This is kind of funny. I told my husband that I was posting this question, and he told me that it was way too complicated and that no one would understand it.

I will check into schedules. I may split the difference and do the first flight (very tight, two-day timeframe) on United and the November trip on USAir. That will give me more time to get up to Silver Preferred on USAir so I can get the extra miles. I might even be able to get a credit card by then so that I can have Gold Preferred status--who knows?

Thanks for the advice.