Airline Merger Madness

This spring break trip to Nicaragua was also my first chance to fly on the airline that resulted from the merger of United and Continental. These strange bedfellows clearly have some bedbugs to work out.
The frequent flier program still has the United Mileage Plus name but I now have to use an ancient Continental account number that went unused for 20 years while I was busy earning preferred status on Star Alliance under my United number and credit card. While it's nice to be able to combine the miles in the two accounts, the combined airline has a strange idea of premier access that involves boarding in group 5. Really? A gate agent explained that it really meant group 4. What happened to boarding the silver members after gold and first class? She said she didn't understand it either and passengers were mostly confused and getting on line at will.
The pilot made sure to point out that United flight 1135 was being flown by a Continental crew and said that Continental flight attendants would take care of us. So far it looks about as friendly as when rival tribes merge on Survivor!
I just want my status to mean something on the new airline.