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 18, 2019, 11:42 am
#301
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: 3,620
Not to sound too entitled but so far not impressed by GS status. My wife and I are have yet to clear a CPU in 5 CPU eligible flights (traveling separately). Now clearing instruments seems to be different story and greatly improved over 1K. Since obtaining GS status all applied instruments have cleared, I probably cleared no better than 25% of the time as a 1K. I commented to another GS paxs on my last trip who has been GS for the last 4 years and he said that there had been a decline in service and upgrades and wasn't surprised by my stats so far. FWIW, he said that now there are "too many GS flying". I have no data and I am sure he didn't either and I suspect that number is a closely guarded secrete by UA. Too that point I was not only surprised that I didn't clear several flights but actually how low I was on the list. Now my wife was #1 or #2 on the upgrade list and F cabin was basically just sold out, I assume some were TODs. This was a SFO-IAH run. No I know some will say SFO is tough, when they board GS it is not unusual to see 20 people line up. Unfortunately this is my main hub so it is what it is.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 18, 2019 at 12:31 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Feb 18, 2019, 11:46 am
#302
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Not to sound too entitled but so far not impressed by GS status. My wife and I are have yet to clear a CPU in 5 CPU eligible flights (traveling separately). Now clearing instruments seems to be different story and greatly improved over 1K. Since obtaining GS status all applied instruments have cleared, I probably cleared no better than 25% of the time as a 1K. I commented to another GS paxs on my last trip who has been GS for the last 4 years and he said that there had been a decline in service and upgrades and wasn't surprised by my stats so far. FWIW, he said that now there are "too many GS flying". I have no data and I am sure he didn't either and I suspect that number is a closely guarded secrete by UA. Too that point I was not only surprised that I didn't clear several flights but actually how low I was on the list. Now my wife was #1 or #2 on the upgrade list and F cabin was basically just sold out, I assume some were TODs. This was a SFO-IAH run. No I know some will say SFO is tough, when they board GS it is not unusual to see 20 people line up. Unfortunately this is my main hub so it is what it is.
Feb 18, 2019, 12:19 pm
#303
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: 3,620
Feb 18, 2019, 12:42 pm
#304
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
No as I didn't get the invite unitl 1/28. All flights were in Feb and the SFO-IAH run was last fridays 9pm flight. Wife was number #1 on that flight but F just sold out. I assume some TODs but who knows. Again, happy to get the invite and not looking gift horse in the mouth as instruments seem to clear for sure (at least so far) but no overly impressed. While the major problem probably is flying out of SFO where they have to have the highest number of GS in the system (I would argue greater than even EWR) but I didn't get upgraded out of CLE last week and that was a bit of a shocker.
Feb 18, 2019, 2:24 pm
#305
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: 2,505
I wrote to the private GS e-mail (the one that promises a personalized response within 4 hours) on Friday of last week to complain about a mysterious seat reassignment that was blamed on a phantom "aircraft swap". I got no response or even acknowledgment of receipt of my e-mail. On Saturday, I forwarded the e-mail, again asking for a response. No response or acknowledgment. Yesterday, I forwarded the two prior e-mails, again pleading for a response. Once again, nothing. What's going on here?
Feb 18, 2019, 2:29 pm
#306
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Understood. But just keep in mind that the #1 benefit is help during IRROPs, whether via ground personnel or the GS phone line. In eight years of GS, they've come through every time. I view the other bennies as terrific and much appreciated.
Now I'm trying to figure ways to get more personal trips in this year so I can ensure my spend remains high.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:01 pm
#307
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
Understood. But just keep in mind that the #1 benefit is help during IRROPs, whether via ground personnel or the GS phone line. In eight years of GS, they've come through every time. I view the other bennies as terrific and much appreciated.
She offered a 10:30pm flight to lax or an 11am flight the next day booked in first along with hotel and $60 in food vouchers. I took the flight the next day because I didn’t want to deal with LAX. Luckily i did since that flight got delayed 1.5 hours for “awaiting connecting passengers” or something.
I hate irrops, but love knowing that I’ll be taken care of if possible.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:10 pm
#308
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: 3,620
Understood. But just keep in mind that the #1 benefit is help during IRROPs, whether via ground personnel or the GS phone line. In eight years of GS, they've come through every time. I view the other bennies as terrific and much appreciated.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:21 pm
#309
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
I wrote to the private GS e-mail (the one that promises a personalized response within 4 hours) on Friday of last week to complain about a mysterious seat reassignment that was blamed on a phantom "aircraft swap". I got no response or even acknowledgment of receipt of my e-mail. On Saturday, I forwarded the e-mail, again asking for a response. No response or acknowledgment. Yesterday, I forwarded the two prior e-mails, again pleading for a response. Once again, nothing. What's going on here?
Feb 18, 2019, 3:54 pm
#310
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
No as I didn't get the invite unitl 1/28. All flights were in Feb and the SFO-IAH run was last fridays 9pm flight. Wife was number #1 on that flight but F just sold out. I assume some TODs but who knows. Again, happy to get the invite and not looking gift horse in the mouth as instruments seem to clear for sure (at least so far) but no overly impressed. While the major problem probably is flying out of SFO where they have to have the highest number of GS in the system (I would argue greater than even EWR) but I didn't get upgraded out of CLE last week and that was a bit of a shocker.
Consequently, I guess, maybe your expectations were that GS CPUs would always clear as well?
Feb 18, 2019, 3:56 pm
#311
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: 3,620
Well on a positive note I just got some kind of instant upgrade on a EGE-SFO flight, it was an M class ticket that I was changed into and it dumped right into F. I didn't check but I assume PN space was available but it all happened so fast I didn't even bother to check. Also the agent waved changed fees on that flight! That will technically be my first CPU of the year I guess.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:01 pm
#312
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: 2,505
Feb 18, 2019, 4:42 pm
#313
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 wrote to the private GS e-mail (the one that promises a personalized response within 4 hours) on Friday of last week to complain about a mysterious seat reassignment that was blamed on a phantom "aircraft swap". I got no response or even acknowledgment of receipt of my e-mail. On Saturday, I forwarded the e-mail, again asking for a response. No response or acknowledgment. Yesterday, I forwarded the two prior e-mails, again pleading for a response. Once again, nothing. What's going on here?
Feb 18, 2019, 4:46 pm
#314
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
Feb 18, 2019, 7:49 pm
#315
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
Well on a positive note I just got some kind of instant upgrade on a EGE-SFO flight, it was an M class ticket that I was changed into and it dumped right into F. I didn't check but I assume PN space was available but it all happened so fast I didn't even bother to check. Also the agent waved changed fees on that flight! That will technically be my first CPU of the year I guess.