Aug 3, 2019, 1:19 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
GS Qualifying for 2020 Discussion
This will be a discussion thread, for discussing the needed qualifications and timing of notification.
2019 GS Timeline:
- First requalification notifications came out on 6 Dec 2018
- First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
- Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
- Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
- First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
If you have received notification about your 2020 GS status, please post in
Global Services 2020 Notifications (ONLY) -- "no discussion" (and as title suggests, this is just for notifications, use this thread for discussions / queries
and
Form Link to collect this years qualification (or rejection) information
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...rm?usp=sf_link
You can view the results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...rm?usp=sf_link
You can view the results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
To find your PQDs if >than $12K
Go to
MileagePlus activity since my last statement and it is in the "Account summary" table at the top of the page.
Note this is not just the UA operated PQDs (which is commonly believed to be what matters for GS) but rather your total PQDs.
Definitions
BIS is actual scheduled flight distance (Great Circle Mileage Distance -- GCM) between airports with 500 mile minimum for elites. This is the standard used for Lifetime miles also. Those flying mostly sub-500 segments sometimes prefer to not use the minimum rule.
The definition for CPM is a bit vaguer, especially since CPM is used in multiple different situations.
Believe for the purpose of this thread, GS qualification, folks are using
PQD CPM = UA PQDs / UA BIS
Note there is no direct evidence UA uses this CPM number for GS Qualification but it is a number FTers like to use.
As for BIS, UA does not report this number your account and it needs to be manually tracked.
One way is to make use that PQMs are based on BIS but there may be a multiplier / bonus for high end fares. If always in 2x PQMs, you could divide by 2 to get BIS.
Last year's thread
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion / Questions
GS Qualifying for 2020 Discussion / Questions
Jan 7, 2020, 9:36 am
#901
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: United GS, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 37
I was only at 41k PQD (all UA metal) so not terribly optimistic. I do most of my PQMs on paid intl J and I wasn’t able to travel internationally in Q1 last year which brought my PQDs down. My CPM is very high though at c50cpm (c 80k BIS miles and 140k PQM) so that’s probably the only thing I have going for me at this stage. Going to seriously miss it if I don’t requalify (especially upgrading intl saver awards!).
Jan 7, 2020, 10:03 am
#902
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Seeing SFO and EWR first time quals in the high 40s and requals even in the low 40s - can we put to bed the notion that being from a hub is harder yet? Or that qualifying this year in general was harder?
Jan 7, 2020, 10:06 am
#903
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 72
Just checked status and got notification as well. How do I check 2019 stats now that they have been reset on the website? I can post my stats to the other thread to help people.
Jan 7, 2020, 10:33 am
#904
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Jan 7, 2020, 12:40 pm
#905
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,257
The latest round of GS invites lends support to the following principles:
1) ~$50K United metal PQD gets GS regardless of previous years' spend
2) 3-year average > ~$100K lowers the threshold from ~$50K to something lower -- maybe ~$40K
3) "CPM" is irrelevant
Whether home airport plays a role is not so clear. Of course, the rejections will provide a lot more color when they come out.
Here's a smattering of the supporting posts:
CPM is irrelevant:
(My own "CPM" last year was .24; it has been much lower in previous years when I qualified)
More than $50K PQD always gets it
3 yr total > $100K lowers the threshold:
1) ~$50K United metal PQD gets GS regardless of previous years' spend
2) 3-year average > ~$100K lowers the threshold from ~$50K to something lower -- maybe ~$40K
3) "CPM" is irrelevant
Whether home airport plays a role is not so clear. Of course, the rejections will provide a lot more color when they come out.
Here's a smattering of the supporting posts:
CPM is irrelevant:
More than $50K PQD always gets it
Last edited by porciuscato; Jan 7, 2020 at 12:48 pm
Jan 7, 2020, 12:57 pm
#906
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Jan 7, 2020, 1:17 pm
#907
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 15
I'm a 2020 first-timer GS here based out of EWR with $43K PQD for 2019 and a 3 year PQD of only $71K. Almost exclusively business class international to Asia on all UA metal.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:21 pm
#908
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,525
I'd say you're about the "lowest" datapoint we have of acceptance for a new GS - and out of EWR no less, so that should put the hub theory to rest. Were your Asia fares J? C? D? I can't imagine they were Z or P mostly...
