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 27, 2018, 12:07 am
#526
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
No, lowest I’ve seen is in the high $30k’s, usually on renewal.
Dec 27, 2018, 12:30 am
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,963
I thought someone said that GS must have paid international business class trips?
Dec 27, 2018, 1:03 am
#528
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
Very curious about this. I've been 1K annualy for almost 10 years. I book 100% of domestic (US) flights just straight First. I book all international couch with my upgrades and fly Polaris. I've reached 145,000 miles a year minimum for ten years, but my spend is way low, like $15 - $20 K total. Anyone ever hit GS with that kind of spend?
Starting next year $15K is the minimum level for 1K.
No, domestic GS exist but probably "easier" with high-value international tickets.
Dec 27, 2018, 7:07 am
#529
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,052
Agreed. I book all front-of-the-bus tickets (and fly 130-150 segments a year, with almost zero connections) and I always end up in the $40-45K range for spend. Super hard to get upside to that figure outside of my handful of LAX/SFO<>EWR trips being super expensive for some reason (business on that route can be anything from $900 O/W to $3K O/W). I can't really fly more frequency wise (already basically travel weekly). If I had 1-2 international trips in business I know GS would be much easier. Just not that much range in the cost of my domestic travel/booking pattern.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:52 am
#530
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: 3,614
Agreed. I book all front-of-the-bus tickets (and fly 130-150 segments a year, with almost zero connections) and I always end up in the $40-45K range for spend. Super hard to get upside to that figure outside of my handful of LAX/SFO<>EWR trips being super expensive for some reason (business on that route can be anything from $900 O/W to $3K O/W). I can't really fly more frequency wise (already basically travel weekly). If I had 1-2 international trips in business I know GS would be much easier. Just not that much range in the cost of my domestic travel/booking pattern.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:56 am
#531
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: UAL 1K, Sixt Plat, BA, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 8
Does anyone know what station I qualify as, living in Barcelona? I assume that BCN doesn't qualify as a station (otherwise I'd probably be close to the top of the tree and I'm no GS).
Dec 27, 2018, 12:46 pm
#532
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
There has never been a clear consensus a "station quota" exists, there may be a higher threshold (or not) for places like SFO just to avoid overcommitting resources. But I would except a BCN GS to have pretty much the same requirements as any European GS qualifier.
Dec 27, 2018, 4:18 pm
#533
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: united mileage plus
Posts: 3
Chances for GS from EWR
Guys..what do feel about chances for Global Services.. Started travel from 2015 and below are the stats... I think very minimal based on what I have read.. base location is EWR and spend mostly on international business travel..Also do you guys feel that having a Chase mileagePlus Card would make a difference?
2016---81,605------$17,077
2017---175,445-----$39,840
2019---182,823-----$43,180
Year----PQM------- PQD
2015---112,925-----$23,7892016---81,605------$17,077
2017---175,445-----$39,840
2019---182,823-----$43,180
Dec 27, 2018, 4:24 pm
#534
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
It is possible to qualify with your stats - I had many years in the range of 20-35 K and my first GS qualification happened after spending only 38K. It was a good decision by UA because I started to book more frequently on UA and my annual spend has been north of 50K for the last four years. Normally I would have spread my travel around to other airlines but with GS I have been able to take advantage of the ability to open saver awards for traveling companions. The other GS perks have not been of much use. I think I have used only two certs for upgrades over the last few years
Dec 27, 2018, 5:51 pm
#535
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Final numbers are finally finally in for the year, and I landed at:
$52,600 PQD
143,000 BIS
2017: $26K PQD
2016: $49K PQD
2015: $68K PQD
Now MCO based, but was DEN based 75% of the year.
Hoping I get the bump back up to GS for 2019 (+ my Mrs. too since I will be 1MM in Jan!!!!)
Good luck in the game, everyone!!
$52,600 PQD
143,000 BIS
2017: $26K PQD
2016: $49K PQD
2015: $68K PQD
Now MCO based, but was DEN based 75% of the year.
Hoping I get the bump back up to GS for 2019 (+ my Mrs. too since I will be 1MM in Jan!!!!)
Good luck in the game, everyone!!
Dec 27, 2018, 6:33 pm
#536
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: 3,614
Final numbers are finally finally in for the year, and I landed at:
$52,600 PQD
143,000 BIS
2017: $26K PQD
2016: $49K PQD
2015: $68K PQD
Now MCO based, but was DEN based 75% of the year.
Hoping I get the bump back up to GS for 2019 (+ my Mrs. too since I will be 1MM in Jan!!!!)
Good luck in the game, everyone!!
$52,600 PQD
143,000 BIS
2017: $26K PQD
2016: $49K PQD
2015: $68K PQD
Now MCO based, but was DEN based 75% of the year.
Hoping I get the bump back up to GS for 2019 (+ my Mrs. too since I will be 1MM in Jan!!!!)
Good luck in the game, everyone!!
Dec 28, 2018, 8:59 am
#537
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: MileagePlus
Posts: 2
In years past, I've always booked whatever fare was displayed through the simple search. PQD for 2018 will be just under 34k with 130k PQM. Have never put much thought into searching for different fare classes. However, haven missed any shot at GS, I am considering to start booking my domestic travel under "B," By doing so, I think I can get my 2019 PQD up to 45k-ish and increase chances for GS in 2020.
What domestic fare codes should I search for?
Does the discounted domestic business class carry the same weight as a full fare economy class?
For international travel, which is about 40% of my PQM, I book the cheapest business class seat I can find. Should I be booking a different fare class?
What domestic fare codes should I search for?
Does the discounted domestic business class carry the same weight as a full fare economy class?
For international travel, which is about 40% of my PQM, I book the cheapest business class seat I can find. Should I be booking a different fare class?
Dec 28, 2018, 10:28 am
#538
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
If you are just trying to bump your spend to achieve status with either your money or your employer's money, book a couple of close in fully refundable F fares on transcon travel and you'll be there. You need to be the one to decide if you want to spend your own money that way, or if you have an ethical dilemma of passing on these costs to your employer.
Last edited by LAXOGG; Dec 28, 2018 at 10:57 am
Dec 28, 2018, 11:17 am
#539
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: 3,614
If you are just trying to bump your spend to achieve status with either your money or your employer's money, book a couple of close in fully refundable F fares on transcon travel and you'll be there. You need to be the one to decide if you want to spend your own money that way, or if you have an ethical dilemma of passing on these costs to your employer.
Dec 28, 2018, 11:44 am
#540
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Little Ferry, NJ
Programs: UA GS / 1MM, MR Ambassador / LTTE, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 298
closed out the year with $51,570 PQD, 253,390 PQM and 184,441 BIS miles.
Still havent heard on requal for 2019
MyStatus says to wait until Jan 11. I am out of EWR. I figured over $50k would do it on a requal, is EWR just that competitive?
Still havent heard on requal for 2019
MyStatus says to wait until Jan 11. I am out of EWR. I figured over $50k would do it on a requal, is EWR just that competitive?
