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 19, 2017, 12:56 pm
#1186
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
They were instrument-supported. Their point was since there's no way to apply an instrument within 24 hours, there's no way for a GS to book a last minute fare and move ahead of people who've already been waitlisted.
I'm not sure this is really a bad thing.
I'm not sure this is really a bad thing.
Oct 19, 2017, 1:24 pm
#1187
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
F2 A2 C2 Z1 P1 PN0
At some point then (ignoring optics, which is emotional and not logical), the argument becomes "UA should stop selling F seats and upgrade me instead". But if I have the chance to buy F for +$159, decline it, and someone else makes that choice.. can I really be upset?
They shouldn't be, unless supported by a GS instrument. Something smells off here..
Oct 19, 2017, 3:18 pm
#1188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
But the 5 day (120 hours ahead of flight time) seems to be a thing of the past. They are down to 3 days now.
-RM
Oct 19, 2017, 5:07 pm
#1189
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA Global Services, Marriott LT Platinum, SPG platinum
Posts: 71
Mercedes Maybach at LAX
Wife and I were traveling to SYD with a relatively tight 45 min layover in LAX. Our flight from SMF to LAX arrived in time so I was confident we would make the other flight easily. On arrival at LAX the GS Agent was waiting at door and took us to tarmac and I was surprised to see a gorgeous Mercedes Benz S600 Maybach waiting for us.
The GS agent asked me if I wanted to go straight to the flight (since it was boarding) or do a quick stop at United Club. I opted to go to UC to download some emails on my laptop. She said I have 10 min to spend in UC and the gate for our SYD flight is just 2 min walk. I thanked her and were done in UC in about 5-6 minutes.
As we started to walk out of the UC, the GS agent came and asked us to take the Maybach ride back to the plane. I told her that we would just walk since the gate was right there and still about 10 minutes remaining to board (25 min to departure) but she insisted we take the ride, so we agreed.
She told us that these are brand new Maybachs and only LAX has them.
It was a wonderful experience overall and wife (who doesn't travel much) was pleasantly surprised at the experience ....
Good Job United!!!
The GS agent asked me if I wanted to go straight to the flight (since it was boarding) or do a quick stop at United Club. I opted to go to UC to download some emails on my laptop. She said I have 10 min to spend in UC and the gate for our SYD flight is just 2 min walk. I thanked her and were done in UC in about 5-6 minutes.
As we started to walk out of the UC, the GS agent came and asked us to take the Maybach ride back to the plane. I told her that we would just walk since the gate was right there and still about 10 minutes remaining to board (25 min to departure) but she insisted we take the ride, so we agreed.
She told us that these are brand new Maybachs and only LAX has them.
It was a wonderful experience overall and wife (who doesn't travel much) was pleasantly surprised at the experience ....
Good Job United!!!
Oct 19, 2017, 6:37 pm
#1190
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
How is it not a bad thing? I book flights less than 24 hours all the time. When I booked it was B/Y or F. F would have been $500 more and wasn't worth it. However I did still spend more than almost anyone in first.
Oct 20, 2017, 8:42 am
#1192
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: UA GS/4 MM, AA Exec Plat, Lifetime Hilton D, Hyatt G, Marriott Titanium earned Ambassador
Posts: 7,553
What a beautiful connection. I'd transit LAX just to ride in a Maybach again. Very comfortable. After my last MB meet at EWR actually received a e-mail from UA regarding the meet/greet service. Enjoy SYD!
Wife and I were traveling to SYD with a relatively tight 45 min layover in LAX. Our flight from SMF to LAX arrived in time so I was confident we would make the other flight easily. On arrival at LAX the GS Agent was waiting at door and took us to tarmac and I was surprised to see a gorgeous Mercedes Benz S600 Maybach waiting for us.
The GS agent asked me if I wanted to go straight to the flight (since it was boarding) or do a quick stop at United Club. I opted to go to UC to download some emails on my laptop. She said I have 10 min to spend in UC and the gate for our SYD flight is just 2 min walk. I thanked her and were done in UC in about 5-6 minutes.
As we started to walk out of the UC, the GS agent came and asked us to take the Maybach ride back to the plane. I told her that we would just walk since the gate was right there and still about 10 minutes remaining to board (25 min to departure) but she insisted we take the ride, so we agreed.
She told us that these are brand new Maybachs and only LAX has them.
It was a wonderful experience overall and wife (who doesn't travel much) was pleasantly surprised at the experience ....
Good Job United!!!
The GS agent asked me if I wanted to go straight to the flight (since it was boarding) or do a quick stop at United Club. I opted to go to UC to download some emails on my laptop. She said I have 10 min to spend in UC and the gate for our SYD flight is just 2 min walk. I thanked her and were done in UC in about 5-6 minutes.
As we started to walk out of the UC, the GS agent came and asked us to take the Maybach ride back to the plane. I told her that we would just walk since the gate was right there and still about 10 minutes remaining to board (25 min to departure) but she insisted we take the ride, so we agreed.
She told us that these are brand new Maybachs and only LAX has them.
It was a wonderful experience overall and wife (who doesn't travel much) was pleasantly surprised at the experience ....
Good Job United!!!
Oct 20, 2017, 10:32 am
#1193
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 200
From the wiki:
What does this mean? You can apply an instrument to upgrade from basic economy to F?
GS can buy up from Basic Economy fares, which is usually forbidden
Oct 20, 2017, 10:36 am
#1194
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
Oct 20, 2017, 10:45 am
#1195
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 200
In general GPUs are not available on flights booked in Z, P, S, T, K, L, G or N. Does this apply to GS, since we are able to apply GPUs to award tickets?
Oct 20, 2017, 10:45 am
#1196
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Oct 20, 2017, 1:13 pm
#1197
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
What is the current status of the F lounge in FRA -- available only on departing united F or when connecting into europe from united F too?
Oct 20, 2017, 2:30 pm
#1198
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
The language on the GS website is a little more ambiguous because it says "Departures only. Flights must be booked in United Polaris first class."
They typically use "traveling in" when referring to lounges that can be used either on connection or departure, so I would guess no access.
Oct 20, 2017, 3:41 pm
#1199
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,506
Soooo I should know the upgrade rules and priority by now but .... on UA 2027 (LAS-IAH) on Sunday Oct 22.Booked a V fare on Oct 5, applied an RPU the same day. Fast forward to today, we're two days out, and F is already full but with 4 upgrades showing as confirmed. Would these 4 all be other GS using instruments who paid higher than a V fare and therefore cleared into PN before me? Or is there some other status that would put them past a GS using an instrument? Thanks.
Oct 20, 2017, 3:49 pm
#1200
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
Soooo I should know the upgrade rules and priority by now but .... on UA 2027 (LAS-IAH) on Sunday Oct 22.Booked a V fare on Oct 5, applied an RPU the same day. Fast forward to today, we're two days out, and F is already full but with 4 upgrades showing as confirmed. Would these 4 all be other GS using instruments who paid higher than a V fare and therefore cleared into PN before me? Or is there some other status that would put them past a GS using an instrument? Thanks.