air Canada. Continental also interlines e-tickets with America West. Delta Air Lines still has no e-ticket interline agreements.