I can't help you with an MR routings on either of these airlines (check the boards), but UA uses IAD & US uses DCA - it all depends on where you're going as to which partner to choose. I would recommend UA over US, but you can earn miles for one over the other. But really you should which one based on what's important to you - in terms of status levels, mileage earning opportunities, destinations, service, prices. If my company paid for all my travel, I'd fly UA, but since I pay for all my travel, the US flights are cheaper than the UA flights are, but I earn on UA. If you need status by the end of the year (3 week period) - I don't know if the 100.00 EQM thing is valid for non-statused fliers, but if it is, just do pay the fee & since you're from SFO, do a quick trip to Europe or Asia and get the miles. That'll put you to Premier and I'm sure you could figure out a way to do it relatively cheap.