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]
Jan 2, 2019, 4:42 am
#16
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
On the topic of the Dec 12 change to the T -> XN conversion benefit:
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
Jan 2, 2019, 7:04 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 18
On the topic of the Dec 12 change to the T -> XN conversion benefit:
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
Jan 2, 2019, 7:50 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
I really really hope it was a miscommunication.
Jan 2, 2019, 9:41 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NY
Programs: UA GS & 3MM, HHONORS Diamond
Posts: 66
Do UA flights booked by travel agent through LH count towards GS?
This must have come up before but I can’t find the thread. I am based in the US but a travel agent in Italy booked my EWR-MUC-MAD and MAD-EWR flights (UA metal on all except for MUC-MAD) on a LH ticket. Does this adversely affect how these tickets are counted towards GS requalification?
Jan 2, 2019, 11:25 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 18
This must have come up before but I can’t find the thread. I am based in the US but a travel agent in Italy booked my EWR-MUC-MAD and MAD-EWR flights (UA metal on all except for MUC-MAD) on a LH ticket. Does this adversely affect how these tickets are counted towards GS requalification?
Jan 2, 2019, 11:51 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NY
Programs: UA GS & 3MM, HHONORS Diamond
Posts: 66
Jan 2, 2019, 12:54 pm
#22
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
This must have come up before but I can’t find the thread. I am based in the US but a travel agent in Italy booked my EWR-MUC-MAD and MAD-EWR flights (UA metal on all except for MUC-MAD) on a LH ticket. Does this adversely affect how these tickets are counted towards GS requalification?
Jan 2, 2019, 12:57 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: United GS, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 97
Sigh. Called to convert a T to XN for my friend and me (domestic flight), and was told that as it was showing T2, there needed to be >2 to convert, and therefore she could not create 2 XNs for the afternoon flight (a month out). I asked if this was a new rule as previously the T>2 rule only applied to pushing upgrades, and she said yes but I don't think she knew what she was talking about. Went ahead and booked the evening flight since it was showing T6 and I was in a rush with the boarding door about to close on a different flight. An hour later, I HUACA, got a different GS agent, who appropriately converted T to XN on the afternoon flight, effectively converting the last T2 seats to XN (now showing T0). Basically - there are still GS agents who don't know what they're talking about. Moral of the story - if it sounds funny, HUACA.
Jan 2, 2019, 1:38 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,822
I had an even worse experience last week. I called GS line to apply a GPU on my son's XN ticket. The agent answered said I have to travel with him in order for the GPU to apply to an award ticket. HUACA solved the problem.
Jan 2, 2019, 2:11 pm
#25
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
Sigh. Called to convert a T to XN for my friend and me (domestic flight), and was told that as it was showing T2, there needed to be >2 to convert, and therefore she could not create 2 XNs for the afternoon flight (a month out). I asked if this was a new rule as previously the T>2 rule only applied to pushing upgrades, and she said yes but I don't think she knew what she was talking about. Went ahead and booked the evening flight since it was showing T6 and I was in a rush with the boarding door about to close on a different flight. An hour later, I HUACA, got a different GS agent, who appropriately converted T to XN on the afternoon flight, effectively converting the last T2 seats to XN (now showing T0). Basically - there are still GS agents who don't know what they're talking about. Moral of the story - if it sounds funny, HUACA.
Jan 2, 2019, 4:01 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
It's ridiculous that UA doesn't publish the rules on the GS benefits page.
Agents just make stuff up carte blanche.
Agents just make stuff up carte blanche.
Jan 2, 2019, 9:07 pm
#27
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
Programs: AA Platinum (Lifetime), United GS, HHonors Diamond, Shangri-la Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 549
On the topic of the Dec 12 change to the T -> XN conversion benefit:
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
I called the GS line today and asked about this. The agent said they have asked for clarifications about this new rule. She said something about "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary".
Jan 3, 2019, 12:51 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
geez... i dunno. the statement as read to me by a GS agent was pretty clear... the benefit is only one for one companion on the same itinerary as the GS member. sounds like they are still saying that... however, maybe some GS agents mistakenly pushed the benefit through for non-companion travel? perhaps that is what "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary" means?
Lately, I’ve had a couple of poor agents answer who have inaccurate understanding of policies — this is usually when there is bad weather and hold times are long. In those cases, you won’t necessarily get a true GS agent. Last week an agent told me that it wasn’t possible to open a saver companion seat when on a paid J fare, and asked for the Standard mileage. I did HUCA and the next agent did it no problem.
Jan 3, 2019, 11:23 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
geez... i dunno. the statement as read to me by a GS agent was pretty clear... the benefit is only one for one companion on the same itinerary as the GS member. sounds like they are still saying that... however, maybe some GS agents mistakenly pushed the benefit through for non-companion travel? perhaps that is what "some agents didn't document the companion benefit well enough in the itinerary" means?