...To wit, if I have 500,000 LT miles on CO and 500,000 LT miles on UA, do I get 1,000,000 LT miles on the combined airline? Or not? I hope so, but I suspect not. I think the combined airline will give pax whichever total is highest. Going forward, however, LT miles will be earned the CO way.
If you did get the combined LT miles (a bit of adding apples & oranges) there is an additional uncertainty, which benefit level would would this combined result receive? Lifetime Gold status that UA provided or Lifetime Sliver status (plus companion benefit) that CO provided?
This is definitely one of the more interesting merger issues. My guess it may be the end of 2011 before we know.