It can't be this easy.

I've never, and may never fly AC; but the agenda for next year has some places where a *G card would be a huge bonus (South Africa, Thailand, etc.)

I sign up for Aeroplan, fly 35k on UA, US, and in a few months, CO. In UA and US it looks like any published fare counts 100%.

That 35k before 31 December = *G through Feb 2011, without ever flying AC?

(oneWorld has the 4 segments on the status-granting carrier rule. Any such rule over here?)