We are currently Silver Preferred on USAirways (and will be next year as well). We are moving in the spring and want to switch to United. I just want to clarify that I understand things that I have read in this thread..

I need to email United regarding doing a challenge. We will need to fly 6,250 miles on United within 90 days. We will have premiere status on United while doing the challenge. Is this all correct? What happens if we fly enough miles to qualify for the next level during the challenge (I think it would be 12,500)? Would we get upgraded to the next level or would we still have the Silver Preferred equivalent level?

How long does it usually take United to give you the status? We will be doing two round trips between PIT and SEA in Feb and March, which will be more than enough miles. I don't want to do it to early and miss the deadline to earn miles, but I don't want to wait to long either.

Neither my husband or I have United accounts now. Should we open these before asking for the challenge? All flying we have done on United in the past we have just earned USAirways miles for.

Thanks for the help!