As a faithful Continental customer who also flies United when needed, I was dreading this day of reckoning, out of fear that the United standard of service would permeate both airlines, as you can really see the difference.
When I visit NYC 2-3 times a year, I generally need to use LaGuardia Airport, which is strategically located close to both Manhattan's East Side and Westchester County, where most of the relatives I visit live. Although Continental has nonstops to Newark, and there is great train service to Penn Station, it's the wrong side of Manhattan from where I need to be, taxis are expensive, and there are no train connections to Westchester without going over to Grand Central Terminal. As a result, since Orange County/SNA is my primary airport, I use United, via Denver if possible, because that airport is VERY easy for connections, and with six runways, weather is less likely to impact it than say Chicago. Going via Houston is a bit of a dog leg route and adds to the itinerary time.
The nonstops to Newark tend to be overpriced (business crowd likes these, hence it drives up prices), except for the red-eye at 9:15 pm. On the last trip to NYC, I took the red-eye to Newark, and returned from LGA on United (codeshare, on a Continental ticket) via Denver.
On trips to Europe, however, Continental has been my favorite for years, thanks to its morning nonstop to Newark and then connections to c.30 European cities, all contained in Terminal C. Some people don't like flying narrow body 757s to Europe, but I don't mind. The planes are nicely tricked out with Video On Demand and power outlets at every seat, plus the forward Economy restroom means you can reach a restroom no matter where the serving cart is in the aisle. For me, perfectly tolerable for a seven hour flight.
I have friends in Cologne who took the flight from Cologne to Newark every year for a fall week in NYC until it was cancelled, they were quite distraught about it. It was a matter of pride for people in Cologne not to have to go to Frankfurt or Düsseldorf to fly to the USA. I took the flight in May 2006, one week after its inauguration.
Although a wider array of nonstop flights is available from LAX, the prices are often the same or higher (i.e. you pay for nonstop convenience), plus there is the cost of parking. Since I live 20 minutes from OC Airport, I can leave the car at home and usually rope a friend or neighbor into dropping me off, or take a shuttle.
