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, 3:36 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
(Was almost gonna say: Yeah, they're serving champagne, while they check you in - but only in the EWR GS lobby.
)
Jan 8, 2016, 4:15 pm
#47
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
Kinda what I suspected - thanks for the answer!
Jan 8, 2016, 4:29 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Two or three GS agents there to print BP, check bags, chat. Then the Magic Doorvopens and you are at head of TSA line. Sometime you get dirty looks
Jan 8, 2016, 4:31 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
There is absolutely nothing cool happening. They typically check your GS qualification on the way in, which is nice. It saves you the awkwardness that you have at SFO where you have to walk over to the counter and show them your BP before you go to TSA
Jan 8, 2016, 4:32 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Jan 8, 2016, 4:37 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: DFW
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, AA PLT, DL Silver
Posts: 427
YMMV
Jan 8, 2016, 4:42 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
No disco ball or glitter shower???
Jan 8, 2016, 5:43 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,703
Quote:
Originally Posted by porciuscato
There is absolutely nothing cool happening. They typically check your GS qualification on the way in, which is nice. It saves you the awkwardness that you have at SFO where you have to walk over to the counter and show them your BP before you go to TSA
No disco ball or glitter shower???
Originally Posted by porciuscato
There is absolutely nothing cool happening. They typically check your GS qualification on the way in, which is nice. It saves you the awkwardness that you have at SFO where you have to walk over to the counter and show them your BP before you go to TSA
No disco ball or glitter shower???
Jan 8, 2016, 6:09 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Jan 8, 2016, 8:17 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Jan 8, 2016, 8:21 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS/2MM, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 225
Converting other than T to economy saver?
I recently booked a domestic economy award ticket for a family member. I checked expert mode before booking, X0/XN0 for both flights, but T1 for one of them - and I am certain the second one was T0. I figured GS would convert the T to XN and the other flight would book as a standard award.
I called GS to book it and the agent said she was able to convert revenue seats to award seats on both flights. It ticketed as YC21P - 25,000 miles deducted.
I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth (or perhaps help the agent discover she'd made a mistake), so didn't press the question of what bucket she was converting from.
I realize that this could have been either a dot-bomb issue (note these were single-sector flights, nonstops), or the inventory might've changed in the couple of minutes it took me to sort it out and call GS, but I'm also wondering:
Anyone have any experience with this alchemy? Something other than T being turned into XN?
I called GS to book it and the agent said she was able to convert revenue seats to award seats on both flights. It ticketed as YC21P - 25,000 miles deducted.
I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth (or perhaps help the agent discover she'd made a mistake), so didn't press the question of what bucket she was converting from.
I realize that this could have been either a dot-bomb issue (note these were single-sector flights, nonstops), or the inventory might've changed in the couple of minutes it took me to sort it out and call GS, but I'm also wondering:
Anyone have any experience with this alchemy? Something other than T being turned into XN?
Jan 8, 2016, 8:38 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I recently booked a domestic economy award ticket for a family member. I checked expert mode before booking, X0/XN0 for both flights, but T1 for one of them - and I am certain the second one was T0. I figured GS would convert the T to XN and the other flight would book as a standard award.
I called GS to book it and the agent said she was able to convert revenue seats to award seats on both flights. It ticketed as YC21P - 25,000 miles deducted.
I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth (or perhaps help the agent discover she'd made a mistake), so didn't press the question of what bucket she was converting from.
I realize that this could have been either a dot-bomb issue (note these were single-sector flights, nonstops), or the inventory might've changed in the couple of minutes it took me to sort it out and call GS, but I'm also wondering:
Anyone have any experience with this alchemy? Something other than T being turned into XN?
I called GS to book it and the agent said she was able to convert revenue seats to award seats on both flights. It ticketed as YC21P - 25,000 miles deducted.
I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth (or perhaps help the agent discover she'd made a mistake), so didn't press the question of what bucket she was converting from.
I realize that this could have been either a dot-bomb issue (note these were single-sector flights, nonstops), or the inventory might've changed in the couple of minutes it took me to sort it out and call GS, but I'm also wondering:
Anyone have any experience with this alchemy? Something other than T being turned into XN?
If one of the two segments has it available, you can always book it, and keep an eye out for the second one to open up, or for the entire routing to open it up (sometimes the individual segments don't have it, but the entire routing will, so check carefully)..... then ask the agent to change the ticket.
This works the same way as it did for me before I was GS when booking XN/X or I awards.
Jan 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
https://www.yahoo.com/travel/no-lines-no-wait-no-worries-inside-united-173302632.html
Jan 8, 2016, 9:23 pm
#59
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Jan 8, 2016, 9:50 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 183
Is there a way to force IN inventory as well or is it only XN?