I must disagree with you on this one, Dirkman. If we don't think it was right for UA to remove preferred seating for *A pax, then how can we condone US doing the same? ("Two wrongs don't make a right"?) US's reaction seemed very spiteful. Luckily, the rest of the *A has not yet been as spiteful, for I found out that I will still be eligible for preferred seating on an upcoming Air New Zealand flight.


As for the OP's question. If you want preferred seating on US while getting miles on UA, here's how I've been told to do so. Reserve the preferred seat with your DM number when you book the ticket. Then, when you get to the airport, go to the kiosk and change your FF# to your UA number. Your seat assignment will not change.

I'd like to see someone else confirm this strategy because the recent res system migration may have rendered the strategy useless.