Oct 22, 2018, 3:44 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion
This will be a discussion thread, for discussing the needed qualifications and timing of notification.
For posing formal notifications (but no discussion), use this thread Global Services 2019 Notifications (ONLY)
2019 GS Timeline
First requal notifications came out on 6 Dec 2018
First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
For discussion of GS benefits, please use Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2018First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
For 2017 qualifications, see the 2017 thread and for 2018, see the 2018 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.
Hello:
To help with collection of qualification metrics for global services, I created a Google Doc. This will be useful for future members. For ease of use, I created a form which feeds into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet and form does not require a google account and is free to use.
Similar spreadsheets were created in years past, so I'm hoping to continue this tradition. Please take the time to enter your stats into the spreadsheet. Many thanks
LINK to entry form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SYm...xRKZ_EUD8/edit
View responses here ( read only ):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
To help with collection of qualification metrics for global services, I created a Google Doc. This will be useful for future members. For ease of use, I created a form which feeds into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet and form does not require a google account and is free to use.
Similar spreadsheets were created in years past, so I'm hoping to continue this tradition. Please take the time to enter your stats into the spreadsheet. Many thanks
LINK to entry form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SYm...xRKZ_EUD8/edit
View responses here ( read only ):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion / Questions
Dec 2, 2018, 8:57 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Also looking at my own records from over a decade of being a GS. My CPM range has been between 14 and 42. My CPM and PQD have little correlation. Some years, I have flown mostly P fare and a lot of discount Y fare accumulated high BIS number but the PQD is low, but other years I have flown mostly C/J fares with low BIS but high PQD.
Dec 3, 2018, 4:25 am
#332
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Impact of flight cost increases
I don’t remember seeing a discussion of the need to slightly increase qualification levels every year because of increases in flight prices and general inflation, as well as possibly a few more lifetime GSs every year. A flight attendant recently sighed and said she used to have 1-2 “Global’s” per flight to Europe, now it’s often 4 or more, making it harder to address special situations with regard to malfunctions etc...
Dec 3, 2018, 4:57 am
#333
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Nope, I had people tell me last year is was both high enough and not high enough. This year is .42 but I agree that this number is irrelevant based on my conversation with the MP Marketing team when my denial message clearly stated they looked at year(S) of spend.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 3, 2018 at 1:07 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Dec 3, 2018, 6:13 am
#334
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Do you have to make 1K to make GS?
What if you had 58K in spend, but only managed 92K PQM?
What if you had 58K in spend, but only managed 92K PQM?
Dec 3, 2018, 7:25 am
#335
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Dec 3, 2018, 7:42 am
#336
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
An acquaintance (IAD based) told me he had not cracked 100k PQM (was maybe high 90s) but nonetheless had gotten GS invite last year. He is pretty clueless about the whole FF game so I didn't press for details like whether he might have had some corporate nomination or somesuch.
Dec 3, 2018, 8:15 am
#337
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: UA GS, F9 Summit, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 333
I made it w 89k pqm a few years ago. Had some very expensive den-munich and den-tokyo flights. Meanwhile I've been grinding 35k spend 160k pqm domestic without sniffing gs lately.
Dec 3, 2018, 8:17 am
#338
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Dec 3, 2018, 8:55 am
#339
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
.(TOTAL PQD) / (UA BIS) ≠ UA CPM
(UNITED PQD) / UA BIS) = UA CPM
The OP gave us "PQD" which would traditionally refer to all PQD, not just United PQD. As far as we know, the OP spent $30k (random number) or more or less on United and wasn't even in the running for GS, so CPM wasn't even a factor.
Accordingly, your exuberant post does not remotely support the claim that United does not consider yield in awarding Global Services status; it is fuzzy math. My posts quoting United explicitly saying that they did consider yield in past years do, however, support an inference that they might still consider yield. That inference has not been rebutted (except with fuzzy math).
