Continental OnePass Plus card: fine print benefits

[NOTE AS OF MARCH 2012, THE CONTINENTAL ONEPASS PLUS CARD IS NO LONGER MARKETED. It is replaced by the United Mileage Plus Explorer, with similar features and benefits]

Continental Airlines recently upgraded its standard mile credit card to the ‘OnePass Plus’ card, with some added benefits not offered in the prior card, but at the same annual fee.

We recently received the full guide to benefits for the Chase Continental Airlines OnePass Plus MasterCard. We read through the fine print and found a few unique benefits that are stronger than those offered by most mile credit cards. We urge you to thoroughly read your own copy of the terms and conditions before relying on the benefits, and make no guarantee that they will be offered as described here. Highlights of coverage when you use the card for the purchases eligible include…

Primary car rental insurance coverage and no specific car value limit

Most credit card car rental collision insurance is secondary. That is, they will only pay if you have first filed a claim with your regular car insurance provider, which can lead to higher rates for you. With the Chase OnePass Plus, the coverage is primary, so they will be first to pay for eligible damage. Note that liability for others’ property and injury is not included.

In addition, most credit card based insurance limits coverage to vehicles valued at $40-$50,000 or less. While you’re probably not renting expensive vehicles regularly, rental car companies will sometimes upgrade you to a new, fancy car. With OnePass Plus you’re covered for nearly every vehicle offered at standard rental places like Hertz, Avis, and Budget. A list of ‘exotic’ cars not covered is in the illustration below.

SUVs are also covered. They are often excluded from coverage by other credit card rental insurance programs, though we note off road use is not covered by the OnePass Plus or any other credit card based insurance. Open-bed SUVs like the Avalanche are also excluded as they are considered trucks.

Trip Cancellation Insurance up to $1500

If you are genuinely unable to travel due to doctor-verified illness (not pre-existing), death, or injury of yourself or an immediate family member, you can receive a refund of the nonrefundable portion of your travel expenses. The limit is $1,500 but this can be valuable if for example you can’t make a nonrefundable flight.

Delayed baggage coverage up to $300

If your baggage is delayed more than 18 hours from your arrival, you can be reimbursed for $100 per day of expenses to buy essential clothing, toiletries, etc in the interim for up to three days. This is coverage the airlines themselves will often not provide. Note that most medical essentials like contact lenses and dentures are not covered.

You can read more about the replacement for the OnePass Plus, the United Explorer here with our full review.