IAATA—or I used to be until I was laid off.
Anyway, when a consolidator issues a ticket via any of the major computer systems, that system is supposed to automatically transmit the ticket number to the airline. If Continental doesn’t have the number, it’s the fault of the consolidator–not the agent. (The ticket wasn’t handwritten, was it? If it was, all bets are off.)
After the consolidator issues the ticket, they send it, along with the other goodies in the package (transfer coupons, hotel/car vouchers, etc.) to the agency. The agency then sends them to you.
Schedule changes are a regular occurrence. Normally, the consolidator will advise the agent who is then supposed to notify you. I can’t guess who dropped the ball there.
Ask your agent for Continental’s record locator (not the agency’s record locator–they can be different). It’ll be a 6-character alpha/numeric string. Then call CO and see if they have it.
If CO says they don’t have it, then try again by giving them your flight/date/name.
If they still say they don’t have it, all is not lost. Sometimes consolidators have simply bought a block of seats, and they notify the airline of the names all at once.
Me?
I’d get the agent on the line and stay there until I got positive confirmation that my space was, indeed, confirmed. Work your way up through supervisor to manager, if necessary.
I hope you paid with a credit card. If you did, and the agent can’t positively confirm you, I’d call my cc company and tell them that you are disputing the charge and won’t pay. They can then do a charge back to the agency, and you’ll be free and clear. Of course, you won’t be going anywhere, either.
PS- Trying to change a reservation made through a consolidator, whether to an earlier flight, to a different date, etc., can be problematic at best. Y’see, consolidators may not buy seats on every flight, and there are almost always restrictions and change penalties. Also, changing the outbound (the originating) flight is the hardest thing to do (for some arcane reasons that only the airlines understand). Usually, it’s much easier to change the return, but even that’s difficult with consolidator tickets–and the change penalties can range from nominal to extreme.
PPS- Oftentimes, a consolidator will not speak directly to the traveler. Period. End of discussion. Some might, but many of them will deal with travel agents only and will not communicate with you at all. I’m not sure what they’d do with a conference call, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate it if they knew you were also in on the call.
The airline, on the other hand, probably wouldn’t object. Do your best to just listen, though. Let your agent do his/her best to help the airline locate your PNR. It won’t help to chime in with something like, “Well, where the hell is my reservation, then?!” (Gratuitous advice, I’m sure, but you’d be surprised at how often agents have to deal with this.)
I’m reasonably sure it’ll work out OK for you. Hang in there, but be firm and get the answers you need.