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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2016

Old Jan 3, 2016, 12:15 pm
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Last edit by: wxguy
GS/Global Services is the highest tier of elite status. It is by invitation -- the invite criteria is not public but seems to require substantial annual spending with UA both in terms of absolute dollar amounts and purchasing higher fare classes (higher cpm - cents per mile). There are also reports of GS status being comped by UA Marketing to VIPs in companies who sign corporate travel deals with UA. The sole published way to qualify is to become a 4MM, having flown 4 million BIS miles on UA metal (plus additional grandfathered credits at the time of the UA/CO merger).

GS have significantly enhanced services / benefits over 1Ks. There is little said publicly by UA on GS benefits and/or qualification.

Last years's thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread - Qualifications, Benefits and Q & A [2015]
Thread on qualifying for 2016, Global Services 2016 Notifications (ONLY)

Known facts from United:

Global Services recognizes the extraordinary dedication of our top flyers. We consider a number of factors beyond the usual Premier-qualifying criteria.

We look at your travel spend on United-operated flights relative to that of other top Premier flyers over recent consecutive years.

Usually, members invited to Global Services tend to consistently purchase premium cabins or fully refundable tickets.

Known Award and Upgrade Benefits:

All benefits noted below require calling a GS agent:
  • GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available.
  • GS can create saver business award space (IN) if R inventory is available.
  • GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business First with a GPU if PN inventory is available.
  • GS can upgrade business awards (IN or JN) into Global First with a GPU if ON inventory is available.
  • GS are entitled to one saver award seat in the same class of service with their purchase of any premium fare. GS agents can open space if it is not available.
  • GS can upgrade a companion from coach to biz when flying on a paid biz fare, even if R or PN is not available.
  • GS cannot double upgrade. Economy -> PN -> ON is not allowed. *Some reports of TOD being offered at OLCI.
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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2016

Old Jan 6, 2016, 7:53 am
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,633
Originally Posted by EnvoyBoy
Or is this indicative of a lot of GS who gave up on UA last year and are now all over at DL?

We're seeing everyone getting GS but we're not seeing all the 2015 GS who are no longer in 2016.
Excellent point.
kirkwoodj is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 8:08 am
  #17  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,115
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Excellent point.
Is this the thread for that kind of information.

Maybe Wiki for this thread shows the thread for what you need.
Michael D is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 12:40 pm
  #18  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,606
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Excellent point.
Yes, there must be a lot of gnashing of teeth and wailing but where?
manstein58 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 2:43 pm
  #19  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Seems like there will be a lot more GS this year, bar seems lowered...Will start finding out in a couple days
I don't think we can tell much from the 20-30 people who posted first time GS in the other forum. Many had high spend and I would have been amazed if they hadn't got it.

I personally new 5 people who got GS last year on less than 40K spend.

It will be interesting to see how many GS people line up for my Friday flight though.
bldr1k is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2016, 9:48 pm
  #20  
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,277
I recevied a bottle of wine today from United thanking me for flying a lot with them in 2015. Not sure if this is a GS benefits, but want to post here to see if others have reveived the wine.

It is 2012 Beringer Vineyards Nappa Valley 'Private Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon. Listed for $390 but solde through the Vinyard Website for $165.

Regarding some have observed that UA may have lowered GS qualfication threshold for 2016 based on the number of low spent (as listed in other thread), I am giving UA the benefit of doubt. I actually think premium cabin paying passengers are decreasing. I have flown United for over 20 years as a premium cabin flyer. The P and Z fares of 2015 on transpac routes are almost identical to the C/D fares I paid back in 1995. There were no P/Z fare back in 1995 and I understand there are differences between C/D and P/Z, but it seems market demand has created heavily discounted business fare categories. There were plenty of P/Z fares throughout of 2015.

A passenger spending $40K could mean ten transpac roundtrips in P or Z pending on routings and dates of the flights. 10 transpac flights in business for GS qualification is not really lowering the bar, IMHO.
UA_Flyer is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 8:14 am
  #21  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,068
Nice wine!
physioprof is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 8:16 am
  #22  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,633
Originally Posted by UA_Flyer
I recevied a bottle of wine today from United thanking me for flying a lot with them in 2015. Not sure if this is a GS benefits, but want to post here to see if others have reveived the wine.

