Cash Payment Option Available for Reservations Made Online at continental.com
DENVER, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Western Union Financial Services,
Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) has made it easier for
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) travelers to pay for their airfare using cash
instead of credit cards. 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.
"Although electronic payments continue to increase in all industries, more
than a quarter of Americans still prefer to pay for products and services in
cash, either out of choice or necessity," said Christina Gold, president,
Western Union Financial Services. "By providing travelers a cash payment
alternative, we are offering convenient options for consumers, while providing
guaranteed funds for the airlines without adding to their costs."
Thirty-two percent of Americans prefer to pay for their purchases with
cash(i), and 23 million American households do not have credit cards(ii) --
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(iii). 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.
"This cash payment program is yet another example of our relentless
commitment to customer satisfaction," said Jim Compton, senior vice president
marketing, Continental Airlines. "We are continuously looking for new and
innovative ways to make it easy for our customers to book and fly with
Continental, and this new cash payment service with Western Union will do just
that."
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 Continental's 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 http://www.continental.com anytime between one hour to
30 hours in advance of the flight departure.
About Western Union Financial Services, Inc. and First Data
Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp.
(NYSE: FDC), is an international leader in consumer money transfer services.
Consumers can quickly and reliably pay bills and transfer money around the
globe using the company's proprietary money transfer network. Western Union
and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world's
largest money transfer networks with approximately 169,000 Agent locations in
more than 195 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph
service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced
electronic money transfer service in 1871. For more information, please visit
the company's Web site at http://www.westernunion.com .
First Data Corp., with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the
global economy. Serving approximately 3 million merchant locations,
1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it easy, fast
and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services, using
virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, smart card, stored-value card or
check at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money transfer. For more
information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.firstdata.com .
About Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines is the world's seventh-largest airline and has more
than 2,200 daily departures. With 127 domestic and 96 international
destinations, Continental has extensive service throughout the Americas,
Europe and Asia. Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland
and Guam, and carries approximately 41 million passengers per year. With
42,000 mainline employees, Continental is one of the 100 Best Companies to
Work For in America. In 2003, Fortune ranked Continental highest among major
U.S. carriers in the quality of its service and products, and No. 2 on its
list of Most Admired Global Airlines. For more company information, visit
continental.com .
(i)Atlantic ACM 2002.
(ii)NACHA The Electronic Payments Association
(iii)NACHA The Electronic Payments Association
FDC-1
SOURCE Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.firstdata.com
http://www.westernunion.com
CONTACT:
Danielle Jimenez of Western Union Financial
Services, Inc., +1-303-967-6062,
danielle.jimenez@firstdatacorp.com ; or Sarah Lindsley of
Schenkein, +1-303-672-4318, slindsley@schenkein.com ,for Western
Union Financial Services, Inc.
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