groovygra,

Continental Airlines are a main player in air travel operating via their New York Newark Liberty (EWR) hub. You shouldn't have a problem with them. What sort of protection do you want? Your travel insurance is your main protection. For more information, refer to the Terms & Booking Conditions on CO's website.

Darren

Check out full details about the ATOL Scheme.

If you book with an Atol protected company ie UK Travel Agent you have financial protection should anything happen.

and use your credit card, not your debit card

Groovygra,
As pointed out by Darren, Continental are a major US airline, but even they can have troubles. When purchasing travel insurance for a holiday that involves booking a flight direct with an airline for a scheduled flight, it is important that you have "Scheduled Airline Failure" included in the insurance. Not all policies include this so it is necessary to read the policy details carefully before purchase. Likewise, as already pointed out, always pay with a credit card (NOT Debit card) for the flights (and any other big purchases over £100) for additional protection as, as a last resort, you can always claim against the credit card issuing bank for any failure to provide goods/services. Note that there is a claim "window" during which CC claims need to be made.

Cheers,
Jet

If you book with an Atol protected company ie UK Travel Agent you have financial protection should anything happen.

The ATOL scheme only applies to tour operators selling packages or in some instances travel agents but it doesn't cover the airlines themselves who generally aren't ever ATOL licensed and hence isn't applicable to groovygra's original query. If booking direct with a scheduled airline like Continental the best advice is still to ensure that you have decent holiday insurance in place and to use your credit card to make the booking. Yes, you'll often pay a surcharge to do so but I view it a a small insurance premium that buys me the protection of the card issuer too and so well worth.

SM

jetnoise

you've said what I was going to...

do you know of any insurers that include "Scheduled Airline Failure"? I've been looking at insurance and this is the biggest gap in most policies.