Exhibit 10.17(a)

AWARD NOTICE

to [ ]

Date of Grant: ________________

Pursuant to the Continental Airlines, Inc.

Officer Retention and Incentive Award Program

This document constitutes your formal Award Notice as a Participant under the
Continental Airlines, Inc. Officer Retention and Incentive Award Program (as
amended from time to time, the "Retention Program") adopted under the
Continental Airlines, Inc. Incentive Plan 2000 (as amended from time to time,
the "Incentive Plan 2000"). This Award Notice evidences your receipt of
_________Award[s] under the Retention Program, as follows:

 1. An Award of ________ PARs with a Base Value of $_____ per Phantom Unit
    relating to the Company's Investment in ____________of____________;
 2. [An Award of ________ PARs with a Base Value of $______ per Phantom Unit
    relating to the Company's Investment in ___________of __________.]

Each PAR represents the right to receive the difference, if any, between the
Market Value of a Phantom Unit and the Base Value of such Phantom Unit. A
Phantom Unit is the Human Resources Committee's determination of the unit by
which to measure value, price or amount with respect to any Investment and, with
respect to the Phantom Units on which your PARs are based, is one-millionth of
the Investment. Your Awards do not create any interest in any of the Investments
owned by the Company or a Subsidiary, which remain the sole property of the
Company or the Subsidiary. Your Awards are instead a right to receive a cash
payment measured by a portion of the gain and profits associated with the
related Investments. Your Awards are subject to adjustment in the manner
specified in Section 4.6 of the Retention Program.

Your Awards vest at the rate of 6.25% for each full three-month period
(commencing on the Date of Grant, which is set forth above) that you remain
continuously employed by the Company of a Subsidiary, or as otherwise set forth
in the Retention Program.

Your Awards may be redeemed in any of three circumstances. First, if the related
Investment is Liquid, you may redeem any or all of your related vested PARs by
giving notice to the Company (on a form to be prescribed by the Company) during
one of four Window Periods each year, and those PARs will be redeemed by the
Company promptly after the end of the applicable Window Period. Second, if the
Company makes a Disposition of the related Investment, you may be entitled to a
redemption of some or all or your related unredeemed PARs. Payment would be made
promptly after the Disposition with respect to vested PARs and promptly after
vesting with respect to unvested PARs. Third, any unredeemed vested PARs will be
redeemed promptly after the 10th anniversary of the date of grant of the first
award to any individual under the Retention Program related to the applicable
Investment. In each case, prior to any redemption, the Human Resources Committee
must certify that the related Performance Goal with respect to the Award was
satisfied. All redemptions will be made in cash.

Generally, the Performance Goal with respect to an Award is that (i) the Market
Value of a Phantom Unit subject to such Award exceeds the Base Value of such
Phantom Unit as of the date as of which a Redemption Amount is determined with
respect to such Award, and (ii) the value of the Investment to which such Award
relates and the value of Investments in different equity holdings in the same
entity, together with the value of all Follow-up Investments with respect to
such Investments, exceeds the aggregate out-of-pocket cost of such Investments
and such Follow-up Investments to the Company and the Subsidiaries paid to the
issuer or seller thereof (determined as of the date as of which a Redemption
Amount is determined with respect to such Award).

A Participant who is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on the date a
Change in Control occurs shall obtain on such date a 100% Vested Interest in all
then outstanding Awards held by such Participant; provided, that if the Change
in Control is the result of a business combination with Northwest Airlines
Corporation ("Northwest") or any Person (as defined in the Incentive Plan 2000)
controlling, controlled by or under common control with Northwest, then the
Committee shall determine whether, in connection with such business combination,
a change in the composition of the persons with authority to exercise
policy-making functions with respect to the business of the Company has or is
reasonably expected to occur, such that the expectations of employees of the
Company concerning the direction and management of the Company would be
reasonably expected to be materially affected, and a Change in Control shall be
deemed to occur as a result of such business combination only if the Committee
determines that such a change has or is reasonably expected to occur.
Notwithstanding any determination by the Committee that such a change has not or
is not reasonably expected to occur, if a Participant who is employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary on the date of the closing of a business combination
with Northwest or any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control
with Northwest which, but for the determination by the Committee, would
constitute a Change in Control, incurs a Termination of Service at any time
during the two-year period following the date of such closing, and such
Termination of Service is for any reason other than Cause or the voluntary
resignation of such Participant, then such Participant shall obtain on the date
of such Termination of Service a 100% Vested Interest in all then outstanding
Awards held by such Participant.

Capitalized terms used in this Award Notice are defined in the Retention
Program, and the Awards are subject to the terms of the Retention Program and
the Incentive Plan 2000. The Retention Program and the Incentive Plan 2000 are
hereby incorporated into this Award Notice by reference.

If you have any questions, or wish to obtain a copy of the Retention Program or
the Incentive Plan 2000, please contact _______________.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.

By:_________________________

[Authorized Officer]