I like to keep some orphan miles in different programs, usually just enough for a free trip. Should something come up they are there if I need them.

I wouldn't move them around, I'd use them where they were or through one of the partners like cruise4miles. Even if you pay for a coach ticket and use them to upgrade on United it's still a better thing then losing them. Remember, you can use the United miles on any of the Star carriers. As has already been pointed out, you don't get status for flights with miles.