It is 2012 Beringer Vineyards Nappa Valley 'Private Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon. Listed for $390 but solde through the Vinyard Website for $165.

Regarding some have observed that UA may have lowered GS qualfication threshold for 2016 based on the number of low spent (as listed in other thread), I am giving UA the benefit of doubt. I actually think premium cabin paying passengers are decreasing. I have flown United for over 20 years as a premium cabin flyer. The P and Z fares of 2015 on transpac routes are almost identical to the C/D fares I paid back in 1995. There were no P/Z fare back in 1995 and I understand there are differences between C/D and P/Z, but it seems market demand has created heavily discounted business fare categories. There were plenty of P/Z fares throughout of 2015.

A passenger spending $40K could mean ten transpac roundtrips in P or Z pending on routings and dates of the flights. 10 transpac flights in business for GS qualification is not really lowering the bar, IMHO.
Thanks for at least telling us what you got, as opposed to another on 2015 thread a couple weeks ago.
kirkwoodj is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 9:24 am
  #23  
glx
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat, National EC Executive (Replaced Hertz), Hertz PC (Retired)
Posts: 724
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Thanks for at least telling us what you got, as opposed to another on 2015 thread a couple weeks ago.
I got a bottle of wine yesterday, too - but it was a $90 (very highly rated) bottle from a great winery.

I'm *NOT* complaining, I'm quite happy with the gift and thought. Funny, though - wonder what drove them to pick the value of the bottle; UA_Flyer, I'm happy to compare our PQD's in private to see if there's any sort of correlation there.
glx is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:24 pm
  #24  
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Arrow

For economy award booked by GS miles, GS agent said that only GPU from the account holder can upgrade.

Is this new? I thought that anyone's GPU can upgrade it.
kb1992 is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:31 pm
  #25  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,266
Can GS upgrade using GPU for int'l points ticket?

I know you can use RPU's on domestic points tickets... does the same apply for GPU's on international?
avi8tir is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:34 pm
  #26  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
Originally Posted by kb1992
For economy award booked by GS miles, GS agent said that only GPU from the account holder can upgrade.

Is this new? I thought that anyone's GPU can upgrade it.
This is consistent with what I have been told a few times before. Even for GS traveling on a reservation ticketed by another GS member's miles had to be upgraded with a GPU only from the mile-originating account.
LyfeSaver is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:38 pm
  #27  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
Couple questions regarding upgrade benefit on GS award tickets:

- Do they upgrade domestic award reservations ticketed by a *A partner through CPU? e.g. SEA-ORD, miles redeemed from SQ

- Will they allow applying RPUs and GPUs on award reservations ticketed by *A partner? e.g. ORD-LHR, miles redeemed from SQ

Really hoping award ticket upgrades are possible only on UA-stock tickets...
LyfeSaver is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:39 pm
  #28  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by avi8tir
I know you can use RPU's on domestic points tickets... does the same apply for GPU's on international?
Yup, as long as it's a United metal you should be good to go. I used two going to Australia last year. But to answer the other questions--you can't use it on any other *A award tickets.

Last edited by laxff03; Jan 7, 2016 at 5:07 pm
laxff03 is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:40 pm
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Auracon
This is consistent with what I have been told a few times before. Even for GS traveling on a reservation ticketed by another GS member's miles had to be upgraded with a GPU only from the mile-originating account.
Hmm I have done upgrades before using 1K GPU to upgrade XN ticket using GS miles.

It was a year ago, though.
kb1992 is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2016, 2:45 pm
  #30  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,446
Originally Posted by Auracon
This is consistent with what I have been told a few times before. Even for GS traveling on a reservation ticketed by another GS member's miles had to be upgraded with a GPU only from the mile-originating account.
I was once able to apply a GPU to a GS'ers award ticket booked with his/her miles, and I was a 1K. I think it's a manual process and YMMV depending on agent.
aCavalierInCoach is offline  

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