US Airways and United are both members of the Star Alliance, which means that you can redeem miles from one program to fly another on both domestic and international flights. US Airways' frequent flier program is called Dividend Miles; United's is Mileage Plus. Miles from one airline program cannot be combined or transferred to another, however. You may use the miles to fly on the other carrier, but you cannot transfer to the other carrier's frequent flier program, and you cannot consolidate miles.
Become a member of both programs, and you can earn miles for flights on either airline.
Get elite status by earning miles for flights on either airline.
Work your way up to being an elite member of both programs, and you can receive elite benefits when traveling on either airline (preferential check-in and boarding, priority wait list, etc.).
Use your United miles to get bonuses on US Airways flights. US Airways matches United's elite mileage bonuses on all flights operated by US Airways.
