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]
Feb 12, 2019, 9:50 am
#271
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: 3,621
Well I guess I need to manage my expectations with GS. First flights as GS, I used a GPU and cleared a LAX to CLE. Got upgraded using a RPU from SFO to IAH but on the return didn't clear as a CPU. Also didn't clear CPUs on CLE-DEN and DEN SFO runs. What struck me was I seemed to be really not much better off on the 24 hrs upgrade list than when I was 1K. On the DEN - SFO flight at T24 I was like #7 and moved to 3 when the door closed. And form CLE to DEN I went from #3 to #1 but eventually didn't clear. Admittedly on yesterdays flight into DEN out of CLE people who had IRROPS from weather issue going into ORD seemed to be getting pushed onto the DEN flight so things were pretty crazy for awhile. All in all not super impressed by first several flights as GS but the jury is still out. Seems like instruments as a GS have no problem clearing where as when I was 1K even with an instrument I had no better than a 50/50 chance of clearing.
Feb 13, 2019, 8:11 am
#272
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I recall a way to get some fancy hertz status with GS, how do I do that?
Feb 13, 2019, 5:50 pm
#274
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: 3,621
Still getting the hang of this GS thing. Can an RPU be applied to a Saver Award ticket by GS pax??
Feb 13, 2019, 5:58 pm
#275
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
Feb 13, 2019, 6:04 pm
#276
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: 3,621
Feb 13, 2019, 8:18 pm
#277
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Feb 13, 2019, 9:11 pm
#278
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: RAP
Programs: UA 1K - 3 MM, CLEAR
Posts: 49
Feb 14, 2019, 5:56 am
#279
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Feb 14, 2019, 9:18 am
#280
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
Well I guess I need to manage my expectations with GS. First flights as GS, I used a GPU and cleared a LAX to CLE. Got upgraded using a RPU from SFO to IAH but on the return didn't clear as a CPU. Also didn't clear CPUs on CLE-DEN and DEN SFO runs. What struck me was I seemed to be really not much better off on the 24 hrs upgrade list than when I was 1K. On the DEN - SFO flight at T24 I was like #7 and moved to 3 when the door closed. And form CLE to DEN I went from #3 to #1 but eventually didn't clear. Admittedly on yesterdays flight into DEN out of CLE people who had IRROPS from weather issue going into ORD seemed to be getting pushed onto the DEN flight so things were pretty crazy for awhile. All in all not super impressed by first several flights as GS but the jury is still out. Seems like instruments as a GS have no problem clearing where as when I was 1K even with an instrument I had no better than a 50/50 chance of clearing.
Feb 14, 2019, 9:32 am
#281
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: 3,621
Your the second person that has asked me that but I booked the tickets literally the day after I was given GS status. My tickets (printed them) had GS on them FWIW. I think a lot had to do with IRROPS from ORD being socked in that day. I actually saw the service desk in CLE flooded with people trying to get west and many were put onto the CLE - DEN flight. I suspect a lot of those PAX probably already had been upgraded or had paid J so I assume they get the upgrade on the new route as well. Seems fair, why should I get a CPU in that situation, I get that. Don't have good answers as to why the others didn't clear. The thing that hit me was that I wasn't even close. We all know certain hubs (I.e. SFO) have huge numbers of GS paxs. I have a run of AS flights coming up then back to UA in March (that's another story) so I will give it another try as I purposefully pulled my instrument off those flights which are mostly short to intermediate hauls (i.e. SFO-DEN-SFO).
Feb 14, 2019, 10:03 am
#282
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
I tried to upgrade my 1K parent's Saver ticket from CLE-RFW with an expiring RPU and was told can't do it because they paid for the ticket using their lowly 1K miles.
Feb 14, 2019, 10:15 am
#283
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: 3,621
They are from a GS account and the GS pax was trying to apply an RPU to it through the app but we couldn't find that upgrade option. Per comments above I guess it can only be done on the phone with the agent and cannot be done online, will be calling shortly. Seems like that should be an easy addition to the app not sure why it isn't there, kind of confusing given my experience.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:09 am
#284
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
They are from a GS account and the GS pax was trying to apply an RPU to it through the app but we couldn't find that upgrade option. Per comments above I guess it can only be done on the phone with the agent and cannot be done online, will be calling shortly. Seems like that should be an easy addition to the app not sure why it isn't there, kind of confusing given my experience.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:32 am
#285
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258