I was always under the impression that the UA-ZK relationship and anything around award tickets, earning miles, etc. only applied if the ZK flight (ZK or UA code) was being flown in connection with a UA flight.

Example, you want to go from Denver, CO to Page, AZ. You take Rar from DEN-PHX and then ZK from PHX-PGA.

If you were just going from PHX-PGA, you would not get anything from UA.

This has always been my impression of this relationship.

\rec