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 11, 2016, 5:18 pm
#106
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
Jan 12, 2016, 7:49 am
#107
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: STL
Programs: United Global Services
Posts: 46
Awards / GPU questions
Hi all, sorry if these have been asked already:
Question 1: I booked an award ticket for my son (20) to come visit me in Australia. As i will already be there, i will not be traveling with him. Question is can i use a GPU on his award ticket? I am Global Services, he obviously is not. Maybe this is something GS rep can do?
Question 2: As GS, i am aware i can book an awards ticket and then upgrade using RPU/GPU, question is if i book the travel for 2017, request one of the upgrades and am wait listed - Then in 2017 i am no longer GS will the upgrade request still go through (assuming availability/priority is all good)?
Question 1: I booked an award ticket for my son (20) to come visit me in Australia. As i will already be there, i will not be traveling with him. Question is can i use a GPU on his award ticket? I am Global Services, he obviously is not. Maybe this is something GS rep can do?
Question 2: As GS, i am aware i can book an awards ticket and then upgrade using RPU/GPU, question is if i book the travel for 2017, request one of the upgrades and am wait listed - Then in 2017 i am no longer GS will the upgrade request still go through (assuming availability/priority is all good)?
Jan 12, 2016, 2:03 pm
#108
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 2mm
Posts: 94
Hi all, sorry if these have been asked already:
Question 1: I booked an award ticket for my son (20) to come visit me in Australia. As i will already be there, i will not be traveling with him. Question is can i use a GPU on his award ticket? I am Global Services, he obviously is not. Maybe this is something GS rep can do?
Question 2: As GS, i am aware i can book an awards ticket and then upgrade using RPU/GPU, question is if i book the travel for 2017, request one of the upgrades and am wait listed - Then in 2017 i am no longer GS will the upgrade request still go through (assuming availability/priority is all good)?
Question 1: I booked an award ticket for my son (20) to come visit me in Australia. As i will already be there, i will not be traveling with him. Question is can i use a GPU on his award ticket? I am Global Services, he obviously is not. Maybe this is something GS rep can do?
Question 2: As GS, i am aware i can book an awards ticket and then upgrade using RPU/GPU, question is if i book the travel for 2017, request one of the upgrades and am wait listed - Then in 2017 i am no longer GS will the upgrade request still go through (assuming availability/priority is all good)?
Answer 1: Yes you can. Just call GS.
Answer 2. If you are already booking awards for 2017 there should be room. Book them and if it shows waitlist, just give GS a call and then put it through.
Jan 12, 2016, 3:11 pm
#109
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: STL
Programs: United Global Services
Posts: 46
thanks for the reply will try both in over the next several days and will let everyone know the results
Jan 13, 2016, 9:34 am
#110
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Anybody have any experience with applying a GPU to a Business Saver ticket into Global First?
Jan 13, 2016, 10:36 am
#111
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
Jan 13, 2016, 1:14 pm
#113
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
If you redeem a business saver award (IN), then applying a GPU can get you into Global First if ON is available.
No double upgrades using GPUs are allowed.
Jan 13, 2016, 1:18 pm
#114
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Ah whoops, that's right. There's no trick to force open IN space without the purchasing of a BF ticket. Oh well, still a pretty nice perk.
Jan 13, 2016, 3:57 pm
#115
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
If there is R inventory, then that can be converted to IN (Saver BF) ... I just did this for two seats from SFO-SYD, and then applied GPUs for GF.
Jan 13, 2016, 5:09 pm
#117
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Qualifications, Benefits, Questions 2016
Those the most helpful last couple posts I've ever read!!! Thankfully I have 800k in miles I get to use with the family this year!!!
Jan 14, 2016, 12:14 pm
#118
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Just went through the GS lobby at EWR for the first time with my wife. We walked up to the counter, and the agent asked if we had bags to check. We said no. And she said, ok, go ahead. And then we went through the secret door to the front of the Pre line at checkpoint C-3.
Pretty anticlimactic. Not even a high five by the GS agent. Lolz.
Pretty anticlimactic. Not even a high five by the GS agent. Lolz.
Jan 14, 2016, 12:17 pm
#119
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,701
Just went through the GS lobby at EWR for the first time with my wife. We walked up to the counter, and the agent asked if we had bags to check. We said no. And she said, ok, go ahead. And then we went through the secret door to the front of the Pre line at checkpoint C-3.
Pretty anticlimactic. Not even a high five by the GS agent. Lolz.
Pretty anticlimactic. Not even a high five by the GS agent. Lolz.
Jan 14, 2016, 1:00 pm
#120
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098