Detainees fly home on Continental Airlines®

U.S. Detainees arriving home on this Boeing 737 owned by Continental Airlines®

The U.S. Navy fliers detained by China in the recent diplomatic crisis were flown home in a jet owned by Continental Airlines®. Not known is whether these brave Americans earned 1000 Bonus Miles by booking their tickets online. Since this was an international flight, there is little doubt that they experienced The comfort and service of international first class at regular business class fares.

Because they flew Continental®, the detainees enjoyed the convenience of GTE Airfone® service, where they had the opportunity to Call a client. Check voicemail. Send a fax. Open e-mail. Make a conference call. Stay connected! Always important after you’ve been held hostage in a foreign land for nearly two weeks.

Popular among the heroes was the chance to let Continental’s Celebrity Chefs wine and dine them with the award-winning service that they deserve. Especially after living on rice and egg rolls for 11 days....

After that, it was time to relax and enjoy a feature film. From current movie and music hits to old favorites, Continental Airlines® knows how to entertain you. The former detainees were entertained by Walt Disney Pictures’ Remember the Titans and Touchstone Pictures’ Coyote Ugly. Of course most of the detainees had already obtained pirated versions of these films during their brief stay in China!

Following the film entertainment, the Ugly American Spies were ready to Save time and money with inflight and online shopping with SkyMall®. By registering as a preferred customer they could enjoy benefits such as notification of special discounts and promotions. As a preferred customer you are also able to track the status of an order that you place. Is America the greatest country in the world or what?

As if SkyMall® weren’t enough, the exhausted Americans were also able to avail themselves of the Continental Collection duty-free catalog. Within the pages of the newest Continental Collection they discovered an unparalleled collection of over 60 items from the world's most sought-after names: jewelry from Misaki, Carolee and Swarovski, watches from Anne Klein and Kenneth Cole, clever gift ideas, toys, liquor, fragrances and cosmetics, all available to purchase duty free while on board! Most of which are manufactured in – you guessed it – China.

In this recent diplomatic clash between what are now perhaps the two global superpowers, there is no longer any doubt as to the true winner: Continental Airlines®. Continental ought to be able to milk the “corporate generosity” angle off this one for years.

All this corporate generosity makes this reporter wonder which corporate giant will step up to the plate when the next international marketing opportunity – oops! I meant to say “international diplomatic incident” – comes up.