American Express Membership Rewards - confused newbie: using MR on UAL thru US Air?

lurker in read only mode for 2 years b4 asking a question (i hate to ask what has already been answered)...

i have read posts about how the only way to get UAL miles from MR points is to use a hotel program as a conduit (at lousy conversion rates). my confusion:

you can convert MR to US Air and US Air is part of the star alliance- obviously including UAL. so... why don't people do that? i have 70,000 MR points i plan to transfer to delta today with the 35% bonus (already confirmed with them that my registration is valid for the 35%). but, being in sfo, the UAL is more usable for me and, from my experience, one heck of a lot easier to find a seat on for both domestic and intl. so, if i can fly UAL thru transfering to US Air, that is what i'd do.

can someone explain what i'm missing (ie: is it that US Air's % of UAL seats is so low that you can never get a seat?). like i said, i'm confused.

thanks!

i have read posts about how the only way to get UAL miles from MR points is to use a hotel program as a conduit (at lousy conversion rates). my confusion:

can someone explain what i'm missing (ie: is it that US Air's % of UAL seats is so low that you can never get a seat?). like i said, i'm confused.

thanks!

Lurk no more. Welcome.

You hit it on the head. UA allocates very few award seats to US Air so getting an award through the US Air desk using its miles on UA is tough but not impossible.

To get better replies you might want to search word united or words united awards in the US Air forum.

Hope this helps.

Lurk no more. Welcome.

You hit it on the head. UA allocates very few award seats to US Air so getting an award through the US Air desk using its miles on UA is tough but not impossible.

To get better replies you might want to search word united or words united awards in the US Air forum.

Hope this helps.

yes, it did. thanks. i did google searches of the whole site and didn't find anything (too many results, too). forgot that when i am actually signed in, i can search by forum. duh!

the 35% is sooo tempting, but, from my calls to DAL awards, there are many destinations that have zero seats for the next 8 months (all the places i am flying to are northwest metal some or all of the way). hate to convert that many MR points and then not be able to use the DAL miles (to me, a non business traveller, 70/90,000 miles is A LOT).

thanks again.

I have moved MR points to ANA airlines, which is also a Star Alliance partner, and if I could see saver rewards avail on the United site, I could get it using my ANA miles. Of course, always check with USAIR or ANA prior to transfering your points to be sure seats are avail.

Might it not also work with Air Canada?