Jan 3, 2016, 12:15 pm
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 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.
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2016
Jan 8, 2016, 10:15 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Unique to EWR GS lobby agents is the double application of the red/orange Priority Baggage tags. No other station follows this practice.
Jan 8, 2016, 11:46 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
IMHO, unique to EWR (and IAH) as major overseas hubs is the lack of a GFL - the one on one interface with agents during IRROPS is of utmost value.
Jan 9, 2016, 12:51 am
#63
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
I've actually never seen them check whenever I go through. There's been a few times where a guy goes straight to the exit doors with their mobile boarding pass and doesn't even pause or acknowledge the GS agents. Impossible to tell if he's really a GS member or just working the system
Jan 9, 2016, 2:09 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
I've actually never seen them check whenever I go through. There's been a few times where a guy goes straight to the exit doors with their mobile boarding pass and doesn't even pause or acknowledge the GS agents. Impossible to tell if he's really a GS member or just working the system
Jan 9, 2016, 2:49 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Jan 9, 2016, 3:34 am
#66
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Jan 9, 2016, 4:15 am
#67
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: DFW
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, AA PLT, DL Silver
Posts: 427
If it was an upgrade, you need XN and PN.
Once again, this is agent dependent. I was angling for the T convert to XN upgrade to PN for my wife this summer on MUC-IAH. No R was available. Was put on hold for a minute, agent converted the available P inventory to IN and we were done
That isn't official, but it goes to show the massive benefit of being GS over 1K.
Jan 9, 2016, 4:16 am
#68
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA GS, Marriott (Plat Premier, LT Plat)
Posts: 257
GS Upgrading Award tickets using GPUs
Do you guys know if it is possible to waitlist XN -> PN using a GPU
or
Does PN/R have to be available at the time of requesting the upgrade?
Thanks for your help!
or
Does PN/R have to be available at the time of requesting the upgrade?
Thanks for your help!
Jan 9, 2016, 4:46 am
#69
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PVG, SFO
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 222
Jan 9, 2016, 7:26 am
#70
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
If you buy a premium ticket on a particular route, you are entitled to a saver award slot on the same route (United metal only). I know this works for IN, but I'm unsure if it works for First Saver on international routes.
Jan 9, 2016, 8:28 am
#71
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
Newly minted GS here. Very much liking the availability of PN as compared to R -- massive benefit compared to 1K.
Jan 9, 2016, 8:55 am
#72
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
They have never checked me. But I wonder if TSA would say anything
Jan 10, 2016, 12:35 am
#73
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Other things I am looking forward to:
1) Not sleeping on the airport floor again (at least for the next couple years) after standing by and missing flights.
2) Plenty of converting T to XN for award travel for friends and family (have already booked 7 tickets for in-laws in the last 2 days).
3) Paying saver economy award redemptions and using GPU's to fly int'l J.
4) Nearly guaranteed first class (as long as I am able to book tickets more than 2 days in advance).
5) CPU's on XN.
Thanks for all the posts with input on how to convert fare classes... greatly appreciated and duly noted for the future.
Happy and safe travels, folks.
Jan 10, 2016, 1:11 am
#74
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Absolutely. The ability to convert T into XN is a massive benefit over 1K.
Other things I am looking forward to:
1) Not sleeping on the airport floor again (at least for the next couple years) after standing by and missing flights.
2) Plenty of converting T to XN for award travel for friends and family (have already booked 7 tickets for in-laws in the last 2 days).
3) Paying saver economy award redemptions and using GPU's to fly int'l J.
4) Nearly guaranteed first class (as long as I am able to book tickets more than 2 days in advance).
5) CPU's on XN.
Thanks for all the posts with input on how to convert fare classes... greatly appreciated and duly noted for the future.
Happy and safe travels, folks.
Other things I am looking forward to:
1) Not sleeping on the airport floor again (at least for the next couple years) after standing by and missing flights.
2) Plenty of converting T to XN for award travel for friends and family (have already booked 7 tickets for in-laws in the last 2 days).
3) Paying saver economy award redemptions and using GPU's to fly int'l J.
4) Nearly guaranteed first class (as long as I am able to book tickets more than 2 days in advance).
5) CPU's on XN.
Thanks for all the posts with input on how to convert fare classes... greatly appreciated and duly noted for the future.
Happy and safe travels, folks.
Jan 10, 2016, 1:16 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
