United-Continental merger: Transfer miles and status

Do you have miles split between United and Continental accounts and want to pool them for an award ticket? Do you have status on one airline and want a match on the other for higher upgrade priority? Both are now possible with a web site the companies have launched as part of their ongoing merger activities.

This site will let you transfer miles between accounts. Be aware that it’s restricted to increments of 1,000, which is not helpful for those of us who are 33 miles short of the next thousand.

This site will match your elite status on one airline with your account in the other.  You’ll also be able to combine elite earning activity between your United and Continental accounts in 2011, helping you reach the next status level faster.  You will choose which of the two accounts should receive perks like Regional and Systemwide upgrades.

I completed both of these processes myself to test how well this works.  The mileage transfer was instant; the status match wasn’t.

Note that neither process links or consolidates your mileage accounts.  This will happen later as the “new United” announces its new frequent flier program later this year.  So my orphaned 967 miles at United won’t go to waste after all.