Reviving this from the dead. I am in the exact same situation. I just got my A3 *G last November, and with the new A3 rules it's only going to last 1 year. Re-qualification requirement also higher for A3. So I want to change to Asiana.

On my flight from YVR to IAH, I checked in online with my A3 *G status. Free Baggage and got Boarding Group 1. I got a mobile boarding pass, but also got a paper BP when I checked in my luggage. At the gate, I asked to change to my Asiana FFP#. The Gate Agent went ahead and do it but took my paper boarding pass and issued me a new one with Boarding Group 3 instead.

I asked about why I can't retain my benefits (priority boarding), with the same old but true argument that I already earned my status last year to use this year. Why do I have to keep contributing to A3 to keep using my rightfully earned benefits? Of course the argument was to no effect. I was even threatened that I could've been charged baggage fee again and he's just waiving it this time.

Is there any other elegant way of doing this to be able to put my miles to Asiana but also to use my rightfully earned benefits? I was thinking if I could've just boarded with my Mobile BP instead which at the time still showed Boarding Group 1 and Premier Access. Any clue if that'd work? Thanks!