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 21, 2017, 2:43 pm
#106
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
My ultimate goal is to reach 4 million for a lifetime GS before UA changes its program rules. I should get there in 2019. Maybe sooner.
Aug 21, 2017, 2:45 pm
#107
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
In the sense that nobody is ever certain about anything and it can change at any time, sure. But you would be a significant outlier.
Aug 21, 2017, 3:15 pm
#108
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
There are threads here that discuss what basically the qualification "look like". They heat up at the end of the year when people are scrambling to see if they even have a chance of getting the invite. Someone has even collated data as to what people spent, miles, and hub as the where or not they made cut. So yes, while you are correct the "qualifications" are not publicly released you can get a good idea of what your chances are here on some of the FT threads that deal with this topic. I would agree at $70K, UA metal, and no invite you would be at the far end of a bell curve for sure.
Aug 21, 2017, 4:33 pm
#109
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
Im confused. The spread sheet has a number of qualifications in the $20-$40k range. For example out of EWR and other places, although few out of SFO.
Yet some thinks it's unlikely to get GS at less than $40k or $50k.
Yet some thinks it's unlikely to get GS at less than $40k or $50k.
Aug 21, 2017, 4:43 pm
#110
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I only spent $38k last year and I made it so $35k doesn't seem that much different.
Aug 21, 2017, 4:49 pm
#111
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
$38K got you the invite, just curious what hub do you fly out of? As others have stated, it seems to make a difference. SFO for example is tough, I didn't get the invite at $39K.
Aug 21, 2017, 5:02 pm
#112
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Aug 21, 2017, 5:44 pm
#113
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
So back to my question - does anyone know or has anyone ever heard of a 50k BIS of B fares and above to requalify?
Aug 21, 2017, 6:14 pm
#114
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
And there's just no way that 50k BIS in P fares automatically gets you GS. I mean zero chance. If you're flying ps, for example, that's $13.5k in spend. Even if you're flying TPAC or TATL, that's under $25k (and possibly under $20k). Y or B fares would be about the same spend, or lower. Not even close to GS territory.
Aug 21, 2017, 7:15 pm
#115
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
Around 2010, UA sent a letter to some GS members, saying that they would renew GS status for the next year with 50k miles of some kind of expensive (full fare?) tickets. Search the FT UA archives, pre-merger.
Aug 21, 2017, 10:04 pm
#116
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Good to know my friend wasn't totally crazy. I'll look through those archives and see what I find.
Aug 22, 2017, 12:24 pm
#117
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
They got me again.............
Keeping the invitation algorithm to GS a secret really is pure marketing and business genius (and I am NOT being sarcastic).
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
Aug 22, 2017, 1:20 pm
#118
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Keeping the invitation algorithm to GS a secret really is pure marketing and business genius (and I am NOT being sarcastic).You won't be lacking for company in the looney bin
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
Aug 22, 2017, 3:41 pm
#119
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Keeping the invitation algorithm to GS a secret really is pure marketing and business genius (and I am NOT being sarcastic).
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
I have been GS for 7 years and love the benefits and service I have received. My business travel is down a little bit this year due to some Q1-Q2 expense control and my evolving role at the company. I was projected to be at my lowest spend in the last 7 years (but still > $40K). That is close based on the anecdotal data for an out station based GS. So what did I do? I booked a TATL trip for Q4 that could have been done in Q1 2018. So instead of relaxing at home, I will be flying to BRU. True insanity on my part, but real genius by UA.
Just my experience and everyone else's will be different.
Aug 22, 2017, 3:45 pm
#120
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 disagree. At least for my own experience. I'll spend $35k this year. mix of work business class trips and personal G class trips. If they published a criteria say $40k spend, then I woudl have converted two of those G trips and paid out of pocket up to Business Class. But no way I will spend $5k out of pocket without a guarantee.
Just my experience and everyone else's will be different.
Just my experience and everyone else's will be different.