Dec 31, 2019, 7:53 am
Last edit by: wxguy
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.
Last year's thread, Consolidated Global Services Thread - Qualifications, Benefits and Q & A [2019]
Thread on 2020 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2020 Global Services Qualification Discussion
Known facts concerning qualification and eligibility from United:
Thread on 2020 Global Services Notifications
Thread on 2020 Global Services Qualification Discussion
Known facts concerning qualification and eligibility from United:
Quote:
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.
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 (PlusPoints or miles) 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)
- Effective January 2021, GS members who do not have a United Club membership may access United Clubs on domestic itineraries, but no guests are permitted.
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 PlusPoints 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 (miles/co-pay or PlusPoints) 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 (PlusPoints or miles) 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
- According to GS Customer Service, a GS on a paid coach fare using an instrument will clear into Polaris business before a lower-status passenger with a paid PremiumPlus fare (i.e. O, A, R). In other words, for example, a paid O, A, R for a 1K will got give higher priority than a GS with a W fare if both are using 40 PlusPoints. This is true even on the gate waitlist.
- Post 12/12/2019, agents have been instructed that they can only grant a companion exception for one segment per ticket. Thus, if you have a roundtrip premium fare, they will only open saver space, or force an upgrade, for one segment. This means you must either waitlist (if upgrading) or use a standard award, for the remaining segments.
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2020]
Jan 8, 2020, 11:53 pm
#61
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
My +Pts account seems frozen. I completed a trip with a confirmed upgrade of 40 +Pts two days ago, but my +Pts account still says I have this 40 points under "requested".
Jan 9, 2020, 1:34 am
#63
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
Jan 9, 2020, 5:51 am
#64
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4
Another data point on 2.5K miles "surcharge" on exchanging award ticket.
I have a SFO-Syd RT ticket of XN (80K miles) upgraded to PN with 80 MileagePlus Points.
7 days before the trip: I changed the outbound flight from SFO-SYD to SFO-MEL; GS representative changed in 2 min. expert knowledge and efficient.
5 days before returning trip: I called in to change the returning flight to the same flight on a day early, website showing XN and PN available. This time, GS help line asked to pull additional 2.5K award miles per ticket, citing that the current system uses dynamic pricing and there is no longer "saver award".
I felt that United has provided great GS benefit already, so I did not hang up and dial again for the extra 2.5K/ticket. But the experience really highlighted new inconsistency in implementing policy when it comes to award ticket changes.
I have a SFO-Syd RT ticket of XN (80K miles) upgraded to PN with 80 MileagePlus Points.
7 days before the trip: I changed the outbound flight from SFO-SYD to SFO-MEL; GS representative changed in 2 min. expert knowledge and efficient.
5 days before returning trip: I called in to change the returning flight to the same flight on a day early, website showing XN and PN available. This time, GS help line asked to pull additional 2.5K award miles per ticket, citing that the current system uses dynamic pricing and there is no longer "saver award".
I felt that United has provided great GS benefit already, so I did not hang up and dial again for the extra 2.5K/ticket. But the experience really highlighted new inconsistency in implementing policy when it comes to award ticket changes.
Jan 9, 2020, 8:06 am
#65
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Just got off with the GS desk and the agent said there was 100% a policy change and it's now one saver per PNR on one segment of that PNR only. I asked about booking two one ways to Europe for example, and specifically said that to me it felt like gaming the system, and she replied that it wasn't an issue and that she would help me do so if I wanted to book that travel.
This has gotten very troubling.
This has gotten very troubling.
Jan 9, 2020, 8:08 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Just got off with the GS desk and the agent said there was 100% a policy change and it's now one saver per PNR on one segment of that PNR only. I asked about booking two one ways to Europe for example, and specifically said that to me it felt like gaming the system, and she replied that it wasn't an issue and that she would help me do so if I wanted to book that travel.
This has gotten very troubling.
This has gotten very troubling.
Jan 9, 2020, 8:18 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
I did mention to the agent, who was quite nice, to pass my concerns along to the supervisor she put me on hold to speak with but I do feel a separate email to GS is warranted at this point. The best benefit of GS has been changed.
Jan 9, 2020, 8:36 am
#68
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Here is my email to GS:
Hi,
I am writing to express my disappointment in what some agents have told me is a recent policy change. I am receiving an inconsistent message, so it is unclear if true, but if it is, it severely diminishes what is one of the benefits that most drives the value for me as a 4-year Global Services member.
Some agents have told me that I am no longer entitled to roundtrip reduced price award space, or to upgrade a companion in both directions, when I have purchased a premium cabin fare. The ability to place a companion in the same class of service as me has significantly driven my revenue spend with United. I already travel a lot for business (around XXXX per year, mostly international business). But I went from using mostly award points for my personal travel to much more frequently purchasing business or first class travel and then upgrading or opening award space for a companion. If I am only able to do this in one direction then it will no longer make sense for me to do this at all; I'm not willing to travel in a separate cabin than my companion, so I would just travel in economy or not at all.
My business and personal travel is purely driven by loyalty to United. I steer my travel to where United travels and take alternate routing to stay on United metal. I urge you to reconsider this change and restore the benefit that I value a great deal, or clarify that agents have misunderstood and the change is not true.
