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
Nov 5, 2018, 1:29 pm
#183
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Nov 5, 2018, 1:55 pm
#184
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
Above $60K, you're pretty safe. At $76K, you are definitely safe.
We say that but we have no idea how the determinations are made.
We say that but we have no idea how the determinations are made.
Nov 5, 2018, 4:21 pm
#185
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
If you look at previous years' spreadsheets, there seems to be an inflection point at $50K. Lots of people in the $40s report not making it. *Extremely* few in the $50s report not making it. I haven't seen a single report of $60s not making it.
Nov 5, 2018, 4:48 pm
#186
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
I was on the phone with a GS agent when I wrote this. The GS agent said that $60K was pretty solid but "not 100% secure". It's moot anyway, because he's at 76K and that makes him a whale no matter how you look at it.
Nov 5, 2018, 4:58 pm
#187
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
I see no reason why a GS ticket agent would have any better knowledge than anyone here what the standards are for being offered GS status. While it may be moot for that particular person, this thread is a resource for many others who are interested in assessing their chances. Based on the information we have at our disposal, referring to $60K as "pretty safe" is not very accurate.
Nov 6, 2018, 6:57 am
#188
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I see no reason why a GS ticket agent would have any better knowledge than anyone here what the standards are for being offered GS status. While it may be moot for that particular person, this thread is a resource for many others who are interested in assessing their chances. Based on the information we have at our disposal, referring to $60K as "pretty safe" is not very accurate.
We have lots of data points, and can make some general inferences from that... but this is as good as it gets. Any other information (apart from an illegal leak from a UA insider) is purely speculation.
Nov 6, 2018, 9:07 am
#189
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: DC
Programs: MPGS, 1MM
Posts: 54
I hope that's correct -- I'm over 62k PQD at this point, but other than a couple of somewhat pricey TATLs at the beginning of the year, a lot of that is just grinding out DCA-ORD-DCA...... We'll see, anyway.
Nov 6, 2018, 12:48 pm
#190
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
) policies/procedures communicated to them. They may have a "feel" for certain things being done behind the wall, but their guess is, in many cases, only as good as ours.
Nov 6, 2018, 1:06 pm
#191
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 71
Yup. There's a wall between front-line agents and the "deciderers", and this goes for all aspects of the FF program.. Agents we interact with only implement (if they are inclined to do so ) policies/procedures communicated to them. They may have a "feel" for certain things being done behind the wall, but their guess is, in many cases, only as good as ours.
) policies/procedures communicated to them. They may have a "feel" for certain things being done behind the wall, but their guess is, in many cases, only as good as ours.
Nov 6, 2018, 11:59 pm
#192
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
No such animal. Premiers, including 1Ks, get call routing priority and are supposed to get better agents, but the agents are not dedicated like GS reps.
There is a wide range of experience with the non-GS reps. I've had some great ones and some awful ones. They are limited in terms of ability to deviate from rules, but the good ones will get exceptions from a supervisor.
There is a wide range of experience with the non-GS reps. I've had some great ones and some awful ones. They are limited in terms of ability to deviate from rules, but the good ones will get exceptions from a supervisor.
Nov 7, 2018, 7:59 am
#193
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Nov 7, 2018, 9:41 am
#194
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 83
Shot at GS?
SFO-based flyer, status matched to 1K last summer and flew 103K PQM and $19K in second half of year.
On track to hit $49K UA metal spend this year (256K PQM) on almost all paid premium tickets, mostly intl C/D/Z, domestic P, some J/F. Decent yield, 128K BIS miles (38 CPM), ~40 segments.
Trying to decide if I should keep splitting my status between 1K and AA EXP for new bookings next year. I'll shift a lot of business to United if I get GS. Any chance? Seem to be at disadvantage given limited history/at border of $50K/based in SFO.
On track to hit $49K UA metal spend this year (256K PQM) on almost all paid premium tickets, mostly intl C/D/Z, domestic P, some J/F. Decent yield, 128K BIS miles (38 CPM), ~40 segments.
Trying to decide if I should keep splitting my status between 1K and AA EXP for new bookings next year. I'll shift a lot of business to United if I get GS. Any chance? Seem to be at disadvantage given limited history/at border of $50K/based in SFO.
Last edited by justpetehere; Nov 7, 2018 at 9:54 am
Nov 7, 2018, 10:55 am
#195
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,541
I buy a lot of domestic next day full fare first class, and a fair amount of int'l biz. Last year was first as GE after long time 1K, this year I will finish under last year's but I am trying to plan out hitting exp on AA again and still GE on UA. GE is more important to me, and I can live with platpro on AA if need be. My question is, if I hit 50-51k$ in spend and 170-175k in PQM do you think that is enough to requal? Just trying to plan out the rest of the year. Would they look at next year's bookings also? I can book some of my int'l gigs now if I have to.