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
Sep 26, 2017, 2:18 am
#1096
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: UA GS, BA Gold, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,419
Is there a limit on the following benefits? Specifically, for a flight that is T>3, could a GS book 3 award tickets and apply GPUs to all 3?
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
- GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available.
- GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business First with a GPU if PN inventory is available.
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
Sep 26, 2017, 6:36 am
#1097
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Is there a limit on the following benefits? Specifically, for a flight that is T>3, could a GS book 3 award tickets and apply GPUs to all 3?
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
- GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available.
- GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business First with a GPU if PN inventory is available.
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
Sep 26, 2017, 4:31 pm
#1098
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1.6MM
Posts: 21
Is there a limit on the following benefits? Specifically, for a flight that is T>3, could a GS book 3 award tickets and apply GPUs to all 3?
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
- GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available.
- GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business First with a GPU if PN inventory is available.
Do you need PN>0 to upgrade XN or can the upgrade be waitlisted if PN=0?
I booked 3 economy saver award seats and upgraded all with GPU's earlier this month for a November SFO-TPE flight with XN0, T9, PN5.
Sep 26, 2017, 5:32 pm
#1099
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,691
Based on availability. Good luck. ^
Sep 27, 2017, 10:24 am
#1100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 100
i haven't flown domestic in a while, but as GS, when I tried to apply an RPU to a domestic flight next week, I was told they couldn't clear it because they only had 2 revenue seats for sale, and they have to leave 2 open. I checked again today, and they now have 3 revenue seats for sale, but they still said they can't clear the upgrade. Anyone know the rules for the number of seats they must keep open before clearing upgrades?
available fair classes right now are: F3 A2 JN3 C3 D2 Z2 ZN2 P0 PN0 R0 RN0
So there are 3 first class seats available, should I try again?
available fair classes right now are: F3 A2 JN3 C3 D2 Z2 ZN2 P0 PN0 R0 RN0
So there are 3 first class seats available, should I try again?
Sep 27, 2017, 10:32 am
#1101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
i haven't flown domestic in a while, but as GS, when I tried to apply an RPU to a domestic flight next week, I was told they couldn't clear it because they only had 2 revenue seats for sale, and they have to leave 2 open. I checked again today, and they now have 3 revenue seats for sale, but they still said they can't clear the upgrade. Anyone know the rules for the number of seats they must keep open before clearing upgrades?
available fair classes right now are: F3 A2 JN3 C3 D2 Z2 ZN2 P0 PN0 R0 RN0
So there are 3 first class seats available, should I try again?
available fair classes right now are: F3 A2 JN3 C3 D2 Z2 ZN2 P0 PN0 R0 RN0
So there are 3 first class seats available, should I try again?
Sep 27, 2017, 10:40 am
#1102
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DTW and ORD
Posts: 667
Recent reports from GS agents have been all over the map. However, I've noticed that the algorithm will hold two seats to the gate in pretty much all cases now (excepting selling TODs). I think the most commonly quoted number of seats GS won't force an upgrade into have been quoted at 2 or 3.
Sep 27, 2017, 1:44 pm
#1103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
That matches my observations too. Of course there are flights that are zeroed out. Could be a result of rebookings, or revenue bookings too. I think this makes sense because if you were a first class passenger that needed to be rebooked due to a misconnect or something else, it would peeve you to no end that there are no more first class seats hours before departure and you have to either way many hours for a first class seat, or sit in coach due to an IRROP.
Also useful for when e.g. I SDCed up one flight to avoid a pending IRROPS disaster, lost my CPU, but went to the top of the list and there were still 2 seats left. One went to a paid F pax who did the same SDC I did, and I took the last one.
Sep 27, 2017, 2:08 pm
#1104
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 100
Yes, I've generally been very happy with what seems to be only clearing the last two seats at the gate. A little annoyed on the routes where they all disappear anyway, but SDC + last minute fares actually account for more than most people think (TODs still another piece though).
Also useful for when e.g. I SDCed up one flight to avoid a pending IRROPS disaster, lost my CPU, but went to the top of the list and there were still 2 seats left. One went to a paid F pax who did the same SDC I did, and I took the last one.
Also useful for when e.g. I SDCed up one flight to avoid a pending IRROPS disaster, lost my CPU, but went to the top of the list and there were still 2 seats left. One went to a paid F pax who did the same SDC I did, and I took the last one.
thanks everyone for the thoughts.
Sep 27, 2017, 9:10 pm
#1105
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 583
Quick question. My wife and I have frequently taken advantage of the perk that if I buy C internationally and she buys Y, we can upgrade her with a GPU at booking. Does the same apply domestically, e.g., I buy F to Hawaii and upgrade her at booking from Y with an RPU? Would simplify our lives considerably...
Sep 27, 2017, 9:28 pm
#1106
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: UA GS 2MM
Posts: 32
I just thought I’d note that I was through CDG last Sunday and GS line / desk is back there too.
Sep 27, 2017, 9:37 pm
#1107
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
Yes, I've generally been very happy with what seems to be only clearing the last two seats at the gate. A little annoyed on the routes where they all disappear anyway, but SDC + last minute fares actually account for more than most people think (TODs still another piece though).
