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]
Sep 8, 2019, 6:22 pm
#1186
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
If these are GPUs you earned last year (Jan 2020 expiration), you will not be able to apply those GPUs to flights past Jan 2020. The GPU must be consumed (flights taken) before their expiration.
If you make 1K requal and get new GPUs (Jan 2021) those can be used and will be tagged as GS GPUs if applied while you are a GS.
Beleive not.If you make 1K requal and get new GPUs (Jan 2021) those can be used and will be tagged as GS GPUs if applied while you are a GS.
Normal 1Ks.GS requalifiers probably will be able to extend their Jan 2020 GPUs to April 2020, Not sure but doubt soft landing 1Ks can (due to timing of granting the soft landing).
And soft landed 1Ks from GS do not get GPUs.
Sep 8, 2019, 8:10 pm
#1187
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: United Global Services
Posts: 42
Best Option to Upgrade Companion?
I’m GS and will be flying Polaris from EWR to Europe round trip this fall. I can upgrade my companion one of the following ways:
1) Buy him W class fare (cost around $1450 which is fairly expensive for the season) and using two GPUs
2) Buy round trip saver miles (30K miles one way 60K total plus $200) and use two GPUs
3) Use saver business awards (60K one way 120K total) and not use any GPUs
Which is these would be considered the “best deal”? How would you decide among these options?
1) Buy him W class fare (cost around $1450 which is fairly expensive for the season) and using two GPUs
2) Buy round trip saver miles (30K miles one way 60K total plus $200) and use two GPUs
3) Use saver business awards (60K one way 120K total) and not use any GPUs
Which is these would be considered the “best deal”? How would you decide among these options?
Last edited by roseallday; Sep 9, 2019 at 6:52 am
Sep 8, 2019, 8:17 pm
#1188
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA MM GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 520
I’d do saver award + GPU rather than 120k miles and no GPU.
GPUs expire. You can use the miles for other travel.
Definitely not W fare as 60k miles are worth less than $1400
GPUs expire. You can use the miles for other travel.
Definitely not W fare as 60k miles are worth less than $1400
Sep 9, 2019, 11:23 pm
#1189
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,824
I’m GS and will be flying Polaris from EWR to Europe round trip this fall. I can upgrade my companion one of the following ways:
1) Buy him W class fare (cost around $1450 which is fairly expensive for the season) and using two GPUs
2) Buy round trip saver miles (30K miles one way 60K total plus $200) and use two GPUs
3) Use saver business awards (60K one way 120K total) and not use any GPUs
Which is these would be considered the “best deal”? How would you decide among these options?
1) Buy him W class fare (cost around $1450 which is fairly expensive for the season) and using two GPUs
2) Buy round trip saver miles (30K miles one way 60K total plus $200) and use two GPUs
3) Use saver business awards (60K one way 120K total) and not use any GPUs
Which is these would be considered the “best deal”? How would you decide among these options?
If there is good chance I can use the 2 GPUs before 1/31 expiration (or 4/30 extension), I would grab the 60K miles x 2 because I have over 3M RDMs, and because the RDMs will depreciate rapidly. I just noticed that SFO-EWR next June, business seat will be mostly 100K miles one-way. Another consideration is that it is far harder to get savers business ("I) than savers economy + GPU (PN). With my large RDM balance and only 2 GPU remaining, I look for the chance to book "I ticket whenever I can.
Two years ago I would even choose 1), W+ 2GPU. Because at that time my travel companion was working towards 1K.
Sep 16, 2019, 10:08 am
#1190
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
I know that 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 and only on United-operated. Can I upgrade a domestic award ticket with an RPU?
Sep 16, 2019, 10:30 am
#1192
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
Sep 16, 2019, 11:26 am
#1193
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SF/OC
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
I fly SFO>BOS regularly in J. Can I use an RPU to convert my spouse from economy rev ticket to J?; and then use miles to book another economy award for kid and then use an RPU to upgrade that to J if PN is available?
Sep 16, 2019, 11:53 am
#1194
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
Is there a limit of the number of people you can do this on a single flight?
I fly SFO>BOS regularly in J. Can I use an RPU to convert my spouse from economy rev ticket to J?; and then use miles to book another economy award for kid and then use an RPU to upgrade that to J if PN is available?
I fly SFO>BOS regularly in J. Can I use an RPU to convert my spouse from economy rev ticket to J?; and then use miles to book another economy award for kid and then use an RPU to upgrade that to J if PN is available?
Expect if trying to force availability in which case its only GS+1
Sep 16, 2019, 2:45 pm
#1195
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,354
We recently had a CPU on a ticket I booked for GS+me from my Aeroplan account, so I'm not sure the miles need to be drawn from the GS member account.
Sep 16, 2019, 5:32 pm
#1196
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: 2,506
Got picked up on arrival at SFO from IAH and taken in Mercedes to Polaris Lounge in advance of flight to SIN. I had a 2+ hour connection time so there was no issue of tightness - it was just a nice gesture by UA that I much appreciated.
Sep 19, 2019, 4:36 am
#1197
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
If I book XN and there is PN available can I upgrade using my miles? I know I can use a GPU but prefer to use my miles if possible
Sep 19, 2019, 6:12 am
#1199
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Westchester NY
Programs: UA GS 4+ MM
Posts: 373