USairways has upfdated the questions and answers ontheir website: http://usairways.com/corporate/uaus/qa.htm

Can I use my frequent flyer mileage to fly on United Airlines?
Currently United is not a partner in the Dividend Miles program, so Dividend Miles cannot be used for award travel on United. However, after the merger your Dividend Miles will ultimately be converted to Mileage Plus miles on a one-for-one basis, providing you with far more opportunities to earn miles and more travel destinations for award travel. Both airlines recognize your loyalty and will do everything possible to keep you informed of changes and enhancements concerning the consolidation of the frequent flyer programs.

Do United Airlines' frequent flyer miles expire?
Just like miles earned on Dividend Miles on or after January 1, 2000, Mileage Plus miles do not expire as long as you either redeem or earn miles once every 36 months. Dividend Miles earned prior to January 1, 2000, never expire.

What advantages will there be to combining the two frequent flyer programs?
The new network will provide members in both programs with more opportunities to earn miles and a world of new destinations for award travel. The combined airlines will offer convenient travel, linking US Airways' eastern U.S. markets with United's East-West, West Coast, and International networks, including the Star Alliance airline partners. The convenience of one-airline, one-ticket/one baggage check-in, and one frequent flyer program will be unparalleled.

What are the requirements to get upgrades in the United Airlines' frequent flyer program?
There are numerous ways to earn and/or purchase upgrades. For specific Mileage Plus requirements, please contact United Airlines Mileage Plus Service Center at 1-800-421-4655 or visit United's web site at http://www.united.com.

There is much more there but it looks like it is official now, dividend miles is being scrapped and we will be stuck with all the crummy United rules

[This message has been edited by LikeItUpFront (edited 02-08-2001).]

If I am preferred status with US Airways, will I automatically get preferred status with United Airlines?

Both airlines recognize and value your loyalty. Dividend Miles preferred status will be honored through
February 28, 2002. The qualification levels for United's preferred tiers mirror US Airways' and
qualification for 2002 - 2003 preferred status will be based on combined qualifying mileage across
both programs. For specific Mileage Plus requirements please contact United Airlines Mileage Plus
Service Center at 1-800-421-4655 or visit http://www.united.com.

Say at the end of 2001 I am a Gold on US, and a PE on UA. Or say I fly 50,000 miles on US, and 50,000 on UA. Would I then in 2002 be a PE for UA, or would they take the two together, and make me a 1K?

I think it's clear from what LikeItUpFront posted that the mileage this year will be combined from the two airlines.

qualification for 2002 - 2003 preferred status will be based on combined qualifying mileage across both programs

Originally posted by jetsetter:
...say I fly 50,000 miles on US, and 50,000 on UA. Would I then in 2002 be a PE for UA, or would they take the two together, and make me a 1K?

My question exactly!!!

For me, it would be nice to take a few intl. mileage runs out IAD on UA e-fares. The prices tend to be good, even if the service is a bit sub-par when compared to US. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Originally posted by geo1004:
For me, it would be nice to take a few intl. mileage runs out IAD on UA e-fares. The prices tend to be good, even if the service is a bit sub-par when compared to US. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

You might as well start acclimating yourself to it though ... don't want to have to go cold turkey http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

I'm curious as to what will become of US upgrade certs with expiration dates after February of 2002. Will they be converted to UA 500 mile segment upgrades? How do they intend to address the segment mileage difference (800 miles vs. 500 miles)?

Originally posted by Beckles:
You might as well start acclimating yourself to it...

I believe a couple of trans-Atlantic roundtrips in United economy will do exactly that. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Alright, I think I may be the only loyal US flyer who is happy to see this. I had toyed with the idea of getting matching status on AA and transitioning business to them, but have decided against it.

