Chase and Continental Airlines Launch the Continental Airlines World MasterCard and Visa Signature Card From Chase

Business Wire, August 16, 2001

Business Editors/Travel Writers & Columnists

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 2001

Premium credit cards offer no pre-set spending

limit, enhanced travel benefits

and the ability to earn double OnePass miles

Chase and Continental Airlines have launched the Continental Airlines World MasterCard(R) and Visa(R) Signature Card from Chase, two premium credit card products that have benefits designed to reward frequent travelers as well as the advantage of a no pre-set spending limit with the option to revolve a portion of the spending.

With the Continental Airlines World MasterCard and Visa Signature Card from Chase, customers earn one OnePass(R) mile for every dollar spent. As an added benefit, customers will earn double miles on the purchase price of Continental Airlines tickets.

Customers will also enjoy worldwide access to the Global Concierge Service, where a concierge will be on-call to assist with travel arrangements, restaurant recommendations, and ticket reservations 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Other travel benefits include Travel Assistance Services that offer emergency and referral services, automatic travel accident, lost luggage, and car rental insurance. Existing Continental Airlines Platinum MasterCard and Platinum Visa Card from Chase customers can upgrade to the premium product. Charter member enrollees in 2001 will pay an annual fee of $65. Consumers interested in applying can call 1-800-247-8144.

"We're pleased to offer customers a premium product with benefits that will enhance their travel experience," says Faye Evans, Senior Vice President of Chase's cobrand credit card business. "The Continental Airlines WorldMasterCard and Visa Signature Card from Chase will take customers where they want to go faster and easier than ever."

Chase's credit card portfolio, issued and owned by Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A., has more than 20 million accounts and over $38 billion in outstandings. Chase is the fourth largest bankcard issuer in the United States, and its joint venture with First Data Corporation is the largest merchant acquirer in the U.S.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $713 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private equity, custody and transaction services, retail and middle market financial services, and e-finance. Headquartered in New York, JPMorgan Chase serves more than 30 million consumer customers and the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients.

Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,200 departures daily to 133 domestic and 92 international destinations. Operating hubs in Newark, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, Continental (www.continental.com) serves more international cities than any other U.S. carrier, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Continental was named the 2001 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World, as well as the 1996 Airline of the Year, making it the only carrier to receive this honor twice in five years. Continental is in the top quarter of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America," and is ranked the nation's No. 1 airline in customer satisfaction for long and short-haul flights by Frequent Flyer Magazine and J.D. Power and Associates. Continental has received numerous awards for its BusinessFirst premium cabin (Conde Nast Traveler, OAG, Entrepreneur and SmartMoney magazines), OnePass frequent flyer program (InsideFlyer's Freddie Awards) and overall operations and management (Fortune magazine).