US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Elite benefits when using my MP number

Do I still get US elite benefits, such as upgrades and priority check-in/boarding if I book with my US DM number, but then change it to my UA MP number? I have a bunch of old UA miles, and am trying to get just enough for an award ticket.

You can't use your free US upgrades when you credit a flight to your UA account. However, even if you do credit your US flights to UA you can probably get away with priority boarding and check-in by flashing your US Gold Preferred card to the agents.

What if I wait till the upgrade clears, and have the flight changed to my MP number at the airport? Or will they not do that?

What if I wait till the upgrade clears, and have the flight changed to my MP number at the airport? Or will they not do that?

Can't be done. Once you put your UA number in the record, the upgrade will cancel out.

Can't be done. Once you put your UA number in the record, the upgrade will cancel out.

Just one more question for you, because I am still unfamiliar with DM, and just recently started using US. Would I have any better luck using US metal with UA reservations and UA status? Would I get some kind of upgrades then, or would I have no opportunity with that either? I will probably just forget about the UA miles I have, for now, because upgrades on US, and the 100% bonus are more important. Thanks for the help so far.

Would I have any better luck using US metal with UA reservations and UA status? Would I get some kind of upgrades then, or would I have no opportunity with that either?

If you book a US metal flight with a UA flight number (codeshare) and you credit the miles to US, you can only request an upgrade on the day of departure---not at the 3-day window like you can if you booked your flight on a US ticket.

If you credit a US/UA codeshare flight to your UA Mileage Plus account, still no free upgrade since it's US metal.

I've never tried doing this, but I presume if you already have assigned exit row seats and switch to your UA # at the gate, you can probably still keep your exit row seats -- even if you don't have status on UA. Somebody who has actually done this can hopefully confirm the accuracy of this statement.

I've never tried doing this, but I presume if you already have assigned exit row seats and switch to your UA # at the gate, you can probably still keep your exit row seats -- even if you don't have status on UA. Somebody who has actually done this can hopefully confirm the accuracy of this statement.


That makes sense, because if elites have not already taken exit rows, they may be assigned at the gate. Therefore, if you switch your number, even if they took away your exit, you could still re-request it. Even when I had no status with anybody, I used to get there a little early and always grab the exit.