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
#826
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,446
#827
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: 66,580
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
and
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1926936637
suggest there is little or no difference in the requirements for GS based on local including non-domestic
but sample size is small https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30622919-post653.html
Also see discussion starting here
and here
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 2, 2019 at 11:41 am Reason: more links
#828
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 203
mid-year consideration
from all the anecdotes on FT and various other sites, it looks like invitations especially for first-timers have to wait until december/january. i just crossed $76k PQD for the year and an early invite would certainly help with my carrier and route choices for the rest of the year.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
#829
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
With this level of spend, if all UA metal, you have a shot, especially if you can show other future flights already purchased. Won't hurt to see if they might grant an exception.
#830
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
from all the anecdotes on FT and various other sites, it looks like invitations especially for first-timers have to wait until december/january. i just crossed $76k PQD for the year and an early invite would certainly help with my carrier and route choices for the rest of the year.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
#831
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
Last year, or the year before, someone with over $100k in spend mid year received GS status, without requesting.
#832
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 458
from all the anecdotes on FT and various other sites, it looks like invitations especially for first-timers have to wait until december/january. i just crossed $76k PQD for the year and an early invite would certainly help with my carrier and route choices for the rest of the year.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
any harm in asking (email or phone?) or should I just be patient and let the chips fall where they may?
appreciate any helpful comments.
I did email 1K team asking about it and they granted me a GS review (I wasn't even asking for a review, just whether they did mid-year qualification) - they declined me for this year (I was around 53k in spend at the time with another 20k booked but not flown yet) but said they'll of course assess in the normal end of year qualification for 2020. Not sure if waiting until current spend would have helped or if it was a no go based on historical spend.
Seems no harm in asking so hopefully your results are different! They respond pretty fast and post the response to your mystatus.united.com page.
#833
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: 3,606
You would think UA would see value in early invites. I had the opposite happen where I didn't get the invite until literally Jan 30th. Prior to that I just assumed I was getting the invite and had already booked multiple other flights with other carriers (partially out of frustration with UA but that is another story). As close as I am with my annual spend to getting the invite this "lost" PQDs will, I feel, ultimately cost me the invite for next year.
#834
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
You would think UA would see value in early invites. I had the opposite happen where I didn't get the invite until literally Jan 30th. Prior to that I just assumed I was getting the invite and had already booked multiple other flights with other carriers (partially out of frustration with UA but that is another story). As close as I am with my annual spend to getting the invite this "lost" PQDs will, I feel, ultimately cost me the invite for next year.
#835
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: 3,606
Well the jury is still out for me on GS but instruments sure clear easier. Lobby check in at SFO is very nice. Have not used it for IRROPs as mercifully I haven't had any. CPU experience is about the same as 1K so far this year, which has was not great. Either way I think I will be one and done with GS as I can't see me hitting the dollar mark again this year. I lost some potentially valuable PQD's towards GS status as in January with several purchased F AS flights in and out of Hawaii. I have been toying with idea to jump over to them for probably 3 years now. When they opened up more routes post merger that was a game changer for me in as much as I could at least consider them out of the Bay area as I often fly them out of either OAK or SFO for business in Hawaii and Seattle. Denver and East coast routes also became available without having to go to SEA to get anywhere. My international travel has steadily declined over the past 3 years so that has become less of an issue for me.
#836
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO/LIS
Programs: UA 1MM GS, Delta Skymiles Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 145
Just hit the 3 month Feb-April GS PQD challenge spend (15k) yesterday! Well actually I also completed the required spend in the Jan-Mar 3 month period, but chose not to tempt IT-shenanigans which might have occurred changing my chosen challenge travel window at the end of March...
Sure enough, only a few short hours after my flight, on Saturday afternoon, challenge processing completed and am now back at GS Here's to another fun year and thanks to UA for extending the challenge!
Sure enough, only a few short hours after my flight, on Saturday afternoon, challenge processing completed and am now back at GS Here's to another fun year and thanks to UA for extending the challenge!
#837
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
This might be a silly question, but if you're qualifying for the first time, do you typically get the invitation mid-year? I'm at $60k PQD and 150 PQM on UA in the past few months but am hoping I don't have to wait until December to switch from 1K to GS....
#838
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: 66,580
Welcome to FT!, ng654321
It is very rare for UA to do mid-year selections. Many years ago there was a formal process for requesting consideration, but that has not been around for a number of years. With no formal process, probably the best you can do is request thru MP Customer Support for your query to be forward to the GS Team
It is very rare for UA to do mid-year selections. Many years ago there was a formal process for requesting consideration, but that has not been around for a number of years. With no formal process, probably the best you can do is request thru MP Customer Support for your query to be forward to the GS Team
#839
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 203
You should definitely try. I'm in almost the exact spot as you - about to hit 75k in spend (~73k of which is on UA metal) and wishing I would get an early invite given that it's only April...
I did email 1K team asking about it and they granted me a GS review (I wasn't even asking for a review, just whether they did mid-year qualification) - they declined me for this year (I was around 53k in spend at the time with another 20k booked but not flown yet) but said they'll of course assess in the normal end of year qualification for 2020. Not sure if waiting until current spend would have helped or if it was a no go based on historical spend.
Seems no harm in asking so hopefully your results are different! They respond pretty fast and post the response to your mystatus.united.com page.
I did email 1K team asking about it and they granted me a GS review (I wasn't even asking for a review, just whether they did mid-year qualification) - they declined me for this year (I was around 53k in spend at the time with another 20k booked but not flown yet) but said they'll of course assess in the normal end of year qualification for 2020. Not sure if waiting until current spend would have helped or if it was a no go based on historical spend.
Seems no harm in asking so hopefully your results are different! They respond pretty fast and post the response to your mystatus.united.com page.
#840
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Welcome to FT!, ng654321
It is very rare for UA to do mid-year selections. Many years ago there was a formal process for requesting consideration, but that has not been around for a number of years. With no formal process, probably the best you can do is request thru MP Customer Support for your query to be forward to the GS Team
It is very rare for UA to do mid-year selections. Many years ago there was a formal process for requesting consideration, but that has not been around for a number of years. With no formal process, probably the best you can do is request thru MP Customer Support for your query to be forward to the GS Team