Dec 31, 2018, 7:21 am
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
United Global Services ("GS") is the highest tier of MileagePlus elite status. It is by invitation only, reviewed annually -- the invite criteria is not public but seems to require substantial annual spending with UA both in terms of absolute dollar amounts and purchasing higher fare classes (higher cpm - cents per mile). There are also reports of GS status being comped by UA Marketing to VIPs in companies who sign corporate travel deals with UA, and also to those individuals that purchase an annual PassPlus enrollment of $50k or greater. The sole published way to qualify is to become a 4MM, having flown 4 million BIS miles on UA metal (plus additional grandfathered credits at the time of the UA/CO merger).
GS have enhanced services / benefits over 1Ks. There is little said publicly by UA on GS benefits and/or qualification.
Links to past/current threads on this topic and related GS threads:
2020 Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2001958-consolidated-global-services-thread-benefits-questions-experiences-2020-a.html
Last years' thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread - Qualifications, Benefits and Q & A [2018]
Thread on 2019 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2019 Qualifying Discussion
Last years' thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread - Qualifications, Benefits and Q & A [2018]
Thread on 2019 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2019 Qualifying Discussion
Known facts concerning qualification and eligibility from United:
Global Services recognizes the extraordinary dedication of our top flyers. We consider a number of factors beyond the usual Premier-qualifying criteria.
We look at your travel spend on United-operated flights relative to that of other top Premier flyers over recent consecutive years.
Usually, members invited to Global Services tend to consistently purchase premium cabins or fully refundable tickets.
We look at your travel spend on United-operated flights relative to that of other top Premier flyers over recent consecutive years.
Usually, members invited to Global Services tend to consistently purchase premium cabins or fully refundable tickets.
Published Benefits
Full detail of published benefits can be found at https://mystatus.united.com/gs [MP credentials login required, existing GS only]
Shortlist (incremental/different to 1K):
- Dedicated phone number, usually answered on the first ring, and generally by specially-trained GS agents. Some exceptions occur, especially during busy periods (such as when weather waivers are in effect)
- Dedicated email address for MileagePlus and other inquiries, usually answered personally within hours
- Dedicated check-in at main airport stations, including private Global Reception centers at major hubs, providing priority TSA security access. May bring guests/companions into Global Reception areas or dedicated GS checkin lanes who are traveling on same itinerary as GS member.
- Instrument-supported upgrades (GPU/RPU) clear into PN class rather than PZ class for other elite tiers, which usually have much better availability. Instruments drawn from the GS member account and applied to other reservations will also clear into PN class.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) cleared beginning 120 hours prior to flight departure (versus 96 hours for 1K) for GS member and up to one other traveling on same PNR
- Highest-priority when waitlisted for Upgrades, Award Travel, and Sold-out Flight Availability. GS members clear before any other status level or full-fare customers.
- Priority Boarding, among the first to board the aircraft (currently after unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities and/or need more time boarding, Active-Duty Military, and now prior to families with children under age of 2)
- Priority handling in event of IRROPS, including next flight guarantee in case of re-accommodation, overseen by dedicated team of location-based GS Customer Service Agents (identified via gold scarves/ties)
- Mercedes-Benz Tarmac Transfer for tight connections between flights at major hubs (cannot be requested in advance)
Access to United Arrivals Lounge at SFO when arriving from international flight, regardless of cabin class (no guests permitted)Closed- Access to Arrivals Lounge at LHR T2 when arriving from inbound UA-operated intercontinental flight, regardless of cabin (no guests permitted, must present Boarding Pass or physical GS card)
- Access to Lufthansa / Swiss Welcome (arrival) Lounges in FRA and ZRH for same-day inbound UA intercontinental flight, regardless of cabin (no guests permitted, must present physical GS card)
All benefits noted below require calling a GS agent:
- GS can create saver economy award space (XN) if T inventory is available. United-operated flights only. Update 12 Dec 2018: Only for GS member + 1 companion.
- GS can create saver business award space (IN) if PZ inventory is available. United-operated flights only. Update 12 Dec 2018: Only for GS member + 1 companion.
- GS can upgrade economy awards (XN or YN) into Business / First with a GPU if PN inventory is available, provided both instrument and miles drawn from GS member account. United-operated flights only.
- GS can confirm any waitlisted instrument-supported upgrade within T-72 hours to flight departure provided at least 2 (two) J class premium seats remain for sale after the upgrade is processed and they are at the top of the waitlist.
- GS are entitled to one Saver Award seat in the same class of service with their purchase of any premium cabin fare. GS agents can open space if it is not available provided that at least 2 seats remain for sale afterwards. United-operated flights only.
- GS can upgrade a companion with an instrument (GPU/RPU) from Economy to Business / First when flying on a paid premium cabin fare, even if PZ or PN is not available, as long as J > 2 after upgrade processed. Companion needs to be ticketed in W class or higher on international cash fare itineraries, or ticketed in X/XN for upgrades from award tickets.
- (Note: Only ONE of the two above options can be exercised per premium fare purchased. GS traveler must remain in same itinerary as companion)
- GS can buy up from Basic Economy fares, which is usually forbidden
- GS can access VIP Lounges (former Global First Lounges) in NRT, LHR, and HKG when booked in Polaris Business on an international itinerary. One guest permitted (two guests if a United Club member). Not accessed if booked in United Economy.