Jan 7, 2020, 1:22 pm
#909
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
While some trends may be emerging, small numbers render it nearly impossible to draw any definitive conclusions. Also remember that those on this board make up a tiny, tiny fraction of those getting or not getting GS.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:39 pm
#910
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 15
J: 44,883
C: 49,374
D: 32,916
Z: 29,922
Z (non-UA): 2,349
W: 2,565
T: 2,565
I was VERY surprised when I got the GS status bump. I was not expecting it mostly because I don't have over $100K PQD for the last three years combined. I do have a $14K itinerary in mixed J/C booked later this month which may have helped my case.
Last edited by flynnr; Jan 7, 2020 at 1:40 pm Reason: added clarification on the year
Jan 7, 2020, 2:19 pm
#911
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
Here's a breakdown of my 2019 PQM by fare class (all UA metal unless noted)
J: 44,883
C: 49,374
D: 32,916
Z: 29,922
Z (non-UA): 2,349
W: 2,565
T: 2,565
I was VERY surprised when I got the GS status bump. I was not expecting it mostly because I don't have over $100K PQD for the last three years combined. I do have a $14K itinerary in mixed J/C booked later this month which may have helped my case.
J: 44,883
C: 49,374
D: 32,916
Z: 29,922
Z (non-UA): 2,349
W: 2,565
T: 2,565
I was VERY surprised when I got the GS status bump. I was not expecting it mostly because I don't have over $100K PQD for the last three years combined. I do have a $14K itinerary in mixed J/C booked later this month which may have helped my case.
Jan 7, 2020, 2:21 pm
#912
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,257
OK. "Almost always" gets it. ;-)
It seems like the line might be a little fuzzy too. There have been a number of folks with $48K or $49K who have gotten in.
Right, but you can disprove some blanket statements, particularly negative ones. For example, the statements that you can't qualify without high CPM or ultrahigh PQD from hubs are disproven.
It seems like the line might be a little fuzzy too. There have been a number of folks with $48K or $49K who have gotten in.
Right, but you can disprove some blanket statements, particularly negative ones. For example, the statements that you can't qualify without high CPM or ultrahigh PQD from hubs are disproven.
Last edited by porciuscato; Jan 7, 2020 at 2:27 pm
Jan 7, 2020, 2:30 pm
#913
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: United 1K, AA Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Platinum,
Posts: 7
First-time GS . Is there a link that describes the benefits of GS in more detail? In reading various posts online, it seems like there are many unpublished benefits for GS members, but I don't know where to find a good summary, especially with the move to Points Plus. I haven't received official notification from United about my GS status but it shows up on my app and on the website as such when I log in.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 7, 2020 at 2:35 pm Reason: split post
Jan 7, 2020, 2:38 pm
#914
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
First-time GS . Is there a link that describes the benefits of GS in more detail? In reading various posts online, it seems like there are many unpublished benefits for GS members, but I don't know where to find a good summary, especially with the move to Points Plus. I haven't received official notification from United about my GS status but it shows up on my app and on the website as such when I log in.
and this thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2020]
Split out your qualifications numbers and moved that to Global Services 2020 Notifications (ONLY) -- "no discussion"
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Jan 7, 2020, 2:44 pm
#915
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: United GS, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 97
I’ve been GS for 3 years out of ORD. Below is the qualifying history. For this year I’m likely to finish the year at PQM 183k and PQD $48k. Nervous about requalifying because the PQM are a bit low, and GS is important to me given frequency of travel (2-3 domestic flights almost every week). All travel this year was on UA Metal, and my travel is Corporate, typically fully refundable. Worth doing a ~$1700 mileage run for another ~17k PQM, and get closer to $50k PQD? seat availability is ugly on the mileage run so I’d be on a long 9 hour flight in middle economy - so would rather not if I don’t need to (never mind the $1700). Would you do it?
2017
PQM 222k
PQD 48k
2018
PQM 198k
PQD 39k
2019
PQM 230k
PQD 56k
2017
PQM 222k
PQD 48k
2018
PQM 198k
PQD 39k
2019
PQM 230k
PQD 56k
2020
PQM 200k
PQD $49.6k
... and today learned I requalified for GS. Don’t know if the mileage run really mattered, but I’m glad I spent the $1700 even though I’ve been nervously checking mystatus every day in January.