Trying to get status matched for upgrade on COPA
 

I am a UA 1K and Delta Silver (thru early 2011; Delta status matched my prior lower status on UA from last year).

I am flying several COPA flights, and am wondering how to (1) get miles for this on Star Alliance (I have no status with Continental) and (2) have the possibility for upgrades.

I have tried to have Continental match my UA 1K status, with no luck. Are there other options available?

1. You can't. COPA is not in *A. It's a OnePass alliance partner. Airlines have lots of partnerships that aren't part of one of the major alliances.
2. Buy a business class ticket.

No *A member will status match another. Why do you think Continental would status your 1K as UA and CO are merging? :confused:

Actually the answer to #1 is to credit to OnePass. The miles will post into the OnePass program and can be redeemed following the OnePass rules, which include all *A partners. The OP cannot get credit on UA, but that's much different than saying it is impossible to get credit in *A.

For #2, you can try to have CO match the DL status and hope to get the upgrade as a silver or you can redeem OnePass miles for the upgrade.