They look at spend ON UNITED; providing your total PQM is meaningless. Your yield is not $0.42. You would get in with that and $50k of spend ON UNITED, full stop.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 3, 2018 at 1:08 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Dec 3, 2018, 9:59 am
#340
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
As I stated in last year's GS qualification thread that $51K was all on United, I flew on no one else. Same as this year. So that's two back to back years of $50k+ only on United.
Dec 3, 2018, 11:52 am
#341
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: UA GS, F9 Summit, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 333
Dec 3, 2018, 12:04 pm
#342
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Accordingly, your exuberant post does not remotely support the claim that United does not consider yield in awarding Global Services status; it is fuzzy math. My posts quoting United explicitly saying that they did consider yield in past years do, however, support an inference that they might still consider yield. That inference has not been rebutted (except with fuzzy math).
I suppose you think the GS status that came with my $50K spend on Pass Plus will be revoked since I only have .19 "CPM"?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 3, 2018 at 1:10 pm Reason: repaired quote
Dec 3, 2018, 12:10 pm
#343
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
Im currently at:
139.5k PQM with $45,826 PQD & 185 segments. I've got about another $2k in flights until the end of the year. All domestic travel with refundable economy tickets (usually M).
I think it will be close, but I've been in the low $49k the last couple years and have been reinvited.
PQD is less this year since we started using concur/direct travel. Tickets have been a little cheaper using DT than direct through united
139.5k PQM with $45,826 PQD & 185 segments. I've got about another $2k in flights until the end of the year. All domestic travel with refundable economy tickets (usually M).
I think it will be close, but I've been in the low $49k the last couple years and have been reinvited.
PQD is less this year since we started using concur/direct travel. Tickets have been a little cheaper using DT than direct through united
Dec 3, 2018, 12:57 pm
#344
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
Im currently at:
139.5k PQM with $45,826 PQD & 185 segments. I've got about another $2k in flights until the end of the year. All domestic travel with refundable economy tickets (usually M).
I think it will be close, but I've been in the low $49k the last couple years and have been reinvited.
PQD is less this year since we started using concur/direct travel. Tickets have been a little cheaper using DT than direct through united
139.5k PQM with $45,826 PQD & 185 segments. I've got about another $2k in flights until the end of the year. All domestic travel with refundable economy tickets (usually M).
I think it will be close, but I've been in the low $49k the last couple years and have been reinvited.
PQD is less this year since we started using concur/direct travel. Tickets have been a little cheaper using DT than direct through united
My first big year of spend ~$45k was after a low but decent year. I feel like they want to see what your repeat business is. I think this is what happened to AugustusM, I don't recall his 2016 spend.
2012-----$12200 --- Earned Plat for 2013
2013-----$16000 --- Earned 1K for 2014
2014-----$31700 --- Earned 1K for 2015
2015-----$45000 --- Earned 1K for 2016
2016-----$35300 --- Earned GS for 2017
2017-----$44000 --- Earned GS for 2018
2018----~$47000 --- TBD for 2019 (1K at worst)
Dec 3, 2018, 1:38 pm
#345
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
At the GS event in NYC the executives said they look for multi-year spend and weight premium fares more heavily. There is likely some model that is more complicated than anything speculated on here about your value to them as a customer.
My history was as follows:
2015: 34492 - earned 1K for 2016
2016: 53462 - earned GS invite for 2017
2017: 63311 - re-invited to GS for 2018
2018: 47508 (but will be at around 53000 by end of next week) - TBD
I will almost exactly match the first year in which I was invited and my mix of travel hasn't changed - almost exclusively trans-continental biz fares. Hoping to requalify in first batch so I don't sweat it out.
My history was as follows:
2015: 34492 - earned 1K for 2016
2016: 53462 - earned GS invite for 2017
2017: 63311 - re-invited to GS for 2018
2018: 47508 (but will be at around 53000 by end of next week) - TBD
I will almost exactly match the first year in which I was invited and my mix of travel hasn't changed - almost exclusively trans-continental biz fares. Hoping to requalify in first batch so I don't sweat it out.