I've been following this closely as I plan to fly BA next year and was hoping to combine the miles with my current AW miles.

I read today (CNN) that the merger has been approved and will start next week. I also read (US Airways website) that they will request to stay in the Star Alliance with United.

I'm guessing this means the new US Airways will not codeshare with BA anymore as BA's main partner is AA, right? What about Virgin- where is their alliance?

BA is ending its codeshare with AW as of Oct 29th, 2005. The FF relationship will end Dec 31, 2005.

You will not be able to combine your AW and BA miles after the codeshare ends.

Sorry hit the enter key too soon.
BA is partners with AA, not USAIR. You cannot get BA FF credit for AA transatlantic flights.

Virgin is partners with Delta and Continental. AW is listed as a partner but don't know how the AW-USair merger is going to affect that.

Thanks for your reply. I guess I was just looking for confirmation...

Since we're planning on flying BA transatlantic, can those combine with AA FF miles, especially since at least 1 leg will be an AA flight?

BA flights between the US and UK does not earn AAdvantage miles. Those from Canada or Carribean do, but not from the US. That's the deal BA and AA made with authorities when they became partners, as together the two airlines command a huge marketshare of the US-UK market, especially to Heathrow.

So BA miles are only good on BA and not combinable with any other FF program?

Can you combine AA miles (domestic flights) with BA miles?

You can never combine miles from two different FF programs. [Except in situation like a merger.] You can use BA miles on a wide range of partners, including all of oneworld alliance. Same thing with AA miles.

Just can't earn AA miles on BA UK-US flights, and can't earn BA miles on AA US-UK flights.

Again, miles cannot be combined.

Got it. Thanks!