Nov 8, 2017, 5:41 pm
Last edit by: FlyHighInTheSky
Global Services Qualifying Discussion- 2018
Qualification FormPlease only fill out the above form once you are 100% certain that you have made or not made Global Services for 2018.
Qualification Spreadsheet
This will be a discussion thread, for discussing the needed qualifications and timing of notification.
Use "Global Services 2018 Notifications (ONLY)" to report your actual notification.
For discussion of GS benefits, please use Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2017
For 2017 qualifications, see the 2017 thread
To find your PQDs if >than $12K
Go to MileagePlus activity since my last statement and it is in the "Account summary" table at the top of the page.
Note this is not just the UA operated PQDs (which is commonly believed to be what matters for GS) but rather your total PQDs.
Definitions
BIS is actual scheduled flight distance (Great Circle Mileage Distance -- GCM) between airports with 500 mile minimum for elites. This is the standard used for Lifetime miles also. Those flying mostly sub-500 segments sometimes prefer to not use the minimum rule.
The definition for CPM is a bit vaguer, especially since CPM is used in multiple different situations.
Believe for the purpose of this thread, GS qualification, folks are using
PQD CPM = UA PQDs / UA BIS
Note there is no direct evidence UA uses this CPM number for GS Qualification but it is a number FTers like to use.
As for BIS, UA does not report this number your account and it needs to be manually tracked.
One way is to make use that PQMs are based on BIS but there may be a multiplier / bonus for high end fares. If always in 2x PQMs, you could divide by 2 to get BIS.
rwsteelers had a good method for determining UA BIS -- the change in Lifetime Miles from the first of the year.
2018 GS Qualifying Discussion
Jan 18, 2018, 8:05 am
#811
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Is there any chance you could be considered high maintenance? For example, did you make lots of requests for compensation? I'm not trying to be snarky; I've just wondered sometimes, if their CRM setup doesn't track this and ding people for it.
Jan 18, 2018, 8:18 am
#812
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
It does seem there must be some other variable missing. almost all B+ fares. $51k. We haven't seen anyone like your profile not make it as far as I know. And you don't really seem borderline either. I'm $10k less than you and way lower CPM and I requal'd. And last year i was only $37k (my first year of qual). We've got to figure out what other variable there is.
Jan 18, 2018, 8:18 am
#813
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
Is there any chance you could be considered high maintenance?
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I chatted with a flight attendant on last flight and she shared a view of her united device - there are fields where you can add notes in passengers which are then connected with you in their app. She said if you're an a-hole, or belligerent it will be there for FAs to review. My ID was clean 😎 tho it was interesting to see how they can track us inter flight if need be.
T
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I chatted with a flight attendant on last flight and she shared a view of her united device - there are fields where you can add notes in passengers which are then connected with you in their app. She said if you're an a-hole, or belligerent it will be there for FAs to review. My ID was clean 😎 tho it was interesting to see how they can track us inter flight if need be.
T
Jan 18, 2018, 8:35 am
#814
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Compared to how I lambast Hilton almost weekly this is really nothing to me.
It does seem there must be some other variable missing. almost all B+ fares. $51k. We haven't seen anyone like your profile not make it as far as I know. And you don't really seem borderline either. I'm $10k less than you and way lower CPM and I requal'd. And last year i was only $37k (my first year of qual). We've got to figure out what other variable there is.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 18, 2018 at 11:26 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Jan 18, 2018, 9:02 am
#815
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Are you able to consider PassPlus - pay $50k up front and it comes with GS for the year.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:28 am
#816
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
Jan 18, 2018, 9:29 am
#817
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
The denial is an outlier and very difficult to explain when some, including first timers, are getting offers at $40k. A multi-year GS missed a year or two back with around $56k; this falls in the same category of just plain inexplicable IMO.
Are you able to consider PassPlus - pay $50k up front and it comes with GS for the year.
Are you able to consider PassPlus - pay $50k up front and it comes with GS for the year.
Yeah.
I could probably make due if some random FT GS adopted me.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 18, 2018 at 11:27 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Jan 18, 2018, 9:54 am
#818
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
The denial is an outlier and very difficult to explain when some, including first timers, are getting offers at $40k. A multi-year GS missed a year or two back with around $56k; this falls in the same category of just plain inexplicable IMO.
Are you able to consider PassPlus - pay $50k up front and it comes with GS for the year.
Are you able to consider PassPlus - pay $50k up front and it comes with GS for the year.
Jan 18, 2018, 10:43 am
#819
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
My year over year stats.
2012 - $12000 - 81000 - Plat for 2013
2013 - $16000 - 101000 - 1K for 2014
2014 - $31000 - 130000 - 1K for 2015
2015 - $45000 - 171000 - 1K for 2016 - this was first year i thought i had a shot, but no joy.
