In addition to the systemwide upgrade announcement, Continental also came out with the news that they’re introducing a new top tier status above Platinum, Presidential Platinum.
They’ll have upgrade priority above platinums, clear their upgrades 144 hours before departure, and their reciprocal upgrade benefits on United will have them prioritized above United Premier Executives (but behind United 1Ks).
Presidential Platinum members will receive a fee waiver for the Presidential Plus Mastercard that comes with lounge membership and additional bonus miles for flying. (Members outside the lower 48 and Alaska aren’t eligible, so they get 25,000 bonus miles.)
Qualification is revenue-based, and the criteria is currently $30,000 in spend in a calendar year.
Furthermore, Continental announced a new lifetime status benefit — 4 million flown miles nets lifetime Presidential Platinum status.