American Express Membership Rewards - US / UA Agreement May Bring Value to MR

Looks like transfers to the US Air program can now result in upgrade / award flights on UA.

Finally getting MR into a major alliance?

One time opportunity like TWA?

It also makes we worry about the US Gold Preferred comp with the Centurion Card...

This is a huge upgrade to the program and could possibly be the justification behind the price increase to $2,500...US Gold = UA Premiere Executive! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Would be interesting to know if US Gold status is at risk, but I think the porgram would have a hard time sustaining itself if US pulled out.

Not really... if US pulls out, Amex will do the same thing they did when TWA got bought out. Namely, send out a notice, give a limited amount of time to transfer MR points to US and then adios muchachos... since when have they worried about diluting/cancelling benefits??? That's IF US decides to stop participating in the program. I hope not, PremEx on UA would be a NICE benefit.

[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 07-29-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nologic:
This is a huge upgrade to the program and could possibly be the justification behind the price increase to $2,500...US Gold = UA Premiere Executive! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

US Gold does not equal UA PE since you don't get Star Alliance Gold.

[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 07-29-2002).]

This works! Has anyone called United or Centurion yet to request it? See here from, united.com:

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United and US Airways Announce Code-Share Agreement

Agreement provides significant benefits, gives customers access to both carrier’s frequent-flyer programs
For Immediate Release

CHICAGO, July 24, 2002 -- United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) today announced an agreement with US Airways that will allow both carriers to market service on each other's networks, providing significant consumer benefits and bringing new revenue and customers to their route networks.

"This agreement will bring additional competition to other airlines and network alliances," says Jack Creighton, United's chairman and chief executive officer. "As a result, customers will enjoy expanded service, greater connection opportunities, and reciprocal access to each carrier’s frequent-flyer programs.

“The agreement allows both carriers to complement their route networks in a way that will attract new traffic and boost revenue for both airlines," Creighton continues. "We believe today’s agreement is a good strategic fit for both carriers and critical to our recovery efforts. At the same time, competition between the carriers will remain strong, and the companies will retain separate pricing, scheduling, and sales forces.”

As part of the agreement, customers will be able to earn and redeem miles in each carrier’s frequent-flyer programs. They also will benefit from a more streamlined process for ticket reservation, check-in, and baggage transfers.

The agreement was signed on July 24 and has been approved by the Master Executive Councils of each airline's pilots' union. United Airlines and US Airways today also notified the U.S. Department of Transportation of the agreement.

"These types of agreements are a long-standing part of the core business model for the airline industry, and ours is no different," Creighton says. "In fact, U.S. carriers today are involved in more than 100 such agreements."

United operates more than 1,900 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United may be found at the company’s website at www.united.com. (http://www.united.com.)

[This message has been edited by WhiteAMEX (edited 07-29-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Has anyone called United or Centurion yet to request it?</font>

Unless and until the agreement takes effect, there is nothing to "request."

Even then it is unlikely there will be anything to "request" beyondf US Gold status, which most Centurion Card holders have already requested.

The request would be for the United Premier Exec. As a Centurion holder, US Gold is automatic. The partnership is already in effect.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The request would be for the United Premier Exec.</font>

What could possibly lead you to believe that the US/UA partnership will result in PremEx status for Centurion Card holders?

We will defacto have it (UA PE) in terms of reciprocal upgrade priviledges on UA!

Yes, you will have recipricol privileges. You will *NOT* get a UA Prem. Exec. card, or even a UA Prem Exec membership. But as long as the partnership remains in place, you will have the same privileges with your US Gold membership.

Also, the USAirways FAQ(on their web site) about the UA agreement states that after about a year, they hope to bring US into the Star Alliance. So, a US Gold membership could have far reaching benefits in the long run!