Also useful for when e.g. I SDCed up one flight to avoid a pending IRROPS disaster, lost my CPU, but went to the top of the list and there were still 2 seats left. One went to a paid F pax who did the same SDC I did, and I took the last one.
Also useful for when e.g. I SDCed up one flight to avoid a pending IRROPS disaster, lost my CPU, but went to the top of the list and there were still 2 seats left. One went to a paid F pax who did the same SDC I did, and I took the last one.
[just a quick rant]
Sep 27, 2017, 9:54 pm
#1108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,342
I'm really starting to think that there's a hidden PN class. I wonder who else has seen this happen?
For the second time this year I called in and applied instruments to a reservation. This time it was for friends. The RPUs came from my account but the flyer is not me. The first time I saw this happen it was a ticket I booked for myself and called in to apply a GPU.
Anyway, five flights in the reservation including a red-eye SFO-IAH. The PNR has two pax. It's a 739 so 20 F seats and flight is showing F8...P4 PN0. Agent applies the RPUs to all flights and tells me SFO-IAH and one other flight will be waitlisted. She asks what seats to assign and I told her it's up to her. As she's going through the flights she says, "Wow, I see it pulled inventory for SFO-IAH and it's letting me pick first class seats but when I applied the RPU there was no PN space." Sure enough, the flight was upgraded to PN for both pax in the PNR and went to F6....P4 PN0. So, F lost 2, P stayed at 4 and PN is still 0.
Is there a hidden PN class or inventory? The fact that it cleared immediately tells me there's at least an inventory management program running in the background (and constantly, not just once an hour type of thing) that will clear PN space. I wish we knew how this worked or when it would clear.
-RM
For the second time this year I called in and applied instruments to a reservation. This time it was for friends. The RPUs came from my account but the flyer is not me. The first time I saw this happen it was a ticket I booked for myself and called in to apply a GPU.
Anyway, five flights in the reservation including a red-eye SFO-IAH. The PNR has two pax. It's a 739 so 20 F seats and flight is showing F8...P4 PN0. Agent applies the RPUs to all flights and tells me SFO-IAH and one other flight will be waitlisted. She asks what seats to assign and I told her it's up to her. As she's going through the flights she says, "Wow, I see it pulled inventory for SFO-IAH and it's letting me pick first class seats but when I applied the RPU there was no PN space." Sure enough, the flight was upgraded to PN for both pax in the PNR and went to F6....P4 PN0. So, F lost 2, P stayed at 4 and PN is still 0.
Is there a hidden PN class or inventory? The fact that it cleared immediately tells me there's at least an inventory management program running in the background (and constantly, not just once an hour type of thing) that will clear PN space. I wish we knew how this worked or when it would clear.
-RM
Sep 27, 2017, 9:57 pm
#1109
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
Quick question. My wife and I have frequently taken advantage of the perk that if I buy C internationally and she buys Y, we can upgrade her with a GPU at booking. Does the same apply domestically, e.g., I buy F to Hawaii and upgrade her at booking from Y with an RPU? Would simplify our lives considerably...
Sep 28, 2017, 5:36 am
#1110
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I'm really starting to think that there's a hidden PN class. I wonder who else has seen this happen?
For the second time this year I called in and applied instruments to a reservation. This time it was for friends. The RPUs came from my account but the flyer is not me. The first time I saw this happen it was a ticket I booked for myself and called in to apply a GPU.
Anyway, five flights in the reservation including a red-eye SFO-IAH. The PNR has two pax. It's a 739 so 20 F seats and flight is showing F8...P4 PN0. Agent applies the RPUs to all flights and tells me SFO-IAH and one other flight will be waitlisted. She asks what seats to assign and I told her it's up to her. As she's going through the flights she says, "Wow, I see it pulled inventory for SFO-IAH and it's letting me pick first class seats but when I applied the RPU there was no PN space." Sure enough, the flight was upgraded to PN for both pax in the PNR and went to F6....P4 PN0. So, F lost 2, P stayed at 4 and PN is still 0.
Is there a hidden PN class or inventory? The fact that it cleared immediately tells me there's at least an inventory management program running in the background (and constantly, not just once an hour type of thing) that will clear PN space. I wish we knew how this worked or when it would clear.
-RM
For the second time this year I called in and applied instruments to a reservation. This time it was for friends. The RPUs came from my account but the flyer is not me. The first time I saw this happen it was a ticket I booked for myself and called in to apply a GPU.
Anyway, five flights in the reservation including a red-eye SFO-IAH. The PNR has two pax. It's a 739 so 20 F seats and flight is showing F8...P4 PN0. Agent applies the RPUs to all flights and tells me SFO-IAH and one other flight will be waitlisted. She asks what seats to assign and I told her it's up to her. As she's going through the flights she says, "Wow, I see it pulled inventory for SFO-IAH and it's letting me pick first class seats but when I applied the RPU there was no PN space." Sure enough, the flight was upgraded to PN for both pax in the PNR and went to F6....P4 PN0. So, F lost 2, P stayed at 4 and PN is still 0.
Is there a hidden PN class or inventory? The fact that it cleared immediately tells me there's at least an inventory management program running in the background (and constantly, not just once an hour type of thing) that will clear PN space. I wish we knew how this worked or when it would clear.
-RM