I think your question would be better answered in the US Airways forum.

I would recommend that you sign up for the US Airways Mastercard, which gives you 40,000 miles free with your first purchase, annual fee waived for the first year, and 10,000 miles after a year to keep the card. Read in the US Airways forum about the Grand Slam promo, and other ways to accumulate miles. Then try to upgrade on US Airways using your free miles. I'm not sure which program would be more valuable for you, but there's no reason you can't collect miles in both programs. If you are close to acquiring status, I wouldn't switch the program you are accumulating in until the end of the year.

Continental will vanish into United in a couple months, so I would also recommend you start reading about the United frequent flyer program as well.

Good luck!