US Airways has deepened its involvement in American Airlines' bankruptcy case, but American says it's a publicity stunt.

On Thursday, US Airways told the bankruptcy court that it supported American' request for more time to draft a restructuring plan.

US Airways has been pursuing a merger with American parent AMR Corp. for months, but it gained status in the bankruptcy case only when it bought $1 million worth of AMR bonds. That rankled the folks at AMR.

AMR spokesman Bruce Hicks says US Airways' court filing was "a meaningless ploy to garner publicity." He says US Airways owns just a small amount of debt, which "gives it no special position with the court or in this process."

US Airways must wait before presenting a merger plan in court.