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]
Aug 20, 2019, 6:10 pm
#1126
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,025
Poking around on some old threads, I may be confusing the 1K guarantee of being able to purchase a Y/B ticket on any flight at least 90 minutes prior to departure. United says you can do this on "most sold-out flights" and there was a discussion here on FT about which flights might not be included, and someone with some experience indicated that the while the guarantee did apply to Y0 flights, it did not apply to flights that were severely oversold (for example in the case of downgauge or large number of must-fly deadheading crew).
The same logic may / may not apply to the GS IRROPS benefit, I guess. Sorry for getting the two similar benefits confused.
The same logic may / may not apply to the GS IRROPS benefit, I guess. Sorry for getting the two similar benefits confused.
Aug 20, 2019, 8:18 pm
#1127
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
Poking around on some old threads, I may be confusing the 1K guarantee of being able to purchase a Y/B ticket on any flight at least 90 minutes prior to departure. United says you can do this on "most sold-out flights" and there was a discussion here on FT about which flights might not be included, and someone with some experience indicated that the while the guarantee did apply to Y0 flights, it did not apply to flights that were severely oversold (for example in the case of downgauge or large number of must-fly deadheading crew).
The same logic may / may not apply to the GS IRROPS benefit, I guess. Sorry for getting the two similar benefits confused.
The same logic may / may not apply to the GS IRROPS benefit, I guess. Sorry for getting the two similar benefits confused.
Aug 20, 2019, 10:00 pm
#1128
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: United GS+
Posts: 1,889
Got it ... makes sense. Today my flight XXX-SFO was oversold as a result of an earlier MX cancellation, and they were offering $1,000 for First Class downgrades, of which they needed two. A GS ends up sitting next to me, and explains he was on the earlier flight and the GS agents "forced him on".
The GS benefit of guaranteed seat during irrops does not apply to premium cabin.
Aug 20, 2019, 11:33 pm
#1129
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,025
Last month from DFW-SFO there was a pending MX delay on the direct, and I was called as I went through security by a GS agent. She ran me to the LAX flight as they were closing door. Downgraded a pax from
F, put me in the seat, pulled a non-rev off the plane, shut the door. The direct SFO was subsequently canceled. Bottom line the ground agents have significant autonomy in these situations to make it work - the phone agents execute the standard benefit protocols.
Aug 21, 2019, 1:15 am
#1130
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
And some of us know about it about will never get on that bandwagon unless it becomes a TSA requirement (or TSA also requires the submission of biometrics).
With my tin-hat rant aside, when I walked into the SEA UC last week the lounge agent told the 1Ks checking in ahead of me that "CLEAR is now free for you, make sure you enroll next time you have some time at the airport". She didn't repeat this for my benefit, instead just saying thank you for being GS and that she would let "the GS team know that I am here" which I found funny but nice. All that to say that I do think there is a push from United to get their front line employees to promote the CLEAR "benefit".
With my tin-hat rant aside, when I walked into the SEA UC last week the lounge agent told the 1Ks checking in ahead of me that "CLEAR is now free for you, make sure you enroll next time you have some time at the airport". She didn't repeat this for my benefit, instead just saying thank you for being GS and that she would let "the GS team know that I am here" which I found funny but nice. All that to say that I do think there is a push from United to get their front line employees to promote the CLEAR "benefit".
That only happened to me only when i check in at SEA at the GS checkin, or I check in at United Club there. GS at SEA is fantastic, and if CLEAR can now start adivisng when their guests have arrived. I would be so pleased. Every flight I have at SEA has at least 1 GS agent VIP boarding the flight. Happened on my last 20 flights or so.
Aug 21, 2019, 8:54 am
#1131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
Could you share in which security area this happened? I go through the left most security area for CLEAR verified entry and none of my agents have said such a thing about advising gs staff that you arrived. Could it be a paper printed BP thing where it obnoxiously prints G L O B A L S E R V I C E S?
That only happened to me only when i check in at SEA at the GS checkin, or I check in at United Club there. GS at SEA is fantastic, and if CLEAR can now start adivisng when their guests have arrived. I would be so pleased. Every flight I have at SEA has at least 1 GS agent VIP boarding the flight. Happened on my last 20 flights or so.
That only happened to me only when i check in at SEA at the GS checkin, or I check in at United Club there. GS at SEA is fantastic, and if CLEAR can now start adivisng when their guests have arrived. I would be so pleased. Every flight I have at SEA has at least 1 GS agent VIP boarding the flight. Happened on my last 20 flights or so.
Aug 21, 2019, 9:43 am
#1132
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Gold
Posts: 174
Aug 21, 2019, 10:58 am
#1133
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
I’ve used GS in SEA a few times, and, wow, the service was on another level than SFO.
On my last visit, the man at the GS counter had boarding passes already printed and laid out on the counter. I gave him my ID and he was like “Mr XX, we’ve been expecting you.”
At boarding an hour later, the same man was there to pre-board me and a few other GS. He walked us onto the plane and made sure we got our bags in and PDBs and all.
On my last visit, the man at the GS counter had boarding passes already printed and laid out on the counter. I gave him my ID and he was like “Mr XX, we’ve been expecting you.”
At boarding an hour later, the same man was there to pre-board me and a few other GS. He walked us onto the plane and made sure we got our bags in and PDBs and all.
Aug 21, 2019, 2:21 pm
#1134
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: 3,614
I’ve used GS in SEA a few times, and, wow, the service was on another level than SFO.
On my last visit, the man at the GS counter had boarding passes already printed and laid out on the counter. I gave him my ID and he was like “Mr XX, we’ve been expecting you.”
At boarding an hour later, the same man was there to pre-board me and a few other GS. He walked us onto the plane and made sure we got our bags in and PDBs and all.
On my last visit, the man at the GS counter had boarding passes already printed and laid out on the counter. I gave him my ID and he was like “Mr XX, we’ve been expecting you.”
At boarding an hour later, the same man was there to pre-board me and a few other GS. He walked us onto the plane and made sure we got our bags in and PDBs and all.
As far as CLEAR I found out about the benifit for GS/1K here at FT and just signed up for it. Being GS/TSA PRE I have now only used it twice and found it to be basically no time saving for me (YMMV) but it is nice to have as I am sure it will eventually come in handy. Not sure I would pay (what is it now $148) for it.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:03 pm
#1135
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SF/OC
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
I just booked a BOS>EWR>SFO leg in first/business with a connection time of 33 minutes in EWR. Is this doable without a tarmac transfer? I don't fly through Newark much. Am I pretty much guaranteed a tarmac transfer??
I couldn't stomach the nearly $2k+ "surcharge" for the non-stop option this time around.
I couldn't stomach the nearly $2k+ "surcharge" for the non-stop option this time around.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:13 pm
#1136
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 just booked a BOS>EWR>SFO leg in first/business with a connection time of 33 minutes in EWR. Is this doable without a tarmac transfer? I don't fly through Newark much. Am I pretty much guaranteed a tarmac transfer??
I couldn't stomach the nearly $2k+ "surcharge" for the non-stop option this time around.
I couldn't stomach the nearly $2k+ "surcharge" for the non-stop option this time around.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:17 pm
#1137
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SF/OC
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
How do you alert a specific GS office ahead of time? That sounds like a decent plan. I've never actually called a specific branch.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:29 pm
#1138
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
Just call the GS phone line and express your concern. The phone agent can call the airport. So someone will keep an eye on you. But again, no guarantee.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:54 pm
#1139
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SF/OC
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
Gotcha, thanks!