- Post 12/12/2018, agents have been instructed to grant only one "exception" when opening award space for a companion. Thus, you can open T->XN for a companion, or you can force a companion upgrade into PN, but you can't convert T->XN and then force clear an upgrade into PN. Some have reported success by requesting this in two separate calls.
- Some agents will allow GS to open economy award space for a companion to allow for an upgrade with an instrument, even if XN or T are unavailable
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2019]
Dec 26, 2019, 9:20 pm
#1531
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Silver
Posts: 61
I just booked a business class ticket to Europe and wanted to apply the IN saver. Wasn’t able to do it. Told that they can only open one segment in IN. Also pricing was bizarre. I strongly urge everyone to write to GS about this. It’s absolutely ridiculous that they make it one segment vs. one way.
If you think about it though these benifits can be very costly. By opening up saver space on a route like sfo-sin it could cost united upwards of 10k, that’s a very high price. I think with these changes United needs to do a better job of working on the hard benifits of GS like- phone agents, lounge acess, irrops ect.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 26, 2019 at 9:48 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Dec 26, 2019, 9:42 pm
#1532
Suspended
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: ,united 1k, AA EXP, HH Diamond,BA gold, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 974
Sadly I can’t email because I am just a mortal 1k. I do however spend a good amount of my FlyerTalk time on this specific forum (probably because I wish I was a GS). I do agree with you though taking away a benefit many of you use all the time with NO communication is not the best way to treat valuable costumers. However looking at it from United’s position I can see why they are moving away from these specific award and upgrade “exceptions” because they are very costly. Even more than comping a “Polaris lounge membership”, because they are losing direct revenue instead of indirectly lost revenue.
Dec 27, 2019, 8:23 am
#1533
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Sadly I can’t email because I am just a mortal 1k. I do however spend a good amount of my FlyerTalk time on this specific forum (probably because I wish I was a GS). I do agree with you though taking away a benefit many of you use all the time with NO communication is not the best way to treat valuable costumers. However looking at it from United’s position I can see why they are moving away from these specific award and upgrade “exceptions” because they are very costly. Even more than comping a “Polaris lounge membership”, because they are losing direct revenue instead of indirectly lost revenue.
Dec 27, 2019, 8:59 am
#1534
Suspended
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: ,united 1k, AA EXP, HH Diamond,BA gold, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 974
It is not that simple. United gets MORE money from me because I will spend money on a route where they haven’t released advanced saver inventory because I know I can confirm a companion (and because it encourages me to spend more to keep GS). I regularly see upgrades processed on these flights as well as non revs. Plus the miles are worth something.
Dec 27, 2019, 10:33 am
#1535
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Just booked a Z/P fare EWR-ATH. Called to open a saver business for a companion. Did it with no problem, 120,000 RT. She even asked if I’d prefer to open up saver economy and upgrade with plus points despite no T being available. Go figure.
Dec 27, 2019, 1:29 pm
#1536
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Good! That was exactly what happened to me after my HUCA. Hopefully this is all just foolish understanding.
Dec 27, 2019, 3:14 pm
#1537
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
This also didn’t sound like an agent who was breaking the rules. She quoted what the computer told her, it was fairly efficient, and spent a lot of time reading off visa and award redeposit rules.
Dec 27, 2019, 10:18 pm
#1538
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
With dynamic award pricing, what does T-conversion to a saver award price out at in mileage?
Does it make a difference if XN and T are both available?
As an example, flight options on the same day ...
AAA-BBB at 6am has XN4 and T4 available and prices at 18k
AAA-BBB at 11am only has XN0 and T6 and thus no publically available saver rate but the old published rate and current star partner rate would be 12.5k
What’s the expected rate for the latter flight, and can the former flight’s rate be reduced through a T conversion?
(Sorry if this has been addressed in this thread, as it’s difficult to search for and wiki doesn’t address this. Also, I agree with another poster suggesting this GS thread be broken into sub threads in the future. There are so many posts covering a wide range of topics. Happy new year to all!)
Does it make a difference if XN and T are both available?
As an example, flight options on the same day ...
AAA-BBB at 6am has XN4 and T4 available and prices at 18k
AAA-BBB at 11am only has XN0 and T6 and thus no publically available saver rate but the old published rate and current star partner rate would be 12.5k
What’s the expected rate for the latter flight, and can the former flight’s rate be reduced through a T conversion?
(Sorry if this has been addressed in this thread, as it’s difficult to search for and wiki doesn’t address this. Also, I agree with another poster suggesting this GS thread be broken into sub threads in the future. There are so many posts covering a wide range of topics. Happy new year to all!)
Last edited by 1015-1k; Dec 27, 2019 at 10:23 pm
Dec 31, 2019, 7:55 am
#1539
Original Poster
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
I've started the 2020 thread, found here:
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2020]
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2020]
Dec 31, 2019, 8:19 am
#1540
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
And with the kind actions of wxguy in starting the 2020 thread, I'll update this thread's wiki with its link and close this thread. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.