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Passengers flying US Airways may soon be able to use and receive frequent-flier miles when they book flights with United Airlines, and vice versa. That would be part of the outcome of a marketing agreement reached yesterday between the carriers. The agreement must first be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The "code-share" will allow the airlines to sell seats on each other's flights, and will enable US Airways to become stronger in the West with United gaining a stronger presence on the East Coast and across the South.

In a statement yesterday, US Airways president David N. Siegel said the agreement was a centerpiece of the financially troubled airline's application for a $900 million federal loan guarantee of a $1 billion private-sector loan. The Air Transportation Stabilization Board has tentatively approved that guarantee. The airline still has to finalize deals on labor concessions with its unions and negotiations with lenders and lessors.