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 20, 2016, 3:01 pm
#841
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
Does this benefit ever exist?
GS can create saver business award space (IN) if R inventory is available.
I have been trying to book for weeks a Europe trip for next Summer. R is not available for any 3 class plane. Is there a time period that this tends to show up? For instance a week or two before a flight does it suddenly appear? If that is the case so be it we can do a spontaneous vacation next year, any advice appreciated as I would like to use award savers and upgrade wife and kiddo into GF.
GS can create saver business award space (IN) if R inventory is available.
I have been trying to book for weeks a Europe trip for next Summer. R is not available for any 3 class plane. Is there a time period that this tends to show up? For instance a week or two before a flight does it suddenly appear? If that is the case so be it we can do a spontaneous vacation next year, any advice appreciated as I would like to use award savers and upgrade wife and kiddo into GF.
Oct 20, 2016, 7:43 pm
#842
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
I fly Chinese airlines in F quite a bit and that is their model. Stay in the lounge until the flight is truly boarding (china domestic flights are notoriously delayed) then escort you to the gate and, if remote, a minibus awaits to escort the F and elite passengers to the plane at the end of the boarding sequence.
Ignoring the bus step (which is rare in the US), having the luxury of not being in the plane for an extra 30-45min would be fantastic. Such a step would also further take GS out of the public eye, especially the jealous 1k eyes at the front of line 1.
The only reasons I take advantage of the pre boarding perk is due to overhead space limitations and not having to queue in the jet bridge for 10 minutes. It has little to do with DYKWIA status.
Oct 21, 2016, 3:32 am
#843
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SOW
Programs: UA GS 5 MM, Delta 1.6MM & Hilton Diamond, Avis Chairman, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 768
Allow me to piggyback on this. If UA is seriously trying to enhance the luxury, behind-the-scenes nature of GS, the best solution would be to provide lounge access, last boarding after the lines have dissipated and guaranteed overhead space. Presumably all in F class.
I fly Chinese airlines in F quite a bit and that is their model. Stay in the lounge until the flight is truly boarding (china domestic flights are notoriously delayed) then escort you to the gate and, if remote, a minibus awaits to escort the F and elite passengers to the plane at the end of the boarding sequence.
Ignoring the bus step (which is rare in the US), having the luxury of not being in the plane for an extra 30-45min would be fantastic. Such a step would also further take GS out of the public eye, especially the jealous 1k eyes at the front of line 1.
The only reasons I take advantage of the pre boarding perk is due to overhead space limitations and not having to queue in the jet bridge for 10 minutes. It has little to do with DYKWIA status.
I fly Chinese airlines in F quite a bit and that is their model. Stay in the lounge until the flight is truly boarding (china domestic flights are notoriously delayed) then escort you to the gate and, if remote, a minibus awaits to escort the F and elite passengers to the plane at the end of the boarding sequence.
Ignoring the bus step (which is rare in the US), having the luxury of not being in the plane for an extra 30-45min would be fantastic. Such a step would also further take GS out of the public eye, especially the jealous 1k eyes at the front of line 1.
The only reasons I take advantage of the pre boarding perk is due to overhead space limitations and not having to queue in the jet bridge for 10 minutes. It has little to do with DYKWIA status.
Oct 21, 2016, 8:52 am
#844
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Allow me to piggyback on this. If UA is seriously trying to enhance the luxury, behind-the-scenes nature of GS, the best solution would be to provide lounge access, last boarding after the lines have dissipated and guaranteed overhead space. Presumably all in F class.
I fly Chinese airlines in F quite a bit and that is their model. Stay in the lounge until the flight is truly boarding (china domestic flights are notoriously delayed) then escort you to the gate and, if remote, a minibus awaits to escort the F and elite passengers to the plane at the end of the boarding sequence.
Ignoring the bus step (which is rare in the US), having the luxury of not being in the plane for an extra 30-45min would be fantastic. Such a step would also further take GS out of the public eye, especially the jealous 1k eyes at the front of line 1.
The only reasons I take advantage of the pre boarding perk is due to overhead space limitations and not having to queue in the jet bridge for 10 minutes. It has little to do with DYKWIA status.
I fly Chinese airlines in F quite a bit and that is their model. Stay in the lounge until the flight is truly boarding (china domestic flights are notoriously delayed) then escort you to the gate and, if remote, a minibus awaits to escort the F and elite passengers to the plane at the end of the boarding sequence.
Ignoring the bus step (which is rare in the US), having the luxury of not being in the plane for an extra 30-45min would be fantastic. Such a step would also further take GS out of the public eye, especially the jealous 1k eyes at the front of line 1.
The only reasons I take advantage of the pre boarding perk is due to overhead space limitations and not having to queue in the jet bridge for 10 minutes. It has little to do with DYKWIA status.
I have never had an issue with overhead space on an international flight in business or first - I think because a lot more people check their bags on those flights.
Oct 22, 2016, 2:24 pm
#845
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: United GS, Hilton D, Marriott G
Posts: 11
To add to the mystery of Global Services fading into the background at Polaris comes online. I just checked in at Terminal E at IAH, and the GS check- in kiosks/area is gone. You now just check in at Premier Access with the masses. However the lines for Security still have a "small" Global Services sign giving some priority. I guess they forgot about the small Global Services sign. sigh.....
Oct 22, 2016, 3:40 pm
#846
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
To add to the mystery of Global Services fading into the background at Polaris comes online. I just checked in at Terminal E at IAH, and the GS check- in kiosks/area is gone. You now just check in at Premier Access with the masses. However the lines for Security still have a "small" Global Services sign giving some priority. I guess they forgot about the small Global Services sign. sigh.....
Oct 22, 2016, 6:07 pm
#847
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nor Cal
Programs: UA Global Svcs 3 MM, LH Senator, BA Gold
Posts: 537
Slightly OT, but flew back from London yesterday, and had been waitlisted for GPU to F after giving up a confirmed upgrade to F via FRA on Thursday (oh well,had to add London). F was booked full until Thursday, when someone changed plans; GPU did not clear, checked in on Thursday afternoon, declined the buy up,and saw I was #2. So I unchecked in, the buy up was still available, so I took it. After boarding, my seat mate told the two sisters and elderly mother (awesome, on the trip of a lifetime), that was Platinum, and had never been in F and was so surprised when she checked in Thursday that she was in F.
So, Platinum was comped an upgrade ahead of a waitlisted GS with a GPU.
Oct 22, 2016, 6:15 pm
#848
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Wow. Maybe they recognize that no one make GS without paying at least business, and without F to GPU to, there really is nothing to GS except separate check in, boarding, and IRROPS handling.
Slightly OT, but flew back from London yesterday, and had been waitlisted for GPU to F after giving up a confirmed upgrade to F via FRA on Thursday (oh well,had to add London). F was booked full until Thursday, when someone changed plans; GPU did not clear, checked in on Thursday afternoon, declined the buy up,and saw I was #2. So I unchecked in, the buy up was still available, so I took it. After boarding, my seat mate told the two sisters and elderly mother (awesome, on the trip of a lifetime), that was Platinum, and had never been in F and was so surprised when she checked in Thursday that she was in F.
So, Platinum was comped an upgrade ahead of a waitlisted GS with a GPU.
Slightly OT, but flew back from London yesterday, and had been waitlisted for GPU to F after giving up a confirmed upgrade to F via FRA on Thursday (oh well,had to add London). F was booked full until Thursday, when someone changed plans; GPU did not clear, checked in on Thursday afternoon, declined the buy up,and saw I was #2. So I unchecked in, the buy up was still available, so I took it. After boarding, my seat mate told the two sisters and elderly mother (awesome, on the trip of a lifetime), that was Platinum, and had never been in F and was so surprised when she checked in Thursday that she was in F.
So, Platinum was comped an upgrade ahead of a waitlisted GS with a GPU.
