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
Apr 6, 2020, 1:37 pm
#1111
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 459
The GS team replied to me this morning about the status extension and said only that it remains an invite only program and at this time they are NOT extending status but are reviewing future qualification options.
The annoying thing for GS in particular is that they typically soft land you to 1K anyway if you don't make GS again. So essentially all regular Premier members are getting an olive branch, whereas possibly GS folks will be getting status quo treatment. I don't consider reducing qualification criteria (especially if they remain unpublished) to be an olive branch because you're essentially just pro-rating by the "flyable" months in the year (and 50% is liberal based on the economic outlook and likely corporate flying restrictions).
We'll see if they end up doing something in the middle where they give challenges out more widely to keep GS or make the criteria for re-qual more transparent to allow people to try to hit a marker. Don't want to say it's so straightforward as just extending status but I do wonder what the trade off really is in terms of cost to serve GS vs. good will from more broadly extending it. It's hard to predict which customers who have revenue completely fall off this year, will continue to not fly next year vs. resume travel patterns.
The annoying thing for GS in particular is that they typically soft land you to 1K anyway if you don't make GS again. So essentially all regular Premier members are getting an olive branch, whereas possibly GS folks will be getting status quo treatment. I don't consider reducing qualification criteria (especially if they remain unpublished) to be an olive branch because you're essentially just pro-rating by the "flyable" months in the year (and 50% is liberal based on the economic outlook and likely corporate flying restrictions).
We'll see if they end up doing something in the middle where they give challenges out more widely to keep GS or make the criteria for re-qual more transparent to allow people to try to hit a marker. Don't want to say it's so straightforward as just extending status but I do wonder what the trade off really is in terms of cost to serve GS vs. good will from more broadly extending it. It's hard to predict which customers who have revenue completely fall off this year, will continue to not fly next year vs. resume travel patterns.
Apr 6, 2020, 1:46 pm
#1112
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
The GS team replied to me this morning about the status extension and said only that it remains an invite only program and at this time they are NOT extending status but are reviewing future qualification options.
The annoying thing for GS in particular is that they typically soft land you to 1K anyway if you don't make GS again. So essentially all regular Premier members are getting an olive branch, whereas possibly GS folks will be getting status quo treatment. I don't consider reducing qualification criteria (especially if they remain unpublished) to be an olive branch because you're essentially just pro-rating by the "flyable" months in the year (and 50% is liberal based on the economic outlook and likely corporate flying restrictions).
We'll see if they end up doing something in the middle where they give challenges out more widely to keep GS or make the criteria for re-qual more transparent to allow people to try to hit a marker. Don't want to say it's so straightforward as just extending status but I do wonder what the trade off really is in terms of cost to serve GS vs. good will from more broadly extending it. It's hard to predict which customers who have revenue completely fall off this year, will continue to not fly next year vs. resume travel patterns.
The annoying thing for GS in particular is that they typically soft land you to 1K anyway if you don't make GS again. So essentially all regular Premier members are getting an olive branch, whereas possibly GS folks will be getting status quo treatment. I don't consider reducing qualification criteria (especially if they remain unpublished) to be an olive branch because you're essentially just pro-rating by the "flyable" months in the year (and 50% is liberal based on the economic outlook and likely corporate flying restrictions).
We'll see if they end up doing something in the middle where they give challenges out more widely to keep GS or make the criteria for re-qual more transparent to allow people to try to hit a marker. Don't want to say it's so straightforward as just extending status but I do wonder what the trade off really is in terms of cost to serve GS vs. good will from more broadly extending it. It's hard to predict which customers who have revenue completely fall off this year, will continue to not fly next year vs. resume travel patterns.
i can’t imagine they will want to dispel the mystery of gs by introducing some sort of bonus or threshold or who knows what related to it. So they are left with either a do over for everybody next year or just playing coy and business as usual with what must be some reduced threshold come December.
If they only reward those who fly UA no matter what and blindly go to the end of the year hoping they make some reduced threshold, I don’t think the GS program can be driving incremental revenue. And isn’t that ultimately the point of all of this for them?
Or maybe they think that most of their GS customer are just shuffling through life not really aware of the program details. But then why have it?
Last edited by Boghopper; Apr 6, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Apr 6, 2020, 1:55 pm
#1113
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
say there are 25,000 GSs and the average spend is $100,000 for that 25,000 (very generous numbers) -- that is $2.5B -- 6% of UA annual revenues ($43B in 2019). Since some of those GS are companions / corporate selections / .... the number is probably below 5%. You would need to be $0.5M/GS to get to 30%
Note it is of similar magnitude, perhaps a tad higher the 1K community revenue.
Apr 6, 2020, 1:58 pm
#1114
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
You are an order of magnitude off
say there are 25,000 GSs and the average spend is $100,000 for that 25,000 (very generous numbers) -- that is $2.5B -- 6% of UA annual revenues ($43B in 2019). Since some of those GS are companions / corporate selections / .... the number is probably below 5%. Note it is of similiar magnitude, perhaps a tad higher the 1K community revenue.
say there are 25,000 GSs and the average spend is $100,000 for that 25,000 (very generous numbers) -- that is $2.5B -- 6% of UA annual revenues ($43B in 2019). Since some of those GS are companions / corporate selections / .... the number is probably below 5%. Note it is of similiar magnitude, perhaps a tad higher the 1K community revenue.
