Dear Randy,

I am a frequent flyer out of Portland, Ore. (PDX). I currently use US Airways as my mileage program (Silver status, Gold by end of year). I fly internationally (multiple destination) and domestically (mainly New York and Houston) for business. For pleasure (with companion), mainly West Coast destination (California and Arizona). What would be the best program for me to switch to (or not) for upgrades (me and companion) and status accumulation?

Also, have you ever heard of an airline program matching status? Say, if I switched from US Airways to United or American?

- Kati

Randy replies:

Kati, lovely area Portland is and congrats on living there. A funny thing happened on the way to answering this for you -- I noticed you were interested in upgrades and international destinations. The funny part, Southwest Airlines would have been a natural suggestion given their presence there in Portland. However, given what you have described, there are certainly market forces working in your favor. I will be making a recommendation to you and will explain the subtleties of the advice.

I highly recommend you change your frequent flyer loyalty to the Continental OnePass program. The reason is lengthy so stay with me on this. Sometime next year there will be an airline alliance change. Continental Airlines is joining the Star Alliance, which means they will partner with US Airways where you have miles and as well, United Airlines. As you might know, Continental currently partners with Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, both of which have a healthy presence there in Portland. The positive side of this is that you'll still be able to retain the use of US Airways in that market and as well take advantage of the similar if not stronger elite-level program that Continental offers. Now, the timing on this will be crucial. As you can guess, airline alliances don't like their partners "recruiting" elite members from inside the alliance, which is why it is rare, though possible in your current situation, for United Airlines Mileage Plus to offer you a chance to move your elite status from US Airways. Given that Continental Airlines is currently in the competing SkyTeam Alliance, this is the perfect time for you to try for a "status match" which will come in handy later on. And it works perfect for you. You say that New York and Houston are your more frequent business travel destinations. Well, New York and Houston are both Continental Airline hubs, which means plenty of positive connections to those destinations from Portland. As for upgrades? Continental OnePass has a very long history for having one of the best upgrade policies in the industry, very well matching, if not exceeding that of US Airways. And really, United is not to be overlooked as a partner. They have plenty of lift westward to Asia if that is in your international itineraries and Continental certainly adds to what United, US Airways and the rest of the Star Alliance have east to Europe and beyond.

Now, frankly you could stay with US Airways as I noticed you also consider that a possibility in your question. But I can't in good conscience recommend you stay with US Airways. By doing so you'd rob yourself of at least 50,000 bonus miles because US Airways recently decided it was not in their best interest to have a competitive elite-level program with regard to the benefits they offer their elite members -- they no longer offer elite flight bonuses to any member.

But this opportunity is great for you. You'll get an equal to, and perhaps better, upgrade policy AND your elite benefits will actually increase. Here's why. In the old US Airways Dividend Miles elite program, Gold members (the level that you say you will soon qualify for) earned a 50 percent bonus for your frequency and loyalty to US Airways. As noted, that benefit is now gone. Continental OnePass, the program I am recommending you move to, actually awards a 100 percent bonus for their Gold members. And each Gold level, whether for US Airways or for Continental, requires 50,000 actual miles flown to gain membership (some credit card spend counts toward elite status depending on the card and the offer) so you would not have to worry about one program requiring more travel than the other to achieve elite status. So, just by moving your business from US Airways to Continental, you'll be giving yourself at least a 50,000-mile bonus during next year. How's that for a start.

Now, I'll give you advice on the status match and as well compare the upgrade policies of the two programs.

To get a status match, you want to act soon because you are currently losing elite bonus miles by staying with US Airways and you will need to do so before Continental actually joins the Star Alliance. Now, you'll naturally end up with miles in these two programs, which you will not be able to consolidate into one program without a significant loss of value. However, next year you'll be able to use the miles from each account toward awards on either airline because of their new partnership.

Now, Continental typically will just match elite level for elite level, so this is tricky. If you do a status match now, you'll likely just get Silver Elite and unless you've got a lot of flying to do by year's end, you may not actually qualify for Gold with Continental. But then again, you are currently losing out on elite bonuses. It turns out to be a judgment call. I'll go with staying with US Airways until you actually qualify for Gold with their Preferred program (obviously the sooner the better) and then the instant you get your Gold Preferred credentials, follow the instructions below to apply for a status match from Continental. I say it's a judgment call because you will lose elite bonus miles from US Airways until you make the switch, but you'll make that up next year because Silver Elite at Continental offers 50 percent bonus miles while Gold is 100 percent bonus miles.

Send you status match request to Continental at this address: OA Match Request, P.O. Box 4757, Houston, TX 77210-4757 (OA stands for "other airline"), a copy of your current elite status card and a copy of your latest elite statement along with a note explaining that you'd like to shift your airline travel business to them based on the recent decision by US Airways to eliminate their elite bonuses and if they will match your current elite status with US Airways. Inform them that both New York and Houston are your most common business travel destinations and it would not hurt to choose an elite statement that shows travel to those destinations -- highlighted of course.

As for upgrades, here's the policy of both: OnePass Elite unlimited upgrades (including companion) are valid for travel within or between the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Dividend Miles Preferred members receive unlimited upgrades (including companion) within the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Canada, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean area. Continental qualifies upgrades: Gold Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- beginning three calendar days before departure; Silver Elite members on non-Y fare classes -- beginning one calendar day before departure. US Airways qualifies upgrades: Gold beginning three days prior to departure and Silver beginning two days prior to departure. You can see that at the Gold level, the upgrade benefits are identical. Good luck.