Jan 1, 2018, 6:41 am
Last edit by: flyerbjorn
United Global Services ("GS") is the highest tier of MileagePlus elite status. It is by invitation only, reviewed annually -- 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, and also to those individuals that purchase an annual PassPlus enrollment of $50k or greater. 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 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 [2017]
Thread on 2017 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2017 Qualifying Discussion
Known facts concerning qualification and eligibility 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.
Published Benefits
Full detail of published benefits can be found at https://mystatus.united.com/gs [MP credentials login required, existing GS only]
Shortlist (incremental/different to 1K):
- Dedicated phone number, usually answered on the first ring, and generally by specially-trained GS agents. Some exceptions occur, especially during busy periods (such as when weather waivers are in effect)
- Dedicated email address for MileagePlus and other inquiries, usually answered personally within hours
- Dedicated check-in at main airport stations, including private Global Reception centers at major hubs, providing priority TSA security access. May bring guests/companions into Global Reception areas or dedicated GS checkin lanes who are traveling on same itinerary as GS member.
- Instrument-supported upgrades (GPU/RPU) clear into PN class rather than PZ class for other elite tiers, which usually have much better availability. Instruments drawn from the GS member account and applied to other reservations will also clear into PN class.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) cleared beginning 120 hours prior to flight departure (versus 96 hours for 1K) for GS member and up to one other traveling on same PNR
- Highest-priority when waitlisted for Upgrades, Award Travel, and Sold-out Flight Availability. GS members clear before any other status level or full-fare customers.
- Priority Boarding, among the first to board the aircraft (currently after unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities and/or need more time boarding, Active-Duty Military, and now prior to families with children under age of 2)
- Priority handling in event of IRROPS, including next flight guarantee in case of re-accommodation, overseen by dedicated team of location-based GS Customer Service Agents (identified via gold scarves/ties)
- Mercedes-Benz Tarmac Transfer for tight connections between flights at major hubs (cannot be requested in advance)
- Access to United Arrivals Lounge at SFO when arriving from international flight, regardless of cabin class (no guests permitted)
- Access to Arrivals Lounge at LHR T2 when arriving from inbound UA-operated intercontinental flight, regardless of cabin (no guests permitted, must present Boarding Pass or physical GS card)
- Access to Lufthansa / Swiss Welcome (arrival) Lounges in FRA and ZRH for same-day inbound UA intercontinental flight, regardless of cabin (no guests permitted, must present physical GS card)
All benefits noted below require calling a GS agent:
- GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available. United-operated flights only. Update 12 Dec 2018: Only for GS member + 1 companion.
- GS can create saver business award space (IN) if PZ inventory is available. United-operated flights only.
- GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business / First with a GPU if PN inventory is available, provided both instrument and miles drawn from GS member account. United-operated flights only.
- GS can confirm any waitlisted instrument-supported upgrade within T-72 hours to flight departure provided at least 2 (two) J class premium seats remain for sale after the upgrade is processed and they are at the top of the waitlist.
- GS are entitled to one Saver Award seat in the same class of service with their purchase of any premium cabin fare. GS agents can open space if it is not available provided that at least 2 seats remain for sale afterwards. United-operated flights only.
- GS can upgrade a companion with an instrument (GPU/RPU) from Economy to Business / First when flying on a paid premium cabin fare, even if PZ or PN is not available, as long as J > 2 after upgrade processed. Companion needs to be ticketed in W class or higher on international cash fare itineraries, or ticketed in X/XN for upgrades from award tickets. GS can also open economy award space for the companion to allow for the upgrade with instrument, even if XN or T are unavailable.
- (Note: Only ONE of the two above options can be exercised per premium fare purchased.)
- GS can buy up from Basic Economy fares, which is usually forbidden
- GS can access VIP Lounges (former Global First Lounges) in NRT, LHR, and HKG when booked in Polaris Business on an international itinerary. One guest permitted (two guests if a United Club member). Not accessed if booked in United Economy.
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions [2018]
Apr 13, 2018, 12:41 am
#436
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Rowley, MA / Edgartown, MA / Christiansted, St. Croix (USVI)
Programs: UA LT GS/4.96MM, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓, Korea SeS, APEC
Posts: 579
These events are really smart, on the one hand, they build loyalty by recognizing high value customers but also give the UA top management direct access to unfiltered customer feedback. Anyone know how the invitation selection works and how often this type of event happens? Thanks for sharing the experience with the rest of us, interesting stuff.
Apr 13, 2018, 12:53 am
#437
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Kudos to the feedback from all, who attended!^
Apr 13, 2018, 5:06 am
#438
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Maybe unpublished but on my flight to SEA the two GS have their big rollers in sideways which have filled the whole bin save for the small sliver where a woman in row 1 was able to get her purse in.
