If I reserve UA FF trips to occur in 2005 before my 2P status expires, am I likely to retain E+ seats even if the flights occur after the status expires?

Could happen, but you'd be surprised at how well controlled UA's auditing system is. I've had "double upgrades" in the past that, about a day or two before the flight, get discovered and they put me where I belong. I'm not sure they monitor economy so closely.

You can go for it, but if your seat gets changed--no complaining, ok?

Your seats will remain until such time as UA's computers need to do a "seat sweep" (equipment change, etc.) at which time you will be kicked to the back of the bus.

So if no sweep happens, you should be good.

I'm not sure this is correct -- my experience has been that the status you have with a given record/ticket at the time of ticketing will stay with the record. My experience is based on an SFO-LHR trip I booked back in Februrary when I was a premEx before getting dropped back down to regular Premier. For that trip,

1. my boarding passes had "Premier Executive" printed on them.
2. my seat assignment was changed _into_ an exit row at some time in July (i.e. after my "real" status had changed)
3. I got an operational upgrade on the return flight, which is much more likely as a 1P than as a 2P.

Also, others have noted that E+ isn't available upon _gaining_ premier status until the MP number is deleted and re-entered.

So based on that, I'm predicting that if you book all of your travel before Feb 29, you should be good to go in E+,

However, you won't get the mileage bonuses... (I still only got the 25% bonus for that flight).

Dan

I think danM is correct. That is why when your status is upgraded you must call to have them re-enter your MP number so that your new status is reflected. I think if you book a bunch of flights with your old status--then you will fly under that old status even if time has passed and you are no longer that status.

Yes you should make sure and not have your MP number deleted and reentered on your reservation after dropping down a notch.