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]
Jun 21, 2019, 8:10 pm
#842
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Jun 21, 2019, 8:16 pm
#843
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
This is wrong. Just flew ORD-NRT and GS agent was able to get companion into the old first class seat. They couldn’t do it themself, had to call their help desk to have it forced.
Jun 22, 2019, 3:31 pm
#844
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,504
I stand corrected on the second line above. My son (Gold) used my RPU to waitlist for a SFO-EWR flight last Sunday. The flight status showed J full but he was listed as number one on waitlist, which listed more than 30 names. I think is not possible if Inside T-24 status is the priority order - it is hard for me to believe that the other 30+ people are no higher than Gold. About T-3 hours my son was the only one upgraded.. So it looks like that GS instrument still enjoy priority at T-24, as correctly pointed out by several others already.
Jun 22, 2019, 4:03 pm
#845
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,836
GS travel to Hawaii with family members -- One GS with SO plus handful of kids (or extended family) could be the bulk of that
Jun 22, 2019, 7:22 pm
#846
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: 3,617
Jun 22, 2019, 7:40 pm
#847
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
Probably this.
I was on a Sunday LHR-SFO flight and was told at the time of booking there were roughly 16 GS on the GPU waitlist.
When I got to the gate to board, there were probably 40 people who preboarded for GS, but at least 25 seemed like companions / accompanying families.
In fact, in the GS pre boarding pen, there were at least 3 families with 3-4 kids each in tow, and a group of 6 very chatty girls - only 1 of them GS - talking about how they love to travel with their GS friend because of the privileges they get.
A lot of people in pre boarding or on the upgrade list are GS companions, and not actually GS - especially on leisure routes (or around weekends).
I was on a Sunday LHR-SFO flight and was told at the time of booking there were roughly 16 GS on the GPU waitlist.
When I got to the gate to board, there were probably 40 people who preboarded for GS, but at least 25 seemed like companions / accompanying families.
In fact, in the GS pre boarding pen, there were at least 3 families with 3-4 kids each in tow, and a group of 6 very chatty girls - only 1 of them GS - talking about how they love to travel with their GS friend because of the privileges they get.
A lot of people in pre boarding or on the upgrade list are GS companions, and not actually GS - especially on leisure routes (or around weekends).
Jun 22, 2019, 9:21 pm
#848
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
Able to ask why UA is getting rid of saver award charts instead of just removing the cap for everyday awards? Just creates more complication for trying to figure out partner pricing, etc.
How will the removal of saver awards affect GS ability to convert T>XN and PZ>IN awards?
How will the removal of saver awards affect GS ability to convert T>XN and PZ>IN awards?
Jun 23, 2019, 9:23 am
#849
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
PN converting to P in IRROPS?
Since April 2019, the following thing has happened to me several times:
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
Jun 23, 2019, 9:32 am
#850
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
Since April 2019, the following thing has happened to me several times:
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
-Scott K.
Jun 23, 2019, 10:10 am
#851
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,409
Since April 2019, the following thing has happened to me several times:
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
(1) Supported upgrades are almost always preserved in IRROPS. Most of the time CPUs are not, but I'm sure GS are more likely to receive this favor.
(2) If the rbd is a non-revenue one (PZ, PN, etc) then it will use the first letter of the fare basis (not the fare's primary) to determine credit. This leads to situations like a K fare being rebooked in Y earns 150% PQM, but if that rebooked segment clears an Instant Upgrade, it credits as K again. In the days of 3-class domestic, you could book a Business fare and CPU to First (ON), and then get credit for the differential Economy basis of your original ticket.
(3) For some reason, a manually entered PN segment credits as P.
Jun 24, 2019, 4:57 pm
#852
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: United GS, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 97
IRROPS standby priority?
Flew LGA-ORD today. As usual, all of the afternoon flights were delayed including my 2pm departure, not because of thunderstorms in Chicago as I expected, but per the United app, due to “technical issues” which I believe to be mechanical issues on at least 4 of the inbound flights (app described mechanical repairs on most of the inbound planes). Normally (probably the last 5 times this has happened), this is not that big of a deal as the GS agents in LGA do a great job getting me on standby (I give up my CPU in J for back-of-the-bus, but at least I get home). Today, however, the 8am LGA-ORD flight was substantially delayed due to an “environmental issue”, which the GS agent said meant exterior damage to the plane (e.g. possible bird strike, he said) and eventually cancelled. The implication to me was that my standby position (originally #1 on the standby list for the 1pm and 3pm departures, still leaving earlier than my delayed 2pm) was at one point pushed to #6 . I asked the GS agent whether there were actually 5 GS members ahead of me, and apparently all 5 were non-GS, but were passengers from the 8am flight who by that point had been standby on like 5 flights.