Apr 13, 2018, 10:41 am
#439
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,257
New GS Email Responses
The responses to last couple of emails I've sent to United GS seem to be coming from a different place. They have the following footer:
Executive Services, United Airlines
Corporate Customer Care
Anybody else seeing this? Or is this because of my DYKWIA membership.....
Executive Services, United Airlines
Corporate Customer Care
Anybody else seeing this? Or is this because of my DYKWIA membership.....
Apr 13, 2018, 3:20 pm
#440
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
Programs: AA Platinum (Lifetime), United GS, HHonors Diamond, Shangri-la Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 549
i'd rather not quote the specific data, but that is what i found rather hard to believe, having had decades of experience in the call center industry myself. the math just didn't add up. he either quoted the wrong figures or has been regularly misinformed by his call center team or united has a call abandonment rate in excess of 90%. (i don't see how that is even remotely possible.) he may have confused the number of calls taken a month with the number of calls taken per day, but even then, with the number of agents he said they have, that would still mean that each agent would have to take an astronomical number of calls a day.
he did acknowledge that call center ops was not something he felt UA has excelled in and that there are opportunities there. But, he added, "you guys get straight through." he said that in the past they have just said, "hey, so and so would probably be good for this... let's get so and so to head up the call centers..." without actually looking for somebody with a call center background.
Apr 17, 2018, 3:48 pm
#441
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: 66,850
Since there were no GS unique impacts, moved the recent Marriot changes and possible impact on cross status match to the existing discussion https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ed-2018-a.html
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Apr 19, 2018, 1:29 am
#442
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: Show me the points!
Posts: 1,224
A friend of mine who is GS is offering to upgrade me on a flight to North America from Sydney. He says he can get upgrades as long as my ticket isn't basic economy but I thought I needed at least W for him to be able to use a GPU. Should I play it safe and book W or would the current lowest fare of G work?
Apr 19, 2018, 3:23 am
#443
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
A friend of mine who is GS is offering to upgrade me on a flight to North America from Sydney. He says he can get upgrades as long as my ticket isn't basic economy but I thought I needed at least W for him to be able to use a GPU. Should I play it safe and book W or would the current lowest fare of G work?
Apr 19, 2018, 3:22 pm
#444
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Is there any special Global Services access to TSA security at MCO?
Apr 19, 2018, 7:43 pm
#445
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,694
Apr 21, 2018, 4:03 pm
#446
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Apr 22, 2018, 1:20 pm
#447
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
Apr 22, 2018, 8:28 pm
#448
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, Amex Centurion, UA 1MM
Posts: 557
i was there, too. i agree; it was a great event... good food, eclectic venue, great service from the wait staff and bartenders. most importantly, it was an opportunity to chat with key decision makers at united, who seemed incredibly interested in our feedback. they apparently do a fair number of these events, although this was my first one... i've been invited before, but have usually been traveling and unable to attend.
oscar spoke briefly about the 747 farewell and mentioned there was a lot of drinking... he joked that he thought they spent more on alcohol on that flight than fuel. (rim shot!)
the man knows how to work the room... in addition to his public remarks, i watched as he spoke to as many customers as he could over the two or two and a half hours i was there. he didn't just say hello, but he stopped to talk for five or ten minutes with each group of attendees. i spoke to him mostly about call center operations. he mentioned some figures in terms of number of agents and number of calls received each day that i found, well, kind of hard to believe... in the sense that i think he lets other people handle that and he may not know too much about what actually goes on in call center operations himself.
he seemed like a very nice guy, somebody who is genuinely committed to his employees and to his customers.
oscar spoke briefly about the 747 farewell and mentioned there was a lot of drinking... he joked that he thought they spent more on alcohol on that flight than fuel. (rim shot!)
the man knows how to work the room... in addition to his public remarks, i watched as he spoke to as many customers as he could over the two or two and a half hours i was there. he didn't just say hello, but he stopped to talk for five or ten minutes with each group of attendees. i spoke to him mostly about call center operations. he mentioned some figures in terms of number of agents and number of calls received each day that i found, well, kind of hard to believe... in the sense that i think he lets other people handle that and he may not know too much about what actually goes on in call center operations himself.
he seemed like a very nice guy, somebody who is genuinely committed to his employees and to his customers.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:43 am
#449
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,694
Apr 23, 2018, 7:53 am
#450
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
On Saturday morning I flew out of LGA. Pre-check was closed (was 4:30am, but TSA agent said it was due to low staffing) and line was about 25-30 minutes long, longest I'd ever seen. GS agent came on board to greet me before departure and when I told her about the line she told me that if there's ever a line in the future I could go to the GS counter and the agent would escort me to the front. I wasn't aware of this, or maybe I missed this suggestion in the forum, but happy to know it even though I generally fly out of EWR.