If you qualify this year based on real preferred miles or segments (not a challenge), does status last until Feb 28, 2003, or Feb 28, 2004? It seems like if it were 2003, there will be fewer preferreds on Mar 1 since there are fewer people who can make status by Feb each year.

Feb.- 2004

It does last until 2004 ...

But you are also right that there a fewer Preferred Members on March 1 than the previous day ... that is the only day that Preferred members typically lose their memberships.

Dont forget that 2004 is a Leap Year! It'll be February 29th, 2004. Woo-Hoo... one extra day of Preferred Benefits! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

I just got my Silver package and it says that my Preferred Status is valid until 2/28/03. I did initially (for about 4 days)qualify for Silver on a challenge, but the very next week, I had over 25,000 Preferred Miles. The package had a thank you letter, my Silver card, 2 systemwide upgrades, and 2 800-mile North American upgrades. I have 2 questions:
1) Will my status last longer than 2/28/03 now that I have over 25,000 Preferred Miles?
2) Is this the standard Silver package, or did I get a watered-down version because of the challenge? (i.e. no luggage tags)
I hope I don't seem insensitive to US's financial problems, but I do think they'll get through this...

The Silver and Gold challenges in the first half of the year typically have only given that status until the end of Feb of the following year.

The Silver and Gold challenges that occur in the later half of the year typicall have given status through the following year.

But, earning the requisite number of tier miles any time during the year will secure your spot in the Preferred Lines from that point until the last day of the SECOND February passes. So, to answer your questions:

1.) yes
2.) no, your welcome pack has the same perks as anyone else.