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 7, 2016, 3:30 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Curious...do they clear into PN like a GS revenue upgrade or do they have to clear into R?
Jan 7, 2016, 3:39 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
Jan 7, 2016, 4:16 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: UA GS/4 MM, AA Exec Plat, Lifetime Hilton D, Hyatt G, Marriott Titanium earned Ambassador
Posts: 7,553
Quick sweep for domestic upgrades. ?
I have to travel to SAN this weekend for a couple meals. Last night bought a ticket online and received my e-mail receipt at 20:31. At 20:32 got notification for return upgrade and 20:36 for outbound upgrade. I was already on the phone to GS after I made the purchase to clear the upgrades. The agent said they were already done. We were both surprised. Nice new feature. ^
Jan 7, 2016, 7:36 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
What is PN?
Jan 7, 2016, 7:39 pm
#35
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
PN is an inventory class for Instant Upgrades if offered and GS upgrades from economy.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...uckets-ua.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...uckets-ua.html
Jan 7, 2016, 7:51 pm
#36
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Sigh.. never you mind...
When a GS uses an upgrade instrument for themselves or another person their upgrade can clear into the "PN" bucket (basically, there has to be open space in P class in the booking code hierarchy). If there is space in P there's usually space in PN.
Everyone else who is not a GS has to clear in to R..which is much harder. On top of that, GS can use their instruments to upgrade award tickets...no one else can.
You can also upgrade from business to first on 3 class planes, but all of those go into ON class..no special booking code advantage for GS.
When a GS uses an upgrade instrument for themselves or another person their upgrade can clear into the "PN" bucket (basically, there has to be open space in P class in the booking code hierarchy). If there is space in P there's usually space in PN.
Everyone else who is not a GS has to clear in to R..which is much harder. On top of that, GS can use their instruments to upgrade award tickets...no one else can.
You can also upgrade from business to first on 3 class planes, but all of those go into ON class..no special booking code advantage for GS.
Jan 8, 2016, 1:33 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
Anyone know the answers to these Qs?
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...
- 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...
Jan 8, 2016, 7:18 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
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...
- 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...
The miles and the RPU/GPU have to both come from a GS account (though not necessarily the same account), which wouldn't be possible coming from a *A partner account.
So I can exchange miles and upgrades like this between myself and my MM-GS matched spouse for example. But if a non-GS friend has an award ticket using his/her own miles, I cannot upgrade it for them even with a GS upgrade instrument.
On the first point I do not know though.
Jan 8, 2016, 7:45 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Just booked 3 family members RT tickets to Mexico by converting T into XN. Would have been $1000+ tickets. This is likely one of the best perks that comes with GS status.
^^ to GS
^^ to GS
Jan 8, 2016, 1:01 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 217
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.
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.
Jan 8, 2016, 2:55 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
So here's an "off-the-wall" question from a newbie GS. I almost always just use a mobile boarding pass as opposed to the printed one. When using the GS lobby at SFO / EWR / ORD what's the protocol? Just flash the boarding pass and say "already checked in, just heading on through." Don't want to look like a complete knucklehead (which is likely inevitable).
Jan 8, 2016, 3:00 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
Jan 8, 2016, 3:06 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Then I call the GS line and they take care of it from there.
Jan 8, 2016, 3:20 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 217
So here's an "off-the-wall" question from a newbie GS. I almost always just use a mobile boarding pass as opposed to the printed one. When using the GS lobby at SFO / EWR / ORD what's the protocol? Just flash the boarding pass and say "already checked in, just heading on through." Don't want to look like a complete knucklehead (which is likely inevitable).
Jan 8, 2016, 3:23 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Is there anything cool happening inside the GS lobby in EWR, or is it solely a place to check in and get escorted to the front of the TSA line?