Apr 6, 2020, 2:06 pm
#1115
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indiana
Programs: United GS 1.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 533
i think that a big issue here is that a lot of us GS are corporate travelers that may or may not have discretion on who we travel. I for one do and with a stupid decision like that, i will book outside UA for the rest of 2020 at least and wait and see myself. The quicker i get clarity, the quicker i can decide, this decision they have made has allowed me to look else where for now. Time to email for some status matching.
Apr 6, 2020, 2:23 pm
#1116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
I know this is not an apple to apple comparison:
SQ was able to grant blanket extension to both Krisflyer and PPS members status at the same time in a same announcement.
PPS is a revenue based program but unlike GS, the $ is published. I don’t have to spend another penny to keep my PPS for another year. I thought this move by SQ did demonstrate its appreciation and loyalty to its high revenue passengers. I, for one, will shift my bookings to SQ on many of my flights where other *A airlines compete with SQ.
SQ was able to grant blanket extension to both Krisflyer and PPS members status at the same time in a same announcement.
PPS is a revenue based program but unlike GS, the $ is published. I don’t have to spend another penny to keep my PPS for another year. I thought this move by SQ did demonstrate its appreciation and loyalty to its high revenue passengers. I, for one, will shift my bookings to SQ on many of my flights where other *A airlines compete with SQ.
Apr 6, 2020, 2:29 pm
#1117
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Global Services 1MM,, AA Exec Plat. Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 606
Under my "My Premier Activity" page on united.com, it says "We will review 2021 United Global Services invitations at year-end."
While I understand the intent of not wanting to just do a blanket GS status extension, the recent UA status extension announcements do appear to favor Silver through 1K members. If you spent $50K in 2019 to qualify for 2020 GS, but didn't get to experience the benefits because flying has been practically non-existent, it does not seem to be fair to not extend GS for 2021. In my book, this is a "do over year", United should treat it from a loyalty perspective as though it didn't even exist.
While I understand the intent of not wanting to just do a blanket GS status extension, the recent UA status extension announcements do appear to favor Silver through 1K members. If you spent $50K in 2019 to qualify for 2020 GS, but didn't get to experience the benefits because flying has been practically non-existent, it does not seem to be fair to not extend GS for 2021. In my book, this is a "do over year", United should treat it from a loyalty perspective as though it didn't even exist.
Apr 6, 2020, 2:51 pm
#1118
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 459
i think that a big issue here is that a lot of us GS are corporate travelers that may or may not have discretion on who we travel. I for one do and with a stupid decision like that, i will book outside UA for the rest of 2020 at least and wait and see myself. The quicker i get clarity, the quicker i can decide, this decision they have made has allowed me to look else where for now. Time to email for some status matching.
Apr 6, 2020, 2:53 pm
#1119
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: United 1MM, Marriott Titanium (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 320
Apr 6, 2020, 3:03 pm
#1120
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: 5280 feet
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 674
in fairness, they do try to keep the size of the GS customer base manageable. So simply extending all those who are GS this year automatically, without some form of review at the end of the year, ensures that they will add a bunch of new quals at the end of the year while keeping the existing, which makes GS status that much less unique. How else do you reward those who quality for 2021 based on 2020 miles?
Apr 6, 2020, 3:27 pm
#1121
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
in fairness, they do try to keep the size of the GS customer base manageable. So simply extending all those who are GS this year automatically, without some form of review at the end of the year, ensures that they will add a bunch of new quals at the end of the year while keeping the existing, which makes GS status that much less unique. How else do you reward those who quality for 2021 based on 2020 miles?
given the special circumstances, I think the last year or two is a better indicator of their best customers than whatever ends up happening this year.
and if they overshoot it will be back to business as usual soon enough. And god forbid they give gs for a year to a few who “only” buy 20k or whatever. That’s end of the world stuff right there.
Apr 6, 2020, 4:40 pm
#1122
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: 3,621
Given the above I feel bad for those that finally achieved GS status this year only to find out they won't get renewed automatically into 2022. I wouldn't be happy, seems like you would have had limited use of your status in 2021 for sure.
Apr 6, 2020, 5:02 pm
#1123
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Appears none of the US3 have made any decisions yet about their invitation levels.
Apr 6, 2020, 5:23 pm
#1124
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 459
Frustrating nonetheless, but I get it. I have friends at United and other travel companies and don't envy the position they're in - for those that aren't furloughed, working like crazy to keep the ship afloat, terrible morale, reduced compensation in some cases.
Apr 6, 2020, 6:08 pm
#1125
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
I had an email exchange with GS today where I suggested "say something" to the current GS members even if the something is -- "we don't know what we're going to do; please be patient".
Their reply to my email was only "We plan on providing more information on the 2021 Global Services program later in the year."
Their reply to my email was only "We plan on providing more information on the 2021 Global Services program later in the year."