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
Mar 31, 2019, 1:20 pm
#811
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Did UA customer service handle your problem poorly? Did you have expenses as the result of the delay? If not, consider letting it slide. I have been due EC261 comp before for a far more serious delay and didn't apply for it because, in my opinion, UA did nothing wrong.
Last edited by zombietooth; Mar 31, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Mar 31, 2019, 1:42 pm
#812
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
doubt it - GSers are an extremely profitable bunch even accounting for perks and presumably an ec261 comp.
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
Mar 31, 2019, 1:56 pm
#813
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
While nobody knows the exact magic formula - I can't imagine they have the manpower to review these things in terms of re-qualification.
Mar 31, 2019, 4:12 pm
#814
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
doubt it - GSers are an extremely profitable bunch even accounting for perks and presumably an ec261 comp.
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
Mar 31, 2019, 8:26 pm
#815
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Mar 31, 2019, 8:41 pm
#816
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
doubt it - GSers are an extremely profitable bunch even accounting for perks and presumably an ec261 comp.
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
i'll also note it's my distinct impression that United values GS at well below what many GS holders do. I have seen materials suggesting they value it at $10k/account, which seems astonishingly low to me (or maybe I am just a heavy user of the T=>XN and upgrade on award ticket perks...).
Friend of mine at work has a husband like this. Every year he was letting all his GPUs/RPUs expire because he didn't have a way to use them or didn't care to try. Once she realized this she made sure those GPUs starting being put to good use . . .
Mar 31, 2019, 10:02 pm
#817
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
We get a skewed view at FT because these are the people who are looking to maximize the benefits of status in whatever way possible. Then there's the group of people who really have no idea what status is about or that they even have GS status. They probably fly busines/first paid for by their company and things just "get handled" so they don't really notice some special treatment.
Friend of mine at work has a husband like this. Every year he was letting all his GPUs/RPUs expire because he didn't have a way to use them or didn't care to try. Once she realized this she made sure those GPUs starting being put to good use . . .
Friend of mine at work has a husband like this. Every year he was letting all his GPUs/RPUs expire because he didn't have a way to use them or didn't care to try. Once she realized this she made sure those GPUs starting being put to good use . . .
Apr 1, 2019, 8:01 am
#818
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 14
Only one datapoint, but I requested and received EU261 compensation through the Global Services email address 3 years ago, and requalified each year after that (one with significantly lower spend).
Apr 1, 2019, 8:02 am
#819
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Side note: is GS solely based on spend or are there other factors. For instance off the top of my head I can think of a set of a dozen itineraries that will make me hit 1K as a Canadian and get over 250,000 PQM with the PQD value being significantly under $10K in a year. Does PQD even matter for GS if you're an foreign member? Food for thought!
--James
--James
Apr 1, 2019, 8:42 am
#820
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
They don't publish the qualification criteria, so no one can be 100% sure, but the general thought is that it's purely spend-based and only counts UA-operated flights.
Yes, it matters. The qualifying spending may differ based on your location, but I promise you that UA won't be impressed by someone who is spending significantly less than $0.04 cpm. GS is intended to recognize their most profitable customers; you're describing their least profitable.
Yes, it matters. The qualifying spending may differ based on your location, but I promise you that UA won't be impressed by someone who is spending significantly less than $0.04 cpm. GS is intended to recognize their most profitable customers; you're describing their least profitable.
Apr 1, 2019, 12:24 pm
#821
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Round Lake, IL
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,064
Yes, it matters. The qualifying spending may differ based on your location, but I promise you that UA won't be impressed by someone who is spending significantly less than $0.04 cpm. GS is intended to recognize their most profitable customers; you're describing their least profitable.
Apr 2, 2019, 6:40 am
#822
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Side note: is GS solely based on spend or are there other factors. For instance off the top of my head I can think of a set of a dozen itineraries that will make me hit 1K as a Canadian and get over 250,000 PQM with the PQD value being significantly under $10K in a year. Does PQD even matter for GS if you're an foreign member? Food for thought!
--James
--James
Apr 2, 2019, 6:43 am
#823
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Would be curious to hear foreign GS members (do they even exist?) to see what their experiences are specifically. I would be surprised if UA had as strict a spend requirement as US members since, if you're based in Asia, it can be prohibitively hard to find flights UA flights to Australia or Europe from there!
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
Apr 2, 2019, 7:10 am
#824
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
Would be curious to hear foreign GS members (do they even exist?) to see what their experiences are specifically. I would be surprised if UA had as strict a spend requirement as US members since, if you're based in Asia, it can be prohibitively hard to find flights UA flights to Australia or Europe from there!
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
To put it simply: If you're not spending a ton of money on UA (on UA metal), they don't care where you are or how hard it is to find flights; OTOH, if you're spending $60k for 4 flights a year, you're exactly the type of customer GS is intended to reward -- high yield, high total spend.
Apr 2, 2019, 7:23 am
#825
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301