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
Oct 13, 2016, 6:36 am
#781
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393
mystatus.united.com still shows all of the published benefits for GS who are able to login to that site.
Oct 13, 2016, 7:10 am
#782
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
My concern is even if the conversion for saver remains that because it needs to be manually done it will need to be booked as its own segment. So for example if im trying to book a one way to europe lets sat den-ewr-cdg in biz if either flight is only available with expanded availability i would need to pay 25k+57.5k instead of just 57.5k.
Oct 13, 2016, 8:26 am
#783
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Is it me or did they wipe all references to Global Services from the United pages?
I remember the upgrade page referring to Global Services members upgrading at 120 Hours.
Before:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160317...e/default.aspx
Now:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...e/default.aspx
Another is the checked baggage page.
Before:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161003...edBaggage.aspx
Now:
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...edBaggage.aspx
Not that it matters (much) to a GS member, but it's a little weird don't you think?
I remember the upgrade page referring to Global Services members upgrading at 120 Hours.
Before:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160317...e/default.aspx
Now:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...e/default.aspx
Another is the checked baggage page.
Before:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161003...edBaggage.aspx
Now:
https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...edBaggage.aspx
Not that it matters (much) to a GS member, but it's a little weird don't you think?
Oct 13, 2016, 8:45 am
#784
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,704
Also, the sky is falling. 
Oct 14, 2016, 3:50 pm
#785
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 117
I have a 90 minute connection at PEK from UA to TG. Does anyone know if there are GS agents at PEK to facilitate the connection, like they have waiting on the jetbridge at NRT?
Oct 14, 2016, 4:29 pm
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Oct 17, 2016, 7:29 am
#787
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA GS, AA Exec Plat, Starwood Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14
Super interesting -- was told yesterday at a hub by a GS rep that "1K will be top tier as of Jan 1" and "Global Services will be shifting to more behind the scenes"...
Oct 17, 2016, 7:43 am
#788
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
Oct 17, 2016, 7:48 am
#790
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA GS, AA Exec Plat, Starwood Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14
Oct 17, 2016, 8:06 am
#791
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Sounds like it will be more like AA CK and DL 360. I sure hope most of our benefits remain the same...
Oct 17, 2016, 8:06 am
#792
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Oct 17, 2016, 8:22 am
#793
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
I've heard this as well but I think the concern is what does "behind the scenes" mean (and which benefits does it affect? upgrades? boarding? etc)?
IMO it just sounds like GS will just disappear and will rename all GS to 1K on BP/Website/etc (while still remaining GS in the backend)... but that's just a guess.
IMO it just sounds like GS will just disappear and will rename all GS to 1K on BP/Website/etc (while still remaining GS in the backend)... but that's just a guess.
Oct 17, 2016, 8:38 am
#794
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
I've heard this as well but I think the concern is what does "behind the scenes" mean (and which benefits does it affect? upgrades? boarding? etc)?
IMO it just sounds like GS will just disappear and will rename all GS to 1K on BP/Website/etc (while still remaining GS in the backend)... but that's just a guess.
IMO it just sounds like GS will just disappear and will rename all GS to 1K on BP/Website/etc (while still remaining GS in the backend)... but that's just a guess.
Oct 17, 2016, 8:56 am
#795
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Not having to wait 40 minutes early in the G1 line is one of the best perks! I cannot tell you how many times I was at the end of the G1 line and there was no overhead space in first class.