Continental Air joins American in easing restrictions = = = = Wednesday August 20, 5:53 PM EDT = CHICAGO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Continental Airlines (CAL) said on Wednesday = it has relaxed restrictions on nonrefundable tickets and will now give ho= lders a year to reschedule plans, joining American Airlines in making tha= t change. Holders of nonrefundable tickets will have a full year from the date of p= urchase to reschedule travel without losing the value of the ticket, prov= ided they cancel plans before the original departure time, Houston-based = Continental said. Typically, large U.S. airlines have required travelers using nonrefundabl= e tickets, the most heavily discounted of their fares, to rebook flights = when they canceled the previous reservations. The airline said ticket holders will still have to pay a penalty fee for = making the change, plus they will have to pay any difference in fare betw= een the old and new tickets. They'll also have to start travel within one year from the date the origi= nal ticket was purchased, Continental, the No. 5 U.S. air carrier, said. American Airlines (AMR), the world's largest air carrier, announced a sim= ilar change in policy on Tuesday. Northwest Airlines (NWAC), the No. 4 U.S. air carrier, is still studying = the issue, a spokesman said. = =A92003 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS