Jan 5, 2017, 4:24 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: getagb

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' thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread - Qualifications, Benefits and Q & A [2016]
Thread on 2017 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2017 Qualifying Discussion

Known facts from United:

Quote:

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 Polaris First with a GPU if ON inventory is available.
GS can confirm any waitlisted instrument-supported upgrade under T-72 hours provided 2 seats remain for sale afterwards and they are at the top of the waitlist
GS can create saver Polaris First (O) space at T-72 hours if they are already booked in saver business (IN), provided one seat remains for sale after
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. UPDATE: as of 7/21/17 must have >2 for sale within 72hrs of flight
GS can upgrade a companion from coach to biz when flying on a paid biz fare, even if R or PN is not available, as long as J/F>1. Companion needs to be W or greater intl.
(Only ONE of the two above options can be exercised per premium fare.)
GS cannot double upgrade. Economy -> PN -> ON is not allowed. *Some reports of TOD being offered at OLCI.
GS can buy up from Basic Economy fares, which is usually forbidden

Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2017

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 19, 2017, 6:17 am

#376

GSunitedloyal

Join Date: Jan 2010

Posts: 361

Hi everyone!

i am curious to hear which one is your favorite hub when it comes to GS, I have being global services now for few years and to me by far Houston is the absolute best! i seriously never question weather or not they going to assist i know they got my back!

2nd Place IAD has also done some amazing things, i normally don't worried about this one either i know they will get me there!

3rd, ORD i wold say maybe 50/50 chance they be there,

EWR I have never seem a GS other than the GS check in area, what does your ranking looks like ?

Feb 19, 2017, 8:50 am

#377

porciuscato

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM

Posts: 2,265

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSunitedloyal

That's easy for me:

1) LAX
2) BOS
3) ORD
4) LHR

The others compete for disappointment. DEN is either non-existent or completely useless; they have left me stranded several times. SFO GS show up only when you don't need them and they're actually a hindrance because they don't walk very fast. MUC and FRA GS aren't really GS and won't do much for you. I've never experienced GS service in IAH, so I can't speak to that.

Feb 19, 2017, 9:59 am

#378

Live4Upgrade

Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: SDF

Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle

Posts: 676

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSunitedloyal

Best = IAH. Always excellent service and there when you need them on ultra-tight connections.

2nd place = DEN. Maybe it's my good fortune but they "saved" my vacation this past Christmas with tarmac transit in a <5 minutes connection time situation. Bonus was wife + daughter totally impressed.

Worst = EWR. Rare to get assistance; hard to find GS. Left me stranded more than once where I could have made the flight if a cart/car had been at the ready.

Feb 19, 2017, 1:55 pm

#379

theise

Join Date: Dec 2013

Location: West Lafayette, IN

Programs: 1MM UA Gold

Posts: 179

Best hubs as GS?

Quote:

Originally Posted by porciuscato

DEN is either non-existent or completely useless; they have left me stranded several times.

On the other hand, my wife and I got stuck in DEN a couple of years ago after the worst day of travel ever, and the GS agent tracked us down (on a cart) and got us set up at a nearby Marriott for the night.

Feb 19, 2017, 3:22 pm

#380

HowieG

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: New England

Programs: UA 1K / HH Diamond

Posts: 239

Use GPUs as a GS question

Dose being a GS have advantages over others when use a GUP to upgrade a W fare Eclass to biz? If so, how and what needs to be done. Thanks.

Feb 19, 2017, 3:30 pm

#381

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieG

Dose being a GS have advantages over others when use a GUP to upgrade a W fare Eclass to biz? If so, how and what needs to be done. Thanks.

Yes, you have priority over all non-GS upgrade requests and require PN inventory instead of R, which is a higher inventory class. The prioritization should be handled automatically.

As a GS you can also use a GPU on an XN class (Saver Economy Award) ticket.

Feb 19, 2017, 8:15 pm

#382

bldr1k

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Colorado

Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium

Posts: 1,261

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live4Upgrade

Worst = EWR. Rare to get assistance; hard to find GS. Left me stranded more than once where I could have made the flight if a cart/car had been at the ready.

Best for me - ORD and SFO. Worst by a mile - EWR.

Feb 19, 2017, 9:23 pm

#383

NH_Clark

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

Sadly, I have yet to have a GS agent meet a flight I have been on when landing. Two weeks ago, inbound from QRO to IAH, I was trying to find a GS agent to try and get on an earlier flight to BOS. Luckily, a great UA rep offered to cart me over to the GS office near C service desk and tracked down a GS agent. She even tried calling the GS office but no answer.

Feb 20, 2017, 3:47 am

#384

unitedhandcuffs

Join Date: Nov 2016

Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)

Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC

Posts: 162

Quote:

Originally Posted by porciuscato

That's easy for me:

1) LAX
2) BOS
3) ORD
4) LHR

for me it's been:
1) SYD
2) LAX
3) TPE

Feb 20, 2017, 3:00 pm

#385

JDT1955

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: ORD

Programs: UA GS 4MM

Posts: 583

Quick question. I was having lunch with a friend who is GS by virtue of being CEO of a company that spends big on UA. (I'm sure he'd qualify on his own for GS, but the corporate spend further nails it down.). He was quite enamored of the concept of GS for life, which I earned a couple of years ago, and wondered if that was something that loyal corporate consumers can ever negotiate for. He's not going to work forever and would hate to slide back when his travel becomes primarily leisure. Any experience with this?

Feb 20, 2017, 4:25 pm

#386

NH_Clark

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT1955

I don't have experience with this.... but other than flying 4MM BIS, maybe if your "friend" offers UA to prepay $1M USD ($50k/yr PP x 20 yrs)?

Feb 20, 2017, 5:39 pm

#387

JDT1955

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: ORD

Programs: UA GS 4MM

Posts: 583

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Clark

I don't have experience with this.... but other than flying 4MM BIS, maybe if your "friend" offers UA to prepay $1M USD ($50k/yr PP x 20 yrs)?

I bet that would do the trick! Then again, he'd do pretty well on Netjets with this...

Feb 21, 2017, 1:19 am

#388

rambutan

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Posts: 67

Quote:

Originally Posted by porciuscato

That's easy for me:

1) LAX
2) BOS
3) ORD
4) LHR

I have to agree on BOS. It's quite a surprise, since Boston is not a United hub and I would not expect anything special. A few times during the last year or so, I've had a friendly GS agent recognize me in the gate area, come over to say hi, and then escort me to the (automated) gate to board.

Feb 21, 2017, 1:53 am

#389

cesco.g

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 1999

Posts: 11,477

Best GS

1) LAX !!! ^^^
2) ORD! ^

IAH, SFO: spotty

EWR: non-existent!

Feb 21, 2017, 5:53 am

#390

wxguy

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: 4,409

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambutan

Agreed. This is the second UA city where "Annie is a rock star."