Looking forward into my travel year, I can easily see 100k miles flown (I broke 25k last night over UA/US). My initial concern was that this would be broken up approximately 30/70 (US/UA) with US getting my travel to Europe (with the SWU http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif) and to the East Coast for all holidays and requisite fun stuff. UA would be getting all my business flying and pleasure travel WEST of the Mississippi.

But this merger is begining to look like more of a sure thing as the days go by <sigh>. I was planning a worst-case senario if the airlines remained separate. I was intending on flying only US to gain minimum Silver status and then moving all of my flying to UA to see how many miles and what status I would fly with them (most likely PremEx).

However, after going through the Customer Questions and Responses my travel planning for Y2K+1 will change, with UA's 1K in sight. Two planned itins on US (to NYC and CT) would put me at 25k US miles for '01 by april. I do not have to, nor will I, start transitioning pleasure tavel to UA at that point. I won't have to worry about wasting my (small) stack of SWUs on domestic flights but I will be able to use and enjoy them with friends in Envoy on the A330.

My only concern is that I will become a "Merger 1k" and I don't know how, if at all, I would be treated differently than a true UA 1K.

added... I believe that the mega UA/US Propaganda Staff is doing it's best in the transition. Reading the Questions and Responses for the UA/US Merger I believe that nearly all of our concerns of the merger have been answered. But I do wonder about some other things, like upgrade certs to name one.

I truly believe that UA is trying to make this merger go over as smooth as humanly possible for the US flyers. And at this point, I believe they are. I really do.

Yes I am aware we (all the new UA flyers) will all need to learn UA upgrade rules, and how to play the UA flying game that we have all learned and mastered with US.

I am aware that preferred benefits will change, service will change, routes will change, and more importantly the 9-Striped Flag on the tail of your aircraft will be replaced with a dual colored U, but IMHO UA is doing the best it possibly can.

I am begining to realize that today may mark a turning point in the flying for chexfan with a new realization of how great UA is and can be (even being stranded at ORD for 5 hours yesterday). A renaissance? Who knows. I am beginning to think that I may have been brainwashed by UA.

or maybe I'm just happy b/c I got a good night's sleep in my own bed

You've been brainwashed. We will have to take you in for re-programming.

It is in Untied's best interest to ensure the transition goes smoothly so I don't doubt they are doing that. When billions are on the line you can afford a good team to manage the transition.

However, it's still a transition to crap.

Originally posted by pitflyer:
You've been brainwashed. We will have to take you in for re-programming.

However, it's still a transition to crap.Like I said... 5 hours at ORD yesterday.

I am US Chairman for past several years and will repeat quite easily. Ultimately I will become a UA 1K without a doubt but I have no status on UA at this time and only fly one or two RTs with them each year. I need to continue flying USAir as much as possible to get upgrades and Chairmans double mile bonus. If I start flying United before the merger takes place I loose my double miles and wil be stuck in coach.

Now lets suppose the merger takes place in April, and the latest press release says: "Dividend Miles preferred status will be honored through February 28, 2002." Does this mean that I continue to get my unlimited north american upgrades that comes with chairmans status or does United's upgrade policy kick in immediatly?

Originally posted by LikeItUpFront:
Now lets suppose the merger takes place in April, and the latest press release says: "Dividend Miles preferred status will be honored through February 28, 2002." Does this mean that I continue to get my unlimited north american upgrades that comes with chairmans status or does United's upgrade policy kick in immediatly?

Good question. I would assume that you'd still get your unlimited NA upgrades (and all other CP benefits) through the end of February next year. First of all, I really can't see them merging the two airlines overnight if/when the merger goes through. If the merger happens, I am guessing that it will take place gradually and that UA and US will actually function separately for a while (just under the same name). Secondly, there'd be a lot of ticked off Preferred members out there (who worked hard for their benefits!) if we were just suddenly merged into UA's elite program. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by davohuang (edited 02-09-2001).]

Originally posted by chexfan:
Alright, I think I may be the only loyal US flyer who is happy to see this.

