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]
Mar 25, 2019, 10:05 am
#451
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 390
Mar 25, 2019, 11:10 am
#452
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
GS wait takes forever
Hey
is anyone else experiencing long wait times calling into GS?
used to be answered in about 5 seconds now i seem to wait minutes
is anyone else experiencing long wait times calling into GS?
used to be answered in about 5 seconds now i seem to wait minutes
Mar 25, 2019, 11:45 am
#453
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Mar 25, 2019, 12:02 pm
#454
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
Forever is a little long, I have noticed though recently that the "all of our agents....................message is far more frequent than it used to be
Mar 25, 2019, 12:44 pm
#455
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: 3,618
Not yesterday out of EGE, Families were called first. Actually caused a bit of a problem as there appeared to be some sort of ticket issue with at least one of the groups of families and kids. This whole boarding thing gets constantly discussed here (FT) and the bottom line is it is locally controlled with no set boarding list held to. UA can publish what they want to but as we see it is OFTEN not adhered to.
Mar 25, 2019, 1:22 pm
#456
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: 3,618
Has anyone else noticed significantly less upgrades for gs members and delays in clearing with many open seats? I’ve had GS for about 4 years and had a lot of success finding flights with PN availability or even clearing waitlists. Then midway through last year it seems to have totally dried up. I can’t find any PN flights and waitlists don’t clear until inside the 3-5 day complimentary upgrade window. Even then I usually have to call again. Definitely seems like something changed but not sure if it’s just me.
Mar 25, 2019, 1:59 pm
#457
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
First year GS and I am glad to see your post. So far this year I have had ONE CPU (SFO-LAX big deal huh) and that was at the gate, but did clear a bunch of instruments which was good as I had horrible luck as 1K with instruments. As I am new to this I can't comment on whether this is a new phenomena but so far not super impressed. FWIW my nephew has been GS for past 3 to 4 years and when we spoke about this issue recently he basically sounded much like you.
Mar 25, 2019, 5:47 pm
#458
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: 3,618
Has anyone else noticed significantly less upgrades for gs members and delays in clearing with many open seats? I’ve had GS for about 4 years and had a lot of success finding flights with PN availability or even clearing waitlists. Then midway through last year it seems to have totally dried up. I can’t find any PN flights and waitlists don’t clear until inside the 3-5 day complimentary upgrade window. Even then I usually have to call again. Definitely seems like something changed but not sure if it’s just me.
Mar 26, 2019, 4:30 pm
#459
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 18
It's pretty tough to say, but yes, PN is scarce for most flights these days. Something I notice is that when P space is available with PN0, I often times clear quickly (within a few days of booking). It's anyone's guess as to what happens behind the scenes for GS instrument upgrades... but I have done pretty well this year so far, even on the elusive p.s. flights. Nothing is intuitive anymore when trying to upgrade on UA.
Mar 26, 2019, 4:32 pm
#460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Mar 26, 2019, 4:40 pm
#461
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Mar 29, 2019, 3:00 pm
#462
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
did they cut down on support staff? this is a change I do not enjoy. As a 1k I barely got through the "all of our age" and then answer
Mar 29, 2019, 5:20 pm
#463
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
First year GS and I am glad to see your post. So far this year I have had ONE CPU (SFO-LAX big deal huh) and that was at the gate, but did clear a bunch of instruments which was good as I had horrible luck as 1K with instruments. As I am new to this I can't comment on whether this is a new phenomena but so far not super impressed. FWIW my nephew has been GS for past 3 to 4 years and when we spoke about this issue recently he basically sounded much like you.
Mar 29, 2019, 10:51 pm
#464
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
New GS Challenge?
I'm GS and went to check out mystatus.united.com page. It showed a GS status offer that if I spend $15k between April 1 and June 29, they'll make me GS ....for 2019. Not sure if its a typo and they meant to say 2020 or if I was mis-targeted for something else for this year, but I sent a note to GS asking them to clarify.
I've already spent $20k in PQDs YTD on all J/F fares. It'd be nice to requalify for only $15k more but for now I think this is just an error on UAs part.
...Although intriguing to see a challenge offer pop-up in the spring.
I've already spent $20k in PQDs YTD on all J/F fares. It'd be nice to requalify for only $15k more
but for now I think this is just an error on UAs part....Although intriguing to see a challenge offer pop-up in the spring.
Mar 30, 2019, 5:08 am
#465
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I'm GS and went to check out mystatus.united.com page. It showed a GS status offer that if I spend $15k between April 1 and June 29, they'll make me GS ....for 2019. Not sure if its a typo and they meant to say 2020 or if I was mis-targeted for something else for this year, but I sent a note to GS asking them to clarify.
I've already spent $20k in PQDs YTD on all J/F fares. It'd be nice to requalify for only $15k more but for now I think this is just an error on UAs part.
...Although intriguing to see a challenge offer pop-up in the spring.
I've already spent $20k in PQDs YTD on all J/F fares. It'd be nice to requalify for only $15k more
but for now I think this is just an error on UAs part....Although intriguing to see a challenge offer pop-up in the spring.
sounds like a mistake if you’re already GS.