I am wondering if anyone knows... if one can book online with one airline-say continental (to get that 4000 AMEX bonus)-and then insert in your elite status number on another airline, in this case NW, either after ticketing or at the airport so as to get an upgrade and accumulate the miles and status bonus on that airline's partner.? same question applies for all the various partner relationships...

(I am new so hope i didn't miss this before)

chow