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]
May 27, 2018, 7:06 pm
#556
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
Deleted. Missed "using miles" part.
Last edited by flyerbjorn; May 28, 2018 at 3:42 am
May 27, 2018, 7:45 pm
#557
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: United GS+
Posts: 1,889
Can’t use a GPU on a LH award booking.
May 27, 2018, 10:31 pm
#558
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
May 28, 2018, 2:33 pm
#559
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Have they done something to enable agents to open up award space faster? I have twice recently called to book a companion award to a paid business trip, both opening up full biz awards as well as a economy award+GPU and both calls took just a few minutes. In the past I was always told this was a "manual effort" which required all sorts of steps that required long hold times.
These used to take 20-30 minutes a piece but in both recent cases I was off the phone in under 10 minutes. Very pleased!
These used to take 20-30 minutes a piece but in both recent cases I was off the phone in under 10 minutes. Very pleased!
May 29, 2018, 5:30 pm
#560
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Have they done something to enable agents to open up award space faster? I have twice recently called to book a companion award to a paid business trip, both opening up full biz awards as well as a economy award+GPU and both calls took just a few minutes. In the past I was always told this was a "manual effort" which required all sorts of steps that required long hold times.
These used to take 20-30 minutes a piece but in both recent cases I was off the phone in under 10 minutes. Very pleased!
These used to take 20-30 minutes a piece but in both recent cases I was off the phone in under 10 minutes. Very pleased!
May 29, 2018, 5:54 pm
#561
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: UA GLOBAL SERVICES - 1.2 million miles
Posts: 25
Question:
If I buy a ticket within the 120hr GS CPU window and PN is available and do not apply an RPU, will the upgrade automatically clear as a CPU when it does its systemwide upgrade clearance assuming there are no GS ahead of me?
If I buy a ticket within the 120hr GS CPU window and PN is available and do not apply an RPU, will the upgrade automatically clear as a CPU when it does its systemwide upgrade clearance assuming there are no GS ahead of me?
May 29, 2018, 6:19 pm
#562
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Not guaranteed, but highly likely ... the CPU clearance formula doesn't directly work off of PN inventory, but closely mirrors it and clears into PN when authorized.
May 29, 2018, 6:22 pm
#563
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
My guess is yes if 1) you purchase Y, B and M fares ticket, or 2) if the FC cabin is wide open or 3) United decides not to offer any cheap TOD (when the FC has some seats available).
May 31, 2018, 10:13 am
#564
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Over the last 2 months my GS CPU upgrade percentage is zero. I am 0 for 10 flying between DEN-SJC, DEN-SFO, and DEN LGA/EWR. On one flight from LGA-DEN there were 8 GS people in coach - not a single one was upgraded.
I've now started purchasing the cheapest non-refundable ticket. I use to buy expensive refundable tickets. United is going to lose $25,000 from me this year as a result. Since I buy business internationally and am 1K for life, I really don't even care about GS anymore - it is worthless. The other effect this is having on me is I now buy business on Singapore or Emirates instead of United since the service is so much better.
May 31, 2018, 7:58 pm
#565
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 400
Z/P fare GPU ugrade
An PEK-ORD upcoming flight is empty in first. Any way I can use a GPU to upgrade if I buy either P or Z fare?
May 31, 2018, 9:45 pm
#566
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Nope. Those seats are for primarily for employees, not paying customers. You can get an upgrade if you buy up to a D or J fare. But it might just be cheaper to buy an F fare outright.
May 31, 2018, 10:38 pm
#567
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
It depends on the route. For me it typically doesn't clear (just happened SJC-DEN today). It was PN1 when I bought it, PN1 when I checked in (with 4 seats open in first) and I didn't get upgraded. I'm now 4th on the list which means 3 GS ahead of me.
Over the last 2 months my GS CPU upgrade percentage is zero. I am 0 for 10 flying between DEN-SJC, DEN-SFO, and DEN LGA/EWR. On one flight from LGA-DEN there were 8 GS people in coach - not a single one was upgraded.
I've now started purchasing the cheapest non-refundable ticket. I use to buy expensive refundable tickets. United is going to lose $25,000 from me this year as a result. Since I buy business internationally and am 1K for life, I really don't even care about GS anymore - it is worthless. The other effect this is having on me is I now buy business on Singapore or Emirates instead of United since the service is so much better.
Over the last 2 months my GS CPU upgrade percentage is zero. I am 0 for 10 flying between DEN-SJC, DEN-SFO, and DEN LGA/EWR. On one flight from LGA-DEN there were 8 GS people in coach - not a single one was upgraded.
I've now started purchasing the cheapest non-refundable ticket. I use to buy expensive refundable tickets. United is going to lose $25,000 from me this year as a result. Since I buy business internationally and am 1K for life, I really don't even care about GS anymore - it is worthless. The other effect this is having on me is I now buy business on Singapore or Emirates instead of United since the service is so much better.
Jun 1, 2018, 6:05 am
#568
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
GS upgrades for last minute tickets are pretty bad. Odds are much better if you buy the ticket before the 120 hour mark.
Jun 1, 2018, 6:26 am
#569
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Jun 1, 2018, 6:59 pm
#570
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,505
I think the answer to my question is yes but better to confirm. If GS traveling in C IAH-NRT-MNL (MNL leg on NH), I assume can access GFL in NRT? Only thing that gave me pause was UA webpage making reference to same-day itinerary and technically second leg is next calendar day (but within 24 hours which I think I've read elsewhere is what "same day" means (though that's not said on the UA lounge access tables on the webpage)). And yes I'm aware the GFL in NRT is nothing special and of the noodle bar in the NH C lounge. 😊