US Airways Dividend Miles - Keeping/losing status by 25+/- miles

Does anyone know how US arrives at mileage numbers on codeshare flights when calculating for preferred status?

In calculating my upcoming flying for the next two months, I will be very close to keeping or losing US Silver status.

I have an IAD-IAH-SNA-DEN-DCA trip coming up, with all segments on United except the IAH-SNA, which is on Continental. I also have some US Airways flights that will all generate 500 mile segments.

Using United's numbers for the trip to SNA (when added to the sure thing US flights), I will end up 5 miles short of keeping Silver. 24,995. Using Expedia's numbers, I will end up 6 miles short. Using the mileage calculator at WebFlyer, I will end up 20 miles above.

Alternately, has anyone experienced US having a little flexibility on this? Or are they "letter of the law?"

Does anyone know how US arrives at mileage numbers on codeshare flights when calculating for preferred status?

In calculating my upcoming flying for the next two months, I will be very close to keeping or losing US Silver status.

I have an IAD-IAH-SNA-DEN-DCA trip coming up, with all segments on United except the IAH-SNA, which is on Continental. I also have some US Airways flights that will all generate 500 mile segments.

Using United's numbers for the trip to SNA (when added to the sure thing US flights), I will end up 5 miles short of keeping Silver. 24,995. Using Expedia's numbers, I will end up 6 miles short. Using the mileage calculator at WebFlyer, I will end up 20 miles above.

Alternately, has anyone experienced US having a little flexibility on this? Or are they "letter of the law?"

Since they let members buy up to any preferred level desired, it would seem counterproductive to offer flexibility for free.

Since they let members buy up to any preferred level desired, it would seem counterproductive to offer flexibility for free.

That plus all the other bonus opportunities this year to to earn preferred status miles and I think it will be very easy for them to say no even if you're one mile short. Also you're talking about being short for Silver Preferred. If you already passed the SP threshold and were going to be short for Gold by only a scant few miles I'd say you'd have a shot at some flexibility. But short for Silver? Don't think it's gonna happen. Sorry.

For a completely different viewpoint, here's my Mom's story:

Last year (2008), my Mother only had 24,450 US miles due to a late schedule change on a UA flight. To my surprise, she was awarded US Silver Status on 3/1/09. So, they do give you some wiggle room, but it's not published anywhere! YMMV in 2009. At worst, you will have to pay a couple of hundred dollars.

Am also going to try to chase down a missing flight credit I just noticed. It's from ages ago - more than six months - on a short flight overseas.

We'll see if they give me a break on that one. Here's hoping.

....my upcoming flying for the next two months....I also have some US Airways flights that will all generate 500 mile segments. ...

Don't forget too that under the automatic (no registration req'd) Race to Preferred promo, if you fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments on US/USX between Oct 1 and Dec 25 2009, you'd be awarded Silver status on Jan 10, 2010.

Best wishes.

I seem to recall they have a small cushion. I don't remember exactly how much, but certainly 50 miles or more.

Don't forget that you still have until 11/15 to earn "hits" under the Grand Slam promotion. 12 hits will net you 4,000 EQM.

Based on the timing of when the different partners recognize the transactions, won't it be tough to earn 12 hits between now and the 15th of November?

I was in a similar situation back in 2007, I had reached Silver earlier that year and at one point was going to be 1 segment short of Gold. My wife called and was told that, though unpublished, they normally will bump people up if within 500 miles or 1 segment. I wound up flying one extra round-trip and was 3 segments over the threshold anyway, so it didn't matter. I have no idea if they would do that now, of course, being that 2009 is quite different from 2007. It's certainly better to exceed the thresholds or buy it outright, that way you KNOW you have it!

I called a few days ago as Mrs. Steves has 29,000 already this year (silver) and will fly 14,996 miles in the period Oct1-Dec30 - bring her 4 miles short of gold with the new promotion to fly 15,000 miles in 3 months. I cannot add legs to the flights - tickets are bought - and when I asked they said there is nothing to be done now and perhaps she may take another flight (not in the cards).

It does seem unfair that she will be way over the Silver threshold for miles already flown this year and even for the last 3 months of the year. To be 4 miles short of gold when you flew 44,000 miles and someone will get gold if they only fly 15,000 - and only 4 more miles in the last 3 months - it just is irksome. I hope there is some leeway when the end of the year arrives and I ask again. (I will be platinum via BUS miles by then)