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 10, 2016, 5:14 pm
#91
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
We will see. You are likely going to get the last laugh when it comes to DEN-EWR-DEN trips coming up in March.... That has always been an awful route to upgrade into without paying outright. Will post some results (or lack thereof) a few months down the road....
Jan 10, 2016, 5:15 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Being a long time GS, I have never been able to purchase F ticket when the cabin is full.
Jan 10, 2016, 6:16 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
It would be at the discretion of inventory management and would be a very rare exception, certainly not the rule. The rule, to the extent that there is one, is *not* to oversell F.
Jan 10, 2016, 10:26 pm
#95
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Jan 10, 2016, 10:33 pm
#96
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,319
Jan 11, 2016, 12:49 am
#97
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Do you have to call in to use GPUs on award tickets or can it be done online? Likewise, does that benefit require the GS member be on the itinerary?
Jan 11, 2016, 12:55 am
#98
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat, National EC Executive (Replaced Hertz), Hertz PC (Retired)
Posts: 724
Jan 11, 2016, 12:56 am
#99
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Yes you have to call. The requirement AFAIK is that the miles and the GPU/RPU must both be coming from a GS account, but not that a GS be on the itin itself.
Jan 11, 2016, 1:35 am
#100
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Jan 11, 2016, 8:21 am
#101
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
GS Benefits explained
I've been a GS member for a few years and after reading through some of these threads it appears I haven't been optimizing my benefits. I see many different posts about upgrades on certain fare classes available to GS and not others and though I understand the different fare classes, I am not able to fully understand what everyone is saying. Is there a post that has already "dumbed down" what the benefits of GS are and how you can achieve/optimize them? Much appreciated.
Jan 11, 2016, 8:34 am
#102
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Jan 11, 2016, 2:57 pm
#103
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: LA,NYC
Programs: AA-EXP 2.8 MM,UA-GS 1.3 MM,DL-PL,HH-DM,LH-SEN,Bonvoy-GL
Posts: 296
Can I use a GPU from P class into ON as GS ?
Jan 11, 2016, 3:01 pm
#104
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,319
Jan 11, 2016, 3:29 pm
#105
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
They let you upgrade award tickets with GPU's..that's their exception... the paid fare class rules still apply (though you can clear into PN instead of R if you have an upgradeable economy fare). So P and Z won't work, nor anything below W in economy.