Flew SEA-ABQ on US, e.g., America West, over the weekend. I'm UA 1p (*Gold), Mrs. BH is 2p. When we made the reservations on line all we could find were two separated middle seats. At SEA we inquired, flashed the gold card & got reseated to an aisle/middle. So far, so good. PHX to ABQ ... no soap. On my return yesterday (Mrs. BH is still there at a conference), I checked in at ABQ yesterday thinking that I'd be stuck with the middle seat tp PHX that my online res had shown. However, the agent w/o me even asking, changed me to an aisle seat ... Gold card in hand may have helped. PHX-SEA had aisle per reservation; plane very crowded, seating cramped; baggage delivery at SEA verrrrry sloooowww. General impression: *Gold definitely helped for boarding priority. US in-flight service marginal. UA wins because of E+ rows. Fly US in the future? Sure, if a UA codeshare; otherwise, only if no other plausible choice. (Did codeshare once at a better fare w/US, even tho on UA metal). Recent impression probably tainted by the America West component. US per se could be worse?/better? don't know ... and not in a hurry to find out.