I did not clear standby for the first flight I was standby on. I was again #6 on the standby list (same people ahead of me) on the second flight (still departing before my original flight, delayed 2.5+ hrs). But then the GS agent very kindly forced me to the top of the standby list, and somehow magically a completely full flight had a last minute empty seat in Y open up for me.
So what is the standby priority sequence? I always thought GS automatically get priority, but that wasn’t the case today had the GS agent not intervened for me. I did feel bad for the group of 3 girls who were among the 5 ahead of me on standby (I sat next to them while they were lamenting what a frustrating day it had been) but not badly enough to give them my seat as I still got home 2 hours later than scheduled.
I did not clear standby for the first flight I was standby on. I was again #6 on the standby list (same people ahead of me) on the second flight (still departing before my original flight, delayed 2.5+ hrs). But then the GS agent very kindly forced me to the top of the standby list, and somehow magically a completely full flight had a last minute empty seat in Y open up for me.
So what is the standby priority sequence? I always thought GS automatically get priority, but that wasn’t the case today had the GS agent not intervened for me. I did feel bad for the group of 3 girls who were among the 5 ahead of me on standby (I sat next to them while they were lamenting what a frustrating day it had been) but not badly enough to give them my seat as I still got home 2 hours later than scheduled.
Last edited by bluepig1; Jun 26, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Jun 24, 2019, 5:06 pm
#853
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
Flew LGA-ORD today. As usual, all of the afternoon flights were delayed including my 2pm departure, not because of thunderstorms in Chicago as I expected, but per the United app, due to “technical issues” which I believe to be mechanical issues on at least 4 of the inbound flights (app described mechanical repairs on most of the inbound planes). Normally (probably the last 5 times this has happened), this is not that big of a deal as the GS agents in LGA do a great job getting me on standby (I give up my CPU in Y for back-of-the-bus, but at least I get home). Today, however, the 8am LGA-ORD flight was substantially delayed due to an “environmental issue”, which the GS agent said meant exterior damage to the plane (e.g. possible bird strike, he said) and eventually cancelled. The implication to me was that my standby position (originally #1 on the standby list for the 1pm and 3pm departures, still leaving earlier than my delayed 2pm) was at one point pushed to #6 . I asked the GS agent whether there were actually 5 GS members ahead of me, and apparently all 5 were non-GS, but were passengers from the 8am flight who by that point had been standby on like 5 flights.
I did not clear standby for the first flight I was standby on. I was again #6 on the standby list (same people ahead of me) on the second flight (still departing before my original flight, delayed 2.5+ hrs). But then the GS agent very kindly forced me to the top of the standby list, and somehow magically a completely full flight had a last minute empty seat in Y open up for me.
So what is the standby priority sequence? I always thought GS automatically get priority, but that wasn’t the case today had the GS agent not intervened for me. I did feel bad for the group of 3 girls who were among the 5 ahead of me on standby (I sat next to them while they were lamenting what a frustrating day it had been) but not badly enough to give them my seat as I still got home 2 hours later than scheduled.
I did not clear standby for the first flight I was standby on. I was again #6 on the standby list (same people ahead of me) on the second flight (still departing before my original flight, delayed 2.5+ hrs). But then the GS agent very kindly forced me to the top of the standby list, and somehow magically a completely full flight had a last minute empty seat in Y open up for me.
So what is the standby priority sequence? I always thought GS automatically get priority, but that wasn’t the case today had the GS agent not intervened for me. I did feel bad for the group of 3 girls who were among the 5 ahead of me on standby (I sat next to them while they were lamenting what a frustrating day it had been) but not badly enough to give them my seat as I still got home 2 hours later than scheduled.
Jun 24, 2019, 6:01 pm
#854
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
Since April 2019, the following thing has happened to me several times:
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
1. I book an domestic flight in economy.
2. My CPU clears, concerting the fare class to PN.
3. There are IRROPS involving my flight.
4. I call GS, and they are able to confirm me in business on a new flight.
5. When I fly the new flight, my fare class is now P.
6. I receive the 150% PQM/PQS multiplier for that flight in my MileagePlus account, which I wouldn’t have received had I been on the original flight.
If this had happened once I would excuse it as a glitch, but it has now happened several times, all in the last 3 months. I don’t recall having seen this happen in prior years.
Has anybody else seen this?
You win some, you lose some.
Jun 25, 2019, 12:57 pm
#855
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 439
Anyone have post-12/12/2018 experience booking GS+companion T>XN, then splitting record and cxling the GS pax? Any issues checking in?