I can only answer to #1 with a little additional help for you.

1. No, you can't get them through anyone else. :-(
1a. My experience in the past (and maybe more so now that they need the money), I have found that the airlines and hotels will help you out if you are close to the number. Especially if you give them the line that you have a new job and it requires you to travel a lot more (hence being close to the OnePass status level) and that you really LOVE Continental (or insert airline/hotel company name) but would like them to bump you up to the level you are close to. If you play the card that you are going to be travelling a lot more and would prefer to pick them over any other airline, they sometimes fold and help you out. THey won't give you miles of course, just the status. Also, if you have a certain status on another chain, they will usually match that status for one year. If you don't regain that status in the year, then they won't do it again for the next year. This has worked for me both on airlines AND at hotels. You may still be able to call Continental and throw it on the mercy of the airline. If you have been a steady traveller since the beginning of the year and they think you have a shot at getting it this year, you may get lucky and they may give you the conditional status for the rest of the year. It can't hurt to try. Though at most they will likely give you the lowest level they have if you have no status at all.

So call 'em up and see. If you get turned down once... call back later and get someone else. You may just get a favorable rep that understands customer service and customer retention is key to staying alive!

2000 740iL (9/99 Prod) - Raleigh, NC

Jet Black/Black, Michelin Pilot A/S on //MPars, Crystal Corners, Crystal Taillights, Mirror Indicators, Angel Eyes, 16:9 Widescreen, MKIII, Front/Rear Heated Seats,

Xenons, TV with In-Motion, Lyra RCA to play movies and MP3s concealed in the ashtray, Alpine headrest monitors, AVIR-4 A/V Controller with IR Remote,

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My other rides are a '71 Ford F-100 Custom, a '67 Austin Mini (848cc) and an '05 Odyssey Touring for the Mrs (though she prefers to ride in style in the 7).

Previous vehicles owned (none wrecked): '74 VW Bug, '72 VW Bug, VW CamperVan, VW Karmann Ghia, '85 Toyota Truck, '86 Toyota 4Runner, '88 Toyota 4Runner, '86.5 Toyota Supra, '95 Acura Integra, '96 Acura TL 3.2, '01 Lexus IS300, '02 BMW 330Ci, '03 Toyota Tundra, '96 Honda Magna (750cc), '05 Suzuki Katana (750cc), and a '70 VW Bug.

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