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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2019]

Old Dec 31, 2018, 7:21 am
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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


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.


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)
Additional Known Award and Upgrade Benefits (many unpublished)

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.
Reported caveats & YMMV situations on unpublished benefits




  • 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
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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2019]

Old Dec 31, 2018, 7:18 am
  #1  
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: 4,375
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2019]

Happy 2019 everyone! Time to start the $0 PQD counter clicking up to GS for '19. Here's the 2019 thread continued from the 2018 thread.
wxguy is online now  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:06 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
Looks like companion status for GS haven't been updated yet. Checked the 2019 status of the companion and it says "being updated, please come back 1/1"
twkidM3 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:19 am
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,419
Originally Posted by twkidM3
Looks like companion status for GS haven't been updated yet. Checked the 2019 status of the companion and it says "being updated, please come back 1/1"
In our case both accounts showing showing correct status.
cesco.g is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:44 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by cesco.g
In our case both accounts showing showing correct status.
What about the GPU and RPU that get's put into the account for being lifetime GS?
twkidM3 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:47 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,419
RPU and GPU count shows correct as well.
cesco.g is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:49 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by cesco.g
RPU and GPU count shows correct as well.
Ah.. weird.. I'll give it a day or two before calling mileageplus
twkidM3 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 11:56 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,419
Fyi, I got my RPUs/GPUs by BIS flying/150K+ PQMs, not as part of the 3/4MM benefit.
Maybe you are below the 1K/GS thresholds, but get them as MM member respectively?
cesco.g is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 2:14 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Originally Posted by cesco.g
Fyi, I got my RPUs/GPUs by BIS flying/150K+ PQMs, not as part of the 3/4MM benefit.
Maybe you are below the 1K/GS thresholds, but get them as MM member respectively?
I was under the impression that you have to fly the miles to get the certificates, even if you are 3MM+ ....
jjmoore is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 2:54 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by jjmoore
I was under the impression that you have to fly the miles to get the certificates, even if you are 3MM+ ....
3MM+ will be lifetime 1k. You are granted 6gpu and 2rpu each year even if you don't meet 1k requirements.
twkidM3 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 5:11 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: UA
Posts: 10
This will be my first year as a GS member last year I wasnt even Plat. What should I expect?
dboothmu is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 5:43 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,535
Originally Posted by dboothmu
This will be my first year as a GS member last year I wasnt even Plat. What should I expect?
Definitely read the GS thread on recent experiences and benefits. Priority handling and boarding, better IRROPS handling, better phone service (usually), and special entrances to skip all lines at hubs like IAH and ORD and EWR with GS entrance points that literally let out to the front of the security liines (and with GE/Precheck) even faster processing normally, and special mileage inventory available also, just to name a few.
FlyingHoustonian is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 5:47 pm
  #12  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,567
Originally Posted by twkidM3
3MM+ will be lifetime 1k. You are granted 6gpu and 2rpu each year even if you don't meet 1k requirements.
Slight tweak, you will be award the 2 RPU and 6 GPU at he beginning of the next IF you did not earn otherwise. You don't get the RPUs/GPUs both ways.

Originally Posted by twkidM3
What about the GPU and RPU that get's put into the account for being lifetime GS?
Originally Posted by twkidM3
Ah.. weird.. I'll give it a day or two before calling mileageplus
Not unusual for LT certs to take a week or so to post.
WineCountryUA is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 5:50 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Slight tweak, you will be award the 2 RPU and 6 GPU at he beginning of the next IF you did not earn otherwise. You don't get the RPUs/GPUs both ways.



Not unusual for LT certs to take a week or so to post.
Does the companion also get the certificates or just the MM account holder?
jjmoore is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 6:01 pm
  #14  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,567
Originally Posted by jjmoore
Does the companion also get the certificates ...
No
WineCountryUA is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2019, 6:30 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: UA
Posts: 10
Will do thanks. Not sure I will be traveling so much this year so it might be a one and done.
dboothmu is offline  

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