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
Oct 7, 2017, 6:22 pm
#1126
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 90
Called to use my RPU to sponsor upgrade for someone else.
I was told that my GS status would be used to determine their priority.
Everything I've read says the priority is based on the status of the traveler. Is this something special for GS only?
I was told that my GS status would be used to determine their priority.
Everything I've read says the priority is based on the status of the traveler. Is this something special for GS only?
Oct 7, 2017, 6:35 pm
#1127
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: LAX, EWR, LHR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 227
Your RPU will clear into PN while other non-GS upgrades clear into R. That might be the priority the agent was referring to.
Oct 7, 2017, 7:46 pm
#1128
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Oct 7, 2017, 7:55 pm
#1129
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
1) The status of the flyer DOES determine priority for upgrades
2) Regardless of the passenger status, tickets with GS upgrades have access to fare classes that others don't (PN, ON...)
So as a General Member you may be at the bottom of the PN waitlist, but that whole waitlist is going to clear before the R waitlist.
Oct 7, 2017, 9:46 pm
#1130
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 221
If your ticket was purchased with money, the RPU's priority will be based on the traveler's status level.
Oct 7, 2017, 11:04 pm
#1131
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
Your other point refers to inherited status but doesn't apply to upgrade instruments.
Oct 7, 2017, 11:18 pm
#1132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,425
There is something special for GS though - a GS instrument is special (regardless of who it tries to upgrade), and has higher priority than non-GS instruments.
Oct 8, 2017, 1:38 am
#1133
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
At the same time a coach award ticket to a general member, coming from a GS account doesn’t get E+ seating, it just gets the status of the general member, including no free checked bag (I believe). If the ticket is then upgraded using an RPU the general member gets all the benefits of First Class. It’s a little confusing.
Oct 8, 2017, 2:03 am
#1134
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: 66,861
In some sense, both are true. If you sponsor someone else's upgrade, their own status determines their priority.
There is something special for GS though - a GS instrument is special (regardless of who it tries to upgrade), and has higher priority than non-GS instruments.
There is something special for GS though - a GS instrument is special (regardless of who it tries to upgrade), and has higher priority than non-GS instruments.
Instruments clear into a particular inventory class -- GS instruments clear into PN and non-GS clear into R. (if referring to economy to business upgrades).
Oct 8, 2017, 3:16 am
#1135
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
Another datapoint:
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
Oct 8, 2017, 4:07 am
#1136
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Another datapoint:
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
Oct 8, 2017, 11:47 am
#1138
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Another datapoint:
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
GM friend purchased an award ticket (YN) with his own miles for a p.s. flight (no CPUs). I applied one of my (GS) RPUs. It did not clear in advance, so went to airport waitlist. Upon check-in, he was #1 on a long list. None were on the stand-by list, so I assume all others on the WL were revenue passengers. He was upgraded just before the door closed (and the only one upgraded from the airport WL).
Therefore it appears the no-status GM inherited my GS status on the airport upgrade list.
Oct 8, 2017, 12:06 pm
#1139
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
Oct 8, 2017, 3:32 pm
#1140
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
As a GS, on a 1K instrument, I’d be waitlisted for R at the top of the queue given my status. A 1K on a GS instrument would be waitlisted for PN, but behind GS on a GS supported upgrade.
Back in the day, upgrades would confer status, that’s no longer true
Last edited by boat9781; Oct 8, 2017 at 3:37 pm Reason: Typo