Believe it or not, you're not.

As you point out, it looks as if this merger is going to happen. I've gone back and forth about switching to AA or sticking with US as it gets incorporated into UA. I'm not thrilled with the idea of being a PremEx on UA and fighting the large population of 1K's and PremEx's in the DC area for upgrades. However, IMO, the strenghth of the Star Alliance and the mileage earning opportunities out of DCA/IAD/BWI tip the scales in favor of me sticking with UA.

You are brainwashed. If they merge, the systems will be separate for a bit, and we will get equivalent status, but with UA rules. For Chairman's, this means a shortened upgrade window. In addition, UA recognizes lifetime mileage, and specifically identifies 1K "million milers" (even on boarding passes). We won't get that opportunity immediately. With a diminution of Express operations (DC Air will now be an appendage of AA), connections in the East will be affected. This has always been about restricted slots at major airports, and the cashing in of stock options by senior managers. As soon as the coast is clear, they'll rationalize the route system, and dump the unprofitable places. They're not spending 60 bucks a share to buy an opportunity to compete with Southwest and JetBlue .

I had a conversation with a Gold Preferred agent earlier this week who said that after the merger closes (if?) US and UA would be operated as two separate airlines for at least 2 years. They might merge the FF programs sooner but I would assume US upgrade rules might stay longer.

Just a guess..

Art at ISP

I posted this under a different topic (How the merger might work) on January 12. It appears that US may still operate on its own as Art234 says.


From Jan 12:

I found the following interesting information on the USAirways Pilots Web Site (http://usairwayspilots.org/), MEC Code-a-Phone Update, January 11, 2001:
"The timeline for this entire process will most likely be rather lengthy. First and foremost, the Company and United have agreed to extend the Department of Justice’s regulatory review until April 2. The closing of the United/US Airways transaction would occur 60 to 90 days following the DOJ’s approval. After that time, US Airways would then be operated as a subsidiary of United for a period of time—possibly one to two years. It is during that period that the aircraft would be divested to American, and even that divestiture would take place over time. Thus, the transfer of what has been reported to be 86 aircraft from UAL to American may not be completed for many months, or longer, after the consummation of the US Airways-UAL deal."

This was from MEC Chairman Chris Beebe. The MEC is US Airways Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association. This is from one of the regular letters/voice-mails that are posted for ALPA members and refers to the fact that AA might actually offer the option for up to 1,100 US pilots to transfer to AA with their aircraft.

The interesting point is that US might still operate as a US subsidiary for up to 2 years after the DOJ approval. Maybe we DM golds will still get a chance for upgrades!

I fully believe the airline will be operated as a subsidiary for a considerable amount of time....

but...

will the frequent flier programs? I highly doubt that! It's a lot easier to chop our benefits, merge our accounts and make us beg for upgrades than to integrate the pilots, flight attendants, and so on and so forth!

So my thought is that within 6 months of the 'approval date' Dividend Miles will cease to exist-- and we'll be flying USAirways by Untied earning Untied MileagePlus miles in Coach.

Is there true reciprocity between the elite level programs? Will there be?

To plan ahead travel, I contacted United to comp my US Gold Preferred account ahead of any mergers. I received a Silver Mileage Plus card valid through 2/28. Gold=Silver?!?

I called the Mileage Plus Service number on the back of the card (had a longer wait than US) and was told that the comp was customary- comp one level below current program to "provide incentive to travel".
No promise of moving up with United as at the end of the month, US will downgrade me to a Silver member and United says they can not comp then "since I have already been comped once"?!?!

Does this sound right or is it just the work of Untied(no mispelling, this is correct word http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif)

Sounds like a mistake, WorldBanker -- I got comped from US Gold to UA PremEx early last year, didn't have to do anything special to get it. I had faxed a letter stating specifically that I would like to be comped to PremEx, with the US Gold statement as backup. Got it a couple days later.

I'd try again!