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 23, 2019, 11:34 am
#1216
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Assuming you were swapped to Polaris....Upgrade? Maybe downgrade vs Global First?
Sep 23, 2019, 11:58 am
#1217
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
This has happened to me 5-6 times in the last few months. The last time, it was 3-cabin to 2-cabin back to 3-cabin. There were two of us traveling, both GS, so we selected Row 1 in the 3 cabin. I do this, because if it gets switched to a Polaris plane, Row 1 in the center is good! And the seats are usually preserved. This last time, somehow, two of us were separated; I maintained Row 1 and she was relegated to Row 6. Another GS was put in her original seat. Since we were on separate records, nothing could be done to get her original seat back. So what did we do? I gave my seat in the old F cabin to the gentleman in Row 6. No sweat.
Sep 23, 2019, 1:17 pm
#1218
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 207
As others have pointed out, Global Services is a status level. Are you talking about the former "Global First"? some of those larger "global first" seats are still in the fleet. Currently they are only available for pre-booking by Global Services level folks.
These seats do have more space, but receive the exact same service and amenities as the rest of polaris.
These seats do have more space, but receive the exact same service and amenities as the rest of polaris.
Thank you.
Sep 24, 2019, 6:46 am
#1220
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
United changing Upgrades from RPU/GPU to „PlusPoints“?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Sep 24, 2019, 7:22 am
#1221
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
Ha! Actually the GS agent in FRA (who was AWESOME) helped with this, and the gentleman was incredibly nice and appreciative. He was a retired military officer traveling back from India and told me at the end of the flight that he never slept better on a flight. I felt really good about having to "downgrade" to the biz class seat. I'm still one who like to sit next to his SO when flying!
Sep 24, 2019, 8:38 am
#1222
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
United changing Upgrades from RPU/GPU to „PlusPoints“?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Sep 24, 2019, 8:47 am
#1223
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
United changing Upgrades from RPU/GPU to „PlusPoints“?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
- Still be able to confirm PN/PZ fare upon booking when fare available using point upgrade.
- GS points valued more than 1k/plat
- 3 million + miler still get the equivalent of 6 GPU and 2 RPU on pts.
Sep 24, 2019, 9:17 am
#1224
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
So flagging this here as an interesting scenario for anyone booking XN+GPU. On three recent waitlisted flights with XN+GPU for Polaris, I was correctly waitlisted for PN, but the upgrades have sat there for weeks, despite the cabin being wide open. My sister and her husband (a 1K and Gold) listed on the same flight with a purchased economy fare, and were "double waitlisted" for both PP and Polaris on a GPU, per the rules. Last week, they cleared from Economy to PP, and then today they cleared from PP into Polaris. Meanwhile, I remained on the waitlist for the same flight.
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?
Sep 24, 2019, 12:44 pm
#1225
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
United changing Upgrades from RPU/GPU to „PlusPoints“?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Curious to see how this will impact GS?
Skip th Waitlist option for less? Can still push an upgrade T-72?
Sep 24, 2019, 3:11 pm
#1226
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,054
Just as a data-point. Just pushed through a 1K friend's wait-listed Polaris upgrade (my GPU) on an SFO > FRA flight at the 72 hour mark. It is a PP bird so she went from a B fare in economy to Polaris. Not sure if that means no one in PP was WL for Polaris but that is possible given that it was still J5 this close in.
Best part was the GS agent didn't even wait for me to ask for what I needed. I gave her the locator, she asked for my DOB and then 45 seconds of silence later she says "is [seat assignment] OK for your friend?" Literally never even articulated why I was calling other than to say "I have one of my GPUs applied to this reservation: [locator]." So awesome.
Best part was the GS agent didn't even wait for me to ask for what I needed. I gave her the locator, she asked for my DOB and then 45 seconds of silence later she says "is [seat assignment] OK for your friend?" Literally never even articulated why I was calling other than to say "I have one of my GPUs applied to this reservation: [locator]." So awesome.
Last edited by LIH; Sep 24, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Sep 24, 2019, 3:20 pm
#1227
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
Just as a data-point. Just pushed through a 1K friend's wait-listed Polaris upgrade (my GPU) on an SFO > FRA flight at the 72 hour mark. It is a PP bird so she went from a B fare in economy to Polaris. Not sure if that means no one in PP was WL for Polaris but that is possible given that it was still J5 this close in.
Best part was the GS agent didn't even wait for me to ask for what I needed. I gave her the locator, she asked for my DOB and then 45 seconds of silence later she says "is [seat assignment] OK for your friend?" Literally never even articulated why I was calling other than to say "I have one of my GPUs applied to this reservation: [locator]." So awesome.
Best part was the GS agent didn't even wait for me to ask for what I needed. I gave her the locator, she asked for my DOB and then 45 seconds of silence later she says "is [seat assignment] OK for your friend?" Literally never even articulated why I was calling other than to say "I have one of my GPUs applied to this reservation: [locator]." So awesome.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:39 pm
#1228
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA MM GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 520
So flagging this here as an interesting scenario for anyone booking XN+GPU. On three recent waitlisted flights with XN+GPU for Polaris, I was correctly waitlisted for PN, but the upgrades have sat there for weeks, despite the cabin being wide open. My sister and her husband (a 1K and Gold) listed on the same flight with a purchased economy fare, and were "double waitlisted" for both PP and Polaris on a GPU, per the rules. Last week, they cleared from Economy to PP, and then today they cleared from PP into Polaris. Meanwhile, I remained on the waitlist for the same flight.
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?
I was also able to clear one as a companion into PP at booking but it was unclear if that was a real benefit or just a kind agent.
i ended up changing flights to dates / routings with open PN prior to departure and cleared that way.
But agreed, so far zero luck clearing XN plus GPU That was waitlisted even as revenue tickets with GPU cleared automatically off waitlist for others on the same flight
Sep 25, 2019, 7:16 pm
#1229
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
Anyone hear more on updates to how the new upgrade setup will apply to how GS is concerned since the GPU’s and RPU’s are going away, or is it still a “wait and see” for us?
Sep 25, 2019, 9:59 pm
#1230
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,888
So flagging this here as an interesting scenario for anyone booking XN+GPU. On three recent waitlisted flights with XN+GPU for Polaris, I was correctly waitlisted for PN, but the upgrades have sat there for weeks, despite the cabin being wide open. My sister and her husband (a 1K and Gold) listed on the same flight with a purchased economy fare, and were "double waitlisted" for both PP and Polaris on a GPU, per the rules. Last week, they cleared from Economy to PP, and then today they cleared from PP into Polaris. Meanwhile, I remained on the waitlist for the same flight.
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?
Basically, this seems to confirm the following upgrade logic from the website:
"On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats."
Basically, any person seated in PP will be processed BEFORE a GS on an XN > PN upgrade - this explains why GS upgrades seem to be waitlisted until the very last minute on any route where PP is offered. When I asked two different agents if they could list me for a "double upgrade", they said that option was not possible using a waitlist from an XN fare - there just isn't a path to do it, apparently. This to me is a huge problem and devaluation of our benefit - I have to imagine that most GS members book later, and if the PP cabin is already full, you will likely get skipped over by a lower status passenger already seated in PP.
On the third flight, same route, an unconverted former three-cabin 777-200 without PP, I waitlisted with XN+GPU and it cleared within 30 minutes. Bottom line for me? For now, book unconverted 777-200s, so that I know I am top fo the waitlist, and can't be skipped over in this situation.
Question: has anyone else had luck listing for the "double upgrade" on an XN+GPU award ticket so that a GS remains top of the waitlist?