Dec 31, 2021, 11:08 pm
Last edit by: st530
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 [2021]
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.
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):
Most benefits noted below require calling a GS agent:
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 [2021]
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.
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 with fastest pickup times, 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 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.
Most 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. United-operated flights only. Can now be completed online/via the app, in most circumstances.
- 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 for one segment of the itinerary 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, and for one segment in the itinerary, per caveats noted below. 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. (Note: VIP Lounges in NRT and HKG remain closed due to Covid-19; LHR VIP now open.)
- 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 not 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 round trip journey. 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 [2022]
Jul 3, 2022, 2:48 pm
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,057
Was listed as 1,2,3 on the polaris upgrade list in the app from Y fare for myself and my family with 2 seats open applying plus points on an international flight last week. GS phone agent day before confirmed were were 1-3. GS agent in DEN calls me on my phone at the gate (rather than the overhead?) while boarding- so i walk up to the desk and ask why she was calling. They upgraded the 2 people at 5,6 to the last 2 polaris seats. She said i wasnt eligible to upgrade from economy to polaris. I indicated that wasnt true and showed i had applied 40pts for each and that were were first on the list in the app. She then said the other passengers were O class and should be upgraded before me since they were in Premium plus…but they were 1k. So, either upgrade list was wrong, prior GS phone agent was wrong, or the gate agent was wrong? The pinned thread seems to indicate GS would be upgraded using plus points over a 1k OAR (upgrade list in app seemed to confirm this)
Jul 3, 2022, 6:02 pm
#708
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 230
Was listed as 1,2,3 on the polaris upgrade list in the app from Y fare for myself and my family with 2 seats open applying plus points on an international flight last week. GS phone agent day before confirmed were were 1-3. GS agent in DEN calls me on my phone at the gate (rather than the overhead?) while boarding- so i walk up to the desk and ask why she was calling. They upgraded the 2 people at 5,6 to the last 2 polaris seats. She said i wasnt eligible to upgrade from economy to polaris. I indicated that wasnt true and showed i had applied 40pts for each and that were were first on the list in the app. She then said the other passengers were O class and should be upgraded before me since they were in Premium plus…but they were 1k. So, either upgrade list was wrong, prior GS phone agent was wrong, or the gate agent was wrong? The pinned thread seems to indicate GS would be upgraded using plus points over a 1k OAR (upgrade list in app seemed to confirm this)
Jul 3, 2022, 9:59 pm
#709
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: NW, United
Posts: 5
yes- indicated i didnt think this was the case. That we had applied 40 PP. she then upgraded my wife and sone to premium plus to the 2 vacated seats- but united charges us 40 PP. i emailed to get 20 credited back for each. So- they split the res. Seems a 1k on O fare with PP> GS on Y fare with PP. upgrade list doesnt think so, but agent did.
Jul 4, 2022, 1:17 am
#710
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 489
Just booked a last minute flight 1 day return.
burnt all of my PP previously thinking they would expire 7/31.
I wish UA would of given us a heads up
burnt all of my PP previously thinking they would expire 7/31.
I wish UA would of given us a heads up
Jul 4, 2022, 2:40 am
#711
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
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
*On flights equipped with United Premium Plus, we will process requests to upgrade to business class for customers ticketed in United Premium Plus (fare classes O, A, R) before processing requests for customers ticketed in economy.
Jul 4, 2022, 4:27 am
#712
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,886
My understanding is, anyone on O fare > GS on Y with PP or UG miles. Does not have to be 1K. This is true at least within 24 hours of departure. Some people pointed out that GS still trumps O outside of 24 h because of PN. But at Gate even a nobody on O fare trumps GS Y with any upgrade instruments.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
*On flights equipped with United Premium Plus, we will process requests to upgrade to business class for customers ticketed in United Premium Plus (fare classes O, A, R) before processing requests for customers ticketed in economy.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
*On flights equipped with United Premium Plus, we will process requests to upgrade to business class for customers ticketed in United Premium Plus (fare classes O, A, R) before processing requests for customers ticketed in economy.
Jul 4, 2022, 5:58 am
#713
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 66
Does GS members get a full list of benefits upon receipt of an invitation? The website seems very clear that anyone in PP trumps a GS in Y and that's different from the Wiki on this page BUT the point is only cited to a GS agent.
Does beg the question why the computer prioritized the GS member.
Does beg the question why the computer prioritized the GS member.
Jul 4, 2022, 7:06 am
#714
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
So, like how they have treated lifetime club members, lifetime Silverwings members, lifetime MMers promised annual companion RPUs, and lifetime MMers that were close to earning a lifetime club membership?
Jul 4, 2022, 1:15 pm
#715
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,258
Fair point, though I think that has dinged United a bit. The MM cuts were a bit of a wash. I've been able to share GS status with family members for 10 years, which is arguably a lot more valuable than club membership or RPUs.
Jul 4, 2022, 2:45 pm
#716
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 230
The standard GS policy has always been no matter what they clear above 1Ks (even a GS cpu is above a 1K with PP) the same applies to the premium plus situation. It’s a gate agent who should go off of the computer and not their own mind
Jul 4, 2022, 3:27 pm
#717
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Was listed as 1,2,3 on the polaris upgrade list in the app from Y fare for myself and my family with 2 seats open applying plus points on an international flight last week. GS phone agent day before confirmed were were 1-3. GS agent in DEN calls me on my phone at the gate (rather than the overhead?) while boarding- so i walk up to the desk and ask why she was calling. They upgraded the 2 people at 5,6 to the last 2 polaris seats. She said i wasnt eligible to upgrade from economy to polaris. I indicated that wasnt true and showed i had applied 40pts for each and that were were first on the list in the app. She then said the other passengers were O class and should be upgraded before me since they were in Premium plus…but they were 1k. So, either upgrade list was wrong, prior GS phone agent was wrong, or the gate agent was wrong? The pinned thread seems to indicate GS would be upgraded using plus points over a 1k OAR (upgrade list in app seemed to confirm this)
Does appear that it is all O/A/R of any status that are cleared first before any member in Y.
Jul 4, 2022, 6:46 pm
#718
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,057
Just had this situation that validated this. I waitlisted two family members with no status who were booked in R, then myself on XN+PP. On waitlist, family members were #1 and #2, I was #4, with another traveler #3. Agent said #3 was a GS also on XN that had booked before me. I rebooked in O, reapplied PP, and I went to #1, family members shifted down to #2 and #3. We all cleared at gate. Other GS was cleared into Premium Plus.
Does appear that it is all O/A/R of any status that are cleared first before any member in Y.
Does appear that it is all O/A/R of any status that are cleared first before any member in Y.
Jul 4, 2022, 7:16 pm
#719
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 390
Jul 4, 2022, 8:28 pm
#720
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Does GS members get a full list of benefits upon receipt of an invitation? The website seems very clear that anyone in PP trumps a GS in Y and that's different from the Wiki on this page BUT the point is only cited to a GS agent.
Does beg the question why the computer prioritized the GS member.
Does beg the question why the computer prioritized the GS member.
No, we mainly figure it out by group research here
Basically prior to going under airport/gate control If PN opens up a GS on any upgrade instrument will clear - PERIOD (This has nothing to do with the statement that someone in PE clears before economy - That statement is for battlefield upgrades
Anytime prior to battlefield upgrades if PN opens up the GS will get the upgrade - if you get to the battlefield, then it processes as the statement on the website would lead you to believe - ie O,A,R in PE gets upgrades prior to a GS in Y
If gate agents have been instructed to upgrade main cabin GS ahead of O,A,R I have never seen that - I usually buy at least PE - so I have never been in that situation