Airlines are generally anxious to poach the business of competing carriers’ elite members. As a result, many are willing to match the status that one has in a program with like status in their own loyalty scheme.

Usually this is an unpublished, unmentioned benefit. However, USAirways has the process on its website.

We will be glad to review your Dividend Miles tier status in light of your tier level with another airline. Please fax a written Preferred Exception request, along with current tier documentation for the other airline, to 305-370-3513. It is important to include your Dividend Miles account number, your email address and a daytime telephone number so that we can contact you after your correspondence is reviewed.

That USAirways is willing to do this comes as no surprise. It’s mentioned, along with several other carriers, in a thread I created at Flyertalk.com called The Status Match Master Thread. But it’s interesting that the information is available on its website.