Oct 22, 2016, 6:16 pm
#849
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Oct 22, 2016, 7:09 pm
#850
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
To add to the mystery of Global Services fading into the background at Polaris comes online. I just checked in at Terminal E at IAH, and the GS check- in kiosks/area is gone. You now just check in at Premier Access with the masses. However the lines for Security still have a "small" Global Services sign giving some priority. I guess they forgot about the small Global Services sign. sigh.....
The assumption that all GS buy business is flat out wrong. When I spend $7K on an international coach ticket (last minute) United makes a lot of money on me (more than they do on business class passengers) and maybe that is why they give me GS.
Oct 22, 2016, 8:09 pm
#851
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
Wow. Maybe they recognize that no one make GS without paying at least business, and without F to GPU to, there really is nothing to GS except separate check in, boarding, and IRROPS handling.
Slightly OT, but flew back from London yesterday, and had been waitlisted for GPU to F after giving up a confirmed upgrade to F via FRA on Thursday (oh well,had to add London). F was booked full until Thursday, when someone changed plans; GPU did not clear, checked in on Thursday afternoon, declined the buy up,and saw I was #2. So I unchecked in, the buy up was still available, so I took it. After boarding, my seat mate told the two sisters and elderly mother (awesome, on the trip of a lifetime), that was Platinum, and had never been in F and was so surprised when she checked in Thursday that she was in F.
So, Platinum was comped an upgrade ahead of a waitlisted GS with a GPU.
Slightly OT, but flew back from London yesterday, and had been waitlisted for GPU to F after giving up a confirmed upgrade to F via FRA on Thursday (oh well,had to add London). F was booked full until Thursday, when someone changed plans; GPU did not clear, checked in on Thursday afternoon, declined the buy up,and saw I was #2. So I unchecked in, the buy up was still available, so I took it. After boarding, my seat mate told the two sisters and elderly mother (awesome, on the trip of a lifetime), that was Platinum, and had never been in F and was so surprised when she checked in Thursday that she was in F.
So, Platinum was comped an upgrade ahead of a waitlisted GS with a GPU.
Oct 23, 2016, 5:05 am
#852
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
To add to the mystery of Global Services fading into the background at Polaris comes online. I just checked in at Terminal E at IAH, and the GS check- in kiosks/area is gone. You now just check in at Premier Access with the masses. However the lines for Security still have a "small" Global Services sign giving some priority. I guess they forgot about the small Global Services sign. sigh.....
Oct 23, 2016, 6:15 am
#853
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: United GS, Hilton D, Marriott G
Posts: 11
IAH and GS
Just to be clear, I only noticed in IAH Terminal E that the GS kiosks and lanes were gone. Lady taking the bags had no answer when I asked where they went. However going through IAH Terminal C on October 9th the GS area was still there.
Last edited by woodlands; Oct 23, 2016 at 7:00 am
Oct 23, 2016, 8:05 am
#854
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Rowley, MA / Edgartown, MA / Christiansted, St. Croix (USVI)
Programs: UA LT GS/4.96MM, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓, Korea SeS, APEC
Posts: 579
I flew out of BOS on Saturday morning to TPE, there was a GS agent at the gate that paged the GS passages by name so we could be pre-boarded without specifically announcing GS boarding. At SFO however they called for GS pre-boarding so there is some inconsistency in the procedure. Coming back from ICN about 10 days ago there were 8 or 9 GS passengers and they made a pre-boarding announcement, the largest number I've seen to date. My guess is UA is heading towards a lower profile on managing the GS passengers, a good idea IMHO.
Oct 23, 2016, 8:40 am
#855
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
I flew out of BOS on Saturday morning to TPE, there was a GS agent at the gate that paged the GS passages by name so we could be pre-boarded without specifically announcing GS boarding. At SFO however they called for GS pre-boarding so there is some inconsistency in the procedure. Coming back from ICN about 10 days ago there were 8 or 9 GS passengers and they made a pre-boarding announcement, the largest number I've seen to date. My guess is UA is heading towards a lower profile on managing the GS passengers, a good idea IMHO.