Thank you,
Hi,
I am writing to express my disappointment in what some agents have told me is a recent policy change. I am receiving an inconsistent message, so it is unclear if true, but if it is, it severely diminishes what is one of the benefits that most drives the value for me as a 4-year Global Services member.
Some agents have told me that I am no longer entitled to roundtrip reduced price award space, or to upgrade a companion in both directions, when I have purchased a premium cabin fare. The ability to place a companion in the same class of service as me has significantly driven my revenue spend with United. I already travel a lot for business (around XXXX per year, mostly international business). But I went from using mostly award points for my personal travel to much more frequently purchasing business or first class travel and then upgrading or opening award space for a companion. If I am only able to do this in one direction then it will no longer make sense for me to do this at all; I'm not willing to travel in a separate cabin than my companion, so I would just travel in economy or not at all.
My business and personal travel is purely driven by loyalty to United. I steer my travel to where United travels and take alternate routing to stay on United metal. I urge you to reconsider this change and restore the benefit that I value a great deal, or clarify that agents have misunderstood and the change is not true.
Thank you,
Jan 9, 2020, 10:53 am
#70
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 18
Jan 9, 2020, 12:38 pm
#72
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 459
Agree that this is an extreme devaluation of the benefits... I'm not sure why United decided to do this. Maybe because they're letting in more people into GS (based on the other thread where people below $50k PQD are qualifying for the first time)? Is there no United rep that scrolls through these threads?
Jan 9, 2020, 1:01 pm
#73
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Anyone get a platinum status challenge from AA today?
Jan 9, 2020, 1:19 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Here is my email to GS:
Hi,
I am writing to express my disappointment in what some agents have told me is a recent policy change. I am receiving an inconsistent message, so it is unclear if true, but if it is, it severely diminishes what is one of the benefits that most drives the value for me as a 4-year Global Services member.
Some agents have told me that I am no longer entitled to roundtrip reduced price award space, or to upgrade a companion in both directions, when I have purchased a premium cabin fare. The ability to place a companion in the same class of service as me has significantly driven my revenue spend with United. I already travel a lot for business (around XXXX per year, mostly international business). But I went from using mostly award points for my personal travel to much more frequently purchasing business or first class travel and then upgrading or opening award space for a companion. If I am only able to do this in one direction then it will no longer make sense for me to do this at all; I'm not willing to travel in a separate cabin than my companion, so I would just travel in economy or not at all.
My business and personal travel is purely driven by loyalty to United. I steer my travel to where United travels and take alternate routing to stay on United metal. I urge you to reconsider this change and restore the benefit that I value a great deal, or clarify that agents have misunderstood and the change is not true.
Thank you,
Hi,
I am writing to express my disappointment in what some agents have told me is a recent policy change. I am receiving an inconsistent message, so it is unclear if true, but if it is, it severely diminishes what is one of the benefits that most drives the value for me as a 4-year Global Services member.
Some agents have told me that I am no longer entitled to roundtrip reduced price award space, or to upgrade a companion in both directions, when I have purchased a premium cabin fare. The ability to place a companion in the same class of service as me has significantly driven my revenue spend with United. I already travel a lot for business (around XXXX per year, mostly international business). But I went from using mostly award points for my personal travel to much more frequently purchasing business or first class travel and then upgrading or opening award space for a companion. If I am only able to do this in one direction then it will no longer make sense for me to do this at all; I'm not willing to travel in a separate cabin than my companion, so I would just travel in economy or not at all.
My business and personal travel is purely driven by loyalty to United. I steer my travel to where United travels and take alternate routing to stay on United metal. I urge you to reconsider this change and restore the benefit that I value a great deal, or clarify that agents have misunderstood and the change is not true.
Thank you,
villox,
I am very sorry to hear of your disappointment in our recent policy change and I apologize for any convenience our new policies cause you.
I sincerely apologize for the impact this change has on the way you will travel. I will be sure to file your complaint and send your comments on to our Global Services Management team so the understand how our members are feeling.
If you have questions and need clarification, I would recommend that you contact the designated Global Services number at XXX-XXX-XXXX. If the agent is unable to assist or you feel they are advising you incorrectly, please ask to speak to a lead agent. They are the experts and will be able to answer all of your questions.
As a Global Services member we absolutely appreciate your business and loyalty, and we always want to be your airline of choice.
Kind Regards,
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 9, 2020 at 1:40 pm Reason: FT policy is not to publish non-public, restricted contact information, such as elite access telephone numbers
Jan 9, 2020, 3:24 pm
#75
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
Just got off with the GS desk and the agent said there was 100% a policy change and it's now one saver per PNR on one segment of that PNR only. I asked about booking two one ways to Europe for example, and specifically said that to me it felt like gaming the system, and she replied that it wasn't an issue and that she would help me do so if I wanted to book that travel.
This has gotten very troubling.
This has gotten very troubling.
Called to book myself round trip in first, had no problem opening up saver biz both ways round trip for my wife. Asked about a change to that program, agent said she had heard that it is not a new policy, rather an artifact of the change that hadn’t been smoothed out yet.