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
Aug 7, 2017, 9:40 am
#76
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
This makes me wonder if anyone with similar spend levels has gotten a re-invitation/extension until 2019.
It certainly makes sense for United to invite GS members who will EASILY qualify midyear to start them in enjoying the benefits, just wonder why they've never done so until now.
It could also be that the number of people who go from not qualifying based on full year spend into EASILY qualifying by midyear is relatively small and we haven't heard about it until now.
It certainly makes sense for United to invite GS members who will EASILY qualify midyear to start them in enjoying the benefits, just wonder why they've never done so until now.
It could also be that the number of people who go from not qualifying based on full year spend into EASILY qualifying by midyear is relatively small and we haven't heard about it until now.
Aug 7, 2017, 9:50 am
#77
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
How many years has it been that UA began offering GS to Presidential Platinum folks (or select ones)?
Aug 7, 2017, 11:26 am
#78
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,703
Aug 7, 2017, 11:29 am
#79
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: United
Posts: 6
My new mid year GS was NOT due to corporate account. I had checked on that early this year and was told that I am not high enough in company to get this.
Lori
Lori
Aug 7, 2017, 11:37 am
#80
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Aug 7, 2017, 1:40 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
At $70K PQD on UA metal alone even out of SFO if this doesn't qualify for a GS invite I want to hear about it (please post back). It would seem to me even if the pax is flying BE that is a big spend rate! Now let's say the spend was around $45K I can see where GS would then look at who is flying F and full-fare vs. discount E. I haven't checked into it since last year but there is that program (mostly for corporate clients) that gets immediate GS qualification for what I thought was a similar spend rate (I am sure someone will know the exact figure).
When I fly on domestic flights, I try to book B, M, H, or Q. I buy up to business class if the offer is under $1K. When I travel overseas, it's usually a P, Z, or C - I am willing to pay for the difference in fare but many times, Y is higher fare than a ticket in business class. I buy A when I travel internationally for vacations.
Having said that, I was GS a while ago. I remember when I got it, my reaction was "oh, that's nice" and when I was demoted to 1K, my reaction was "I'll diversify my travel to best airlines on the route".
I am now working on achieving GS for 2018 and 4 Mil -- so close!
Aug 7, 2017, 2:07 pm
#82
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
Where does it say your status through 2019? Is it on your digital MileagePlus card on the app? That's the only place I'm aware of. The other expiration dates on the website are for mileage expiration, which would be in 01/2019 if the latest activity occurred in July.
Aug 7, 2017, 3:33 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
On the app. Go to the MileagePlus section (after United Clubs). your card should have the expiration date.
Aug 9, 2017, 11:14 pm
#84
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
Correct. I was just confirming that that is where the poster saw his/her confirmed status through 2019, as no one else has seemingly reported qualification into 2019 yet. It is easy to confuse mileage expiration with status expiration on the general website.
Aug 18, 2017, 3:00 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K, 2 Million, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2
I have just registered. Perhaps a novice question, although I am a 2 million mile flyer, but why are the PQDs a considerably lower than the actual price I paid for the tickets? I am based in Seoul, and have been buying the tickets in KRW.
Aug 18, 2017, 3:14 pm
#86
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Then security fee after security fee
Aug 18, 2017, 3:50 pm
#87
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
PQDs are the dollars UA keeps -- the portion of the ticket price that goes to governments / airports / .... are not included in PQDs. Dependenting on the laws / regulations of the airports used this can vary significantly.
Aug 20, 2017, 4:52 am
#88
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K, 2 Million, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2
Thanks guys. I just ran through my activity and I saw that the tickets I bought in KRW had much more taken out than the odd ticket I happened to buy in US dollars, Stateside using my US credit card. This year alone I have a long list of bought business class tickets (about 14/15 trans pacific), and they amount to so little. And then the two or three bought in US dollars still register at around 4K in PQD, It seems nuts - but I guess a reality.
Aug 20, 2017, 7:08 am
#89
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,168
On a flight home last night I was seated next to a CLE-based GS member and we started chatting about the qualifications.
He was shocked that I had more segments (about 20) and more spend (about $3k PQD) but he was invited to GS but I wasn't. Turns out neither of us had any significant international travel (I had like 3 trips, he had none) -- it seemed the primary differentiators is he works for a large consulting firm and buys through their corporate TA where as I work for a very small consulting firm and buy from .com, and he was flying the same route practically daily on B/M inventory while I was rarely flying to the same cities and typically on B/Y/A inventory.
Our best guess was that GS status came to him at least in part due to a corporate contract with the aforementioned consulting firm.
He was shocked that I had more segments (about 20) and more spend (about $3k PQD) but he was invited to GS but I wasn't. Turns out neither of us had any significant international travel (I had like 3 trips, he had none) -- it seemed the primary differentiators is he works for a large consulting firm and buys through their corporate TA where as I work for a very small consulting firm and buy from .com, and he was flying the same route practically daily on B/M inventory while I was rarely flying to the same cities and typically on B/Y/A inventory.
Our best guess was that GS status came to him at least in part due to a corporate contract with the aforementioned consulting firm.
Aug 20, 2017, 7:44 am
#90
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
It's important to note that since we have no clue how much United requires to qualify for GS and that the PQD system has only existed recently, we have no earthly idea whether United looks at PQD or total spend on UA metal. I would not be surprised if it's the latter. After all, $50k in PassPlus can get you GS and that money can be used on taxes.