2016 - $37000 - 144000 - GS for 2017 - I also had spend(>$10k) on colleague tickets on my PNRs
2017 - $44000 - 207000 - GS for 2018
2012 - $12000 - 81000 - Plat for 2013
2013 - $16000 - 101000 - 1K for 2014
2014 - $31000 - 130000 - 1K for 2015
2015 - $45000 - 171000 - 1K for 2016 - this was first year i thought i had a shot, but no joy.
2016 - $37000 - 144000 - GS for 2017 - I also had spend(>$10k) on colleague tickets on my PNRs
2017 - $44000 - 207000 - GS for 2018
Jan 18, 2018, 10:43 am
#820
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,418
Yeah, your case and several other statements from UA makes it pretty clear that they consider multi-year trailing spend: someone with $44k in two consecutive years has a better shot than $20k followed by $50k.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:03 pm
#821
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 659
Although it's bad for you, AugustusM, your case has given us a much-needed insight into the qualification criteria! We haven't had such a big discovery in a long time with respect to GS qualification criteria. We've known for a while that they consider year-over-year spend, but not that it was such a critical thing.
My guess is moving forward, this will become a common follow-up question for those that are looking for insight into whether they have a chance at qualifying. If there is someone that has been a $15k spender for 10 years, then all of a sudden has a $45k year, my guess is they won't make it. Where-as, the consistent $30-35k spender that has a good $45k year will have a better shot. Cool stuff!
This is supremely helpful for those of us that are trying to ensure our GS status remains every year.
My guess is moving forward, this will become a common follow-up question for those that are looking for insight into whether they have a chance at qualifying. If there is someone that has been a $15k spender for 10 years, then all of a sudden has a $45k year, my guess is they won't make it. Where-as, the consistent $30-35k spender that has a good $45k year will have a better shot. Cool stuff!
This is supremely helpful for those of us that are trying to ensure our GS status remains every year.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:06 pm
#822
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
That's an interesting data point... I guess UA does really only care about UA metal spend (or emphasize it to the extreme). Personally, I think that someone with 70K PQD (40K UA) should be selected over someone with 43K PQD (43K UA), but that's just me.
(In fact, I have trouble understanding how some people keep 100% of their spend on UA metal. Flying out of SFO, I often have to fly intra-europe/intra-asia segments on Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian/ANA to reach cities that United doesn't service, or that would require transiting through EWR -- when SFO-EWR is often sold out last minute.)
(In fact, I have trouble understanding how some people keep 100% of their spend on UA metal. Flying out of SFO, I often have to fly intra-europe/intra-asia segments on Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian/ANA to reach cities that United doesn't service, or that would require transiting through EWR -- when SFO-EWR is often sold out last minute.)
+1 for sure.
Just as you point out intra-europe/asia segments on *A carriers were a large part of my travel last year. My line has been why call it GLOBAL service??? Unfortunately for me I have known this and have missed the ring now for several years. My work related traveling is slowing down now (thankfully) so I seriously doubt I will get the GS invite but congrats to those that did.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:08 pm
#823
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Which means I'm hoping my 20/51/55-60 gets me in next year.
As I said earlier if there can be one positive it's that we have a potential new data point to consider and we should really be answering a new member's query of their chances of making it with not only how much are you going to spend this year but what did your past two years (to be on the safe side) look like. The FT community has been helpful to me as a HVF so I consider this like donating my 1K body to science.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 18, 2018 at 11:28 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Jan 18, 2018, 4:21 pm
#824
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CA, FL, and China.
Programs: UA1K (no longer serviced!), Bonvoy P, Hyatt G
Posts: 704
no it was in the $40’s for PQD. It’s hard to understand how I could fly virtually the same itineraries as my initial qualification year (The previous years, 2016), plus spend $3k more, and not get invited back.
which is why I am wondering what’s the best way to contact them to challenge the decision.
Nobody here answered my Q and instead pretended to be the ones in charge of evaluating the account for United, but for reference I emailed the basic mileageplus address. That took care of it.
Thank you fro your empathy.
As I said earlier if there can be one positive it's that we have a potential new data point to consider and we should really be answering a new member's query of their chances of making it with not only how much are you going to spend this year but what did your past two years (to be on the safe side) look like. The FT community has been helpful to me as a HVF so I consider this like donating my 1K body to science.
As I said earlier if there can be one positive it's that we have a potential new data point to consider and we should really be answering a new member's query of their chances of making it with not only how much are you going to spend this year but what did your past two years (to be on the safe side) look like. The FT community has been helpful to me as a HVF so I consider this like donating my 1K body to science.
As another data point, my track record is:
2013 and prior - no status
2014 - silver
2015 - gold (barely)
2016 - global (with seemingly very low spend)
2017 - global (with a bit more spend and review)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 18, 2018 at 11:32 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jan 18, 2018, 4:44 pm
#825
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: United GS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 102
