Jan 5, 2017, 4:24 pm
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:
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' 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:
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.
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.
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
Jan 10, 2017, 9:29 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
Seems GS is pretty diluted this year (esp looking at the qual spreadsheet)? Maybe to encourage more flying? Also maybe a reason why they are diluting some of the GS benefits.
Jan 10, 2017, 9:52 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
At ORD yesterday, the gate agent called for those with disabilities, active military, families with children under two, and then GS/1K together. I was at the front of the Group 1 line and walked forward to board as a 1K. She thanked me for my loyalty and I boarded.
Jan 10, 2017, 9:58 pm
#93
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
I've enjoyed pre-boarding thus far this year at SYD, LAX and LAS. SYD had a gold scarf to help all GS's (about 6 of us). At LAX and LAS, i just went up to the GA just before boarding and asked 'where would you like GS to stand before boarding?'
Jan 10, 2017, 10:04 pm
#94
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 200
Jan 10, 2017, 10:35 pm
#95
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Jan 11, 2017, 8:25 am
#96
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 200
LOL. I'm a new GS so I will let you fight the power first.
Jan 11, 2017, 8:47 am
#97
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
I'm hoping that is an isolated incident. I suspect that sometimes a clever GA will take a look at the Manifest and see there is only 1 GS and 3 1ks on a flight and just be calling them together for expediency.
Jan 11, 2017, 8:57 am
#98
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Perhaps all these boarding shenanigans are a sign that the boarding process that they tested last year will be going into effect soon?
Jan 11, 2017, 1:12 pm
#99
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 80
Here is my most recent boarding experience... I just took the flight back from HND-SFO the other day. When I checked in, the agent at the counter took my bags, and then escorted me to a different priority security line and then waited for me on the other side of immigrations. She then walked with me to the ANA lounge and said she would see me at the gate. I got to the gate a little after boarding started and she was there as promised. She walked me up to the front to the gate agents and got me through breaking up the people that were boarding already ( I think it was in the middle of Group 1 or 2 at that time) and then walked with me onto the plane. She was very nice. Maybe the are doing something like brining you to to the front in place of just having people board first. Or maybe in Japan, they just do that extra special customer service like when the restaurant owners walk you outside and bow to you until you are out of sight. Either way, the team at HND is quite on top of things.
Jan 11, 2017, 3:35 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: UA GS
Programs: United Airlines Mileage Plus
Posts: 12
Companion travel with paid business.. companion using miles and GPU
Good evening experts,
I'm hoping for some insight on rules associated with companion travel. I am planning a paid business class trip from IAD to SYD. As a GS, I understand that I am able to upgrade a companion miles-economy ticket by using a GPU. Is the upgrade subjected to normal available inventory limitations or does a paid biz ticket plus GS allow more access to available seats? The GS agent I spoke with indicated no upgradable inventory in either direction.
Just wanting to understand my options.
Thanks!
I'm hoping for some insight on rules associated with companion travel. I am planning a paid business class trip from IAD to SYD. As a GS, I understand that I am able to upgrade a companion miles-economy ticket by using a GPU. Is the upgrade subjected to normal available inventory limitations or does a paid biz ticket plus GS allow more access to available seats? The GS agent I spoke with indicated no upgradable inventory in either direction.
Just wanting to understand my options.
Thanks!
Jan 11, 2017, 3:45 pm
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
I have heard it generally acknowledged that the GS desk will force either PN/ON (upgrade) or IN/O (award) space for one companion traveling with you on the same flights, if you are on a paid first or business class ticket. But I am not GS so I have not experienced firsthand.
Jan 11, 2017, 3:48 pm
#102
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Jan 11, 2017, 3:53 pm
#103
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: UA GS
Programs: United Airlines Mileage Plus
Posts: 12
Awesome! Thanks for the redirect!
Jan 11, 2017, 8:02 pm
#104
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Has anyone else noticed a significant change in upgrades? I'm flying BOS to DEN on Friday on a refundable M fare. 9 hours before checkin and there are 7 first class seats available and I haven't been upgraded yet. I'm not sure what United is doing but this is very disappointing. My upgrade percentage on YBM fares is probably under 50% (as GS). YBM actually is worse than cheap fares (according to the GS agent I talked to).
Jan 11, 2017, 9:02 pm
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Had my first GS "experience" this week and I'm wondering if it's related to me moving up to GS or a change in UA's systems.
I booked an all non-UA itinerary on UA.com. UA didn't show me the PNRs for the flights so I had to call.
First: before I even called, and right after the ticket was issued, I got a text on my phone telling me that from now on United will send me text updates for my flights. Umm, no. I HATE this system. I've been unsubscribed from it for years and I never once got a text from United. So, I reply with a "STOP" and it seems to have turned it off. Why did it get reset to "on" again? Something to do with GS?
Second: I called the 800# for 1K from my phone. I live in Singapore so called from my US phone which is the number registered on my account. I was asked to say/enter my UA MP#. This is the first time calling that they didn't recognize who I was and say, "Welcome back, Rob".
This could have happened for a few reasons:
1. Caller ID didn't make it through on this one call. Highly unlikely.
2. I called the 1K number and not the GS number. That shouldn't matter?
Note: I did get an agent who answered "Thanks for calling UA GS, how may I help you?" I actually found the agent colder than the 1K agents I'm used to dealing with. She was nice enough but couldn't be bothered at the same time. She gave me the PNR code I was looking for and that was it.
Did anyone else who moved up from 1K to GS notice the same things? No big deal really. Just reporting my first GS interaction
-RM
I booked an all non-UA itinerary on UA.com. UA didn't show me the PNRs for the flights so I had to call.
First: before I even called, and right after the ticket was issued, I got a text on my phone telling me that from now on United will send me text updates for my flights. Umm, no. I HATE this system. I've been unsubscribed from it for years and I never once got a text from United. So, I reply with a "STOP" and it seems to have turned it off. Why did it get reset to "on" again? Something to do with GS?
Second: I called the 800# for 1K from my phone. I live in Singapore so called from my US phone which is the number registered on my account. I was asked to say/enter my UA MP#. This is the first time calling that they didn't recognize who I was and say, "Welcome back, Rob".
This could have happened for a few reasons:
1. Caller ID didn't make it through on this one call. Highly unlikely.
2. I called the 1K number and not the GS number. That shouldn't matter?
Note: I did get an agent who answered "Thanks for calling UA GS, how may I help you?" I actually found the agent colder than the 1K agents I'm used to dealing with. She was nice enough but couldn't be bothered at the same time. She gave me the PNR code I was looking for and that was it.
Did anyone else who moved up from 1K to GS notice the same things? No big deal really. Just reporting my first GS interaction
-RM