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 20, 2017, 12:30 pm
#91
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: 3,620
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.
Aug 20, 2017, 1:10 pm
#92
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
My understanding is that indeed it is based ONLY on dollars spent on UA metal. The last 2 years I have not gotten the GS invite because too many dollars were spent on *A metal. Trying not to do that this year but I don't think I will hit the minimum dollar amount (whatever that is) anyhow as my internation (high ticket) travel is down this year but I may be close.
Aug 20, 2017, 1:43 pm
#93
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
As high ticket cost flyers the % reduction of total fares to PQDs is less than that for discount flyers and likely is a narrower range. Mostly dominated by the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax -- as most other items are fixed value fees.
Aug 20, 2017, 2:30 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAS
Programs: 3 MMer
Posts: 458
It has been mentioned on this forum for years that UA (and probably most airlines) gives a certain amount of GS status to employees at companies that they wish to retain as permanent/loyal passengers (High Revenue is the objective). It has also been mentioned that some of these GS members NEVER fly, but the travel dept, or the "BIGGEST OF THE BIG SHOT'S", of said company, doles them out to whomever they wish.
Aug 20, 2017, 3:43 pm
#95
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,164
It has been mentioned on this forum for years that UA (and probably most airlines) gives a certain amount of GS status to employees at companies that they wish to retain as permanent/loyal passengers (High Revenue is the objective). It has also been mentioned that some of these GS members NEVER fly, but the travel dept, or the "BIGGEST OF THE BIG SHOT'S", of said company, doles them out to whomever they wish.
If that's how he got it he wasn't aware -- until he figured out that I flew more and spent more, he thought it was based purely on his travel last year. [Of course, there's also the factor of previous years' travel which we didn't get to discussing, though neither of us have had significant international travel]
Aug 20, 2017, 4:59 pm
#96
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR, GVA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 78
would it be easier for my wife to re-qualify for GS if she changes her address to Switzerland(uses GVA to fly in and out of Switzerland) instead of EWR? She is working in Switzerland for 2 years so not a problem providing documents for proof.
Aug 20, 2017, 5:21 pm
#97
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 747
I am assuming this is only 1 companion, and only on UA metal. Right?
Aug 20, 2017, 8:39 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
Aug 21, 2017, 1:31 am
#100
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Years ago, I recall hearing from a friend of mine that any current GS that flew 50k BIS in FPAJCDZPYB was automatically requalified. Does that sound familiar to anyone on this board? Anyone know if that's still true? I will be way under $40k this year, but about 75k BIS in mix of mostly PZ one C and one D. Plus a 75k BIS in G (Will that actually hurt me?). I expect my spend to be about $35k.
Current 1st year GS. I'm gonna lose it huh?
Address in SNA, most of my round trips begin in PEK.
Current 1st year GS. I'm gonna lose it huh?
Address in SNA, most of my round trips begin in PEK.
Aug 21, 2017, 7:41 am
#101
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 285
Years ago, I recall hearing from a friend of mine that any current GS that flew 50k BIS in FPAJCDZPYB was automatically requalified. Does that sound familiar to anyone on this board? Anyone know if that's still true? I will be way under $40k this year, but about 75k BIS in mix of mostly PZ one C and one D. Plus a 75k BIS in G (Will that actually hurt me?). I expect my spend to be about $35k.
Current 1st year GS. I'm gonna lose it huh?
Address in SNA, most of my round trips begin in PEK.
Current 1st year GS. I'm gonna lose it huh?
Address in SNA, most of my round trips begin in PEK.
Aug 21, 2017, 9:29 am
#102
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: 3,620
I can tell you that last year out of SFO for base and a $39K spend with a mix of F, C, and economy tickets I did not get the invite. This seemed pretty typical from what was being posted. Looks like the cut is somewhere in the mid $40'sK spend out of a major UA hub.
Aug 21, 2017, 10:51 am
#103
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
This year, I will exceed 70K; it's still iffy if I will get invited.
Aug 21, 2017, 1:45 pm
#104
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: 3,620
$70K on UA metal and no invite! Wow, let me know if that happens, even out of a west coast hub.
Aug 21, 2017, 2:23 pm
#105
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Why do you think iffy? Unless not all of that 70K is UA metal, I've yet to hear of someone with that much spend not getting an invite.