The Continental Airlines award search tool is very handy. Quickly and easily, you can search for Star Alliance award space and at least get a general sense of what is available using your Star Alliance frequent flyer miles. The glaring problem for the Continental tool has been that Austrian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air, and Turkish Airlines are not included in the search results. While Swiss, Singapore, and Turkish still have not been integrated, as of today Austrian award availability is now available through Continental’s search tool.
I like the Continental tool because it is fast, does not require you to login to search, and will offer double and even triple connections if necessary. The ANA search tool, for example, will only search for single connection itineraries, though it will return results on any Star carrier. The Air Canada Aeroplan search tool also useful (even allowing you to book a stopover online) and does not require a login to use, unlike the ANA tool.
While there are many things at the legacy United I will miss, one thing I will not miss is the outdated award search tool that only recently added Lufthansa, US Airways, and Continental availability–and only for round-trips originating in the United States. The Continental award search tool is light years ahead and continues to progress.
Aeroplan does not require you to log in.
Thanks. I updated the post.