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]
Sep 13, 2022, 11:37 am
#1006
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Yes as I mentioned, that's an unintended side effect of extending points. But since they didn't envision that scenario when they developed the PP program, I doubt they developed the software to go through and reclassify someone from PN waitlist to PZ waitlist if the sponsor no longer has GS status, since that situation wasn't really supposed to exist (under the original PP plan the points would have either cleared to PN already or expired)
Sep 13, 2022, 5:25 pm
#1007
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 71
“New” GS Agents
Well, I have now officially joined the ranks of my fellow GS’ers who have experienced the rank incompetence of these “so called” GS agents who on occasion answer the GS line. Just got off the phone with one of these agents. I was within the 24 hour SDC parameters and called to get an earlier flight to IAH for my connecting flight to LHR. I knew 20 seconds into the call where I stood with this lady. I elected to stay with her and experience the full Monty treatment. I had booked a Z fare and there were two empty J seats, one being in the Z bucket…so I was good to go, or so I thought. When she proceeded to tell me the fare difference I interrupted her and said, Ma’am, you know there is no chargeable fare difference in this circumstance. She put me on hold for four minutes. Only to immediately tell me about city pairs and that this was an exception that she could not and would not push. I politely disagree with her and referenced the numerous times that I had done this within the 24 hour parameter. She put me on hold again and upon her return she emphasized that perhaps “other” reps had done this in the past but that she would not be among their ranks. She then proceeded to tell me the fare difference for changing my short, typically 37 minute flight to Houston. $1750 was needed before she would make the change. I politely refused and indicated this call was over. She then proceeded to lecture me about City pairs and making changes to that holy grail of protocols. Since I refused the upcharge, I inquired about my reservation and had she made any changes. She had and it took a good three minutes for her to restore it. The sheer incompetence of this lady was mind boggling. And the utter gall to lecture me was unbelievable. Call was 37 minutes in duration. I immediately called my local United Club and in less than two minutes my flight was changed and my seat assignment done. Amazing experience. Never again. I could have HUCA’d…next time I will.
Sep 13, 2022, 6:43 pm
#1008
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Sep 13, 2022, 9:20 pm
#1009
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: 1,052
Well, I have now officially joined the ranks of my fellow GS’ers who have experienced the rank incompetence of these “so called” GS agents who on occasion answer the GS line. Just got off the phone with one of these agents. I was within the 24 hour SDC parameters and called to get an earlier flight to IAH for my connecting flight to LHR. I knew 20 seconds into the call where I stood with this lady. I elected to stay with her and experience the full Monty treatment. I had booked a Z fare and there were two empty J seats, one being in the Z bucket…so I was good to go, or so I thought. When she proceeded to tell me the fare difference I interrupted her and said, Ma’am, you know there is no chargeable fare difference in this circumstance. She put me on hold for four minutes. Only to immediately tell me about city pairs and that this was an exception that she could not and would not push. I politely disagree with her and referenced the numerous times that I had done this within the 24 hour parameter. She put me on hold again and upon her return she emphasized that perhaps “other” reps had done this in the past but that she would not be among their ranks. She then proceeded to tell me the fare difference for changing my short, typically 37 minute flight to Houston. $1750 was needed before she would make the change. I politely refused and indicated this call was over. She then proceeded to lecture me about City pairs and making changes to that holy grail of protocols. Since I refused the upcharge, I inquired about my reservation and had she made any changes. She had and it took a good three minutes for her to restore it. The sheer incompetence of this lady was mind boggling. And the utter gall to lecture me was unbelievable. Call was 37 minutes in duration. I immediately called my local United Club and in less than two minutes my flight was changed and my seat assignment done. Amazing experience. Never again. I could have HUCA’d…next time I will.
As I'll continue to shout from the rooftops, it doesn't have to be this way. I continue to find the customer service experience for CKs on AA to be truly amazing. I just get to talk to a human who will do anything within reason to effectuate what I want to happen. Their route network isn't as good, their labor issues are going to be worse, but man-oh-man do they have the HVF thing figured out right now.
Sep 13, 2022, 9:24 pm
#1010
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA 1k (12 year fallen GS) 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,289
I have realized that I've been hoodwinked, I focused on attaining and maintaining GS status for the sake or irrops help and I find myself dreading the prospect of interacting with a help desk employee. I'm a sucker. Airlines are famous for poor customer service experiences with byzantine explanations but the fact that I now expect a horrific experience when I ask for the smallest (within the rules) accommodation is just remarkable.
As I'll continue to shout from the rooftops, it doesn't have to be this way. I continue to find the customer service experience for CKs on AA to be truly amazing. I just get to talk to a human who will do anything within reason to effectuate what I want to happen. Their route network isn't as good, their labor issues are going to be worse, but man-oh-man do they have the HVF thing figured out right now.
As I'll continue to shout from the rooftops, it doesn't have to be this way. I continue to find the customer service experience for CKs on AA to be truly amazing. I just get to talk to a human who will do anything within reason to effectuate what I want to happen. Their route network isn't as good, their labor issues are going to be worse, but man-oh-man do they have the HVF thing figured out right now.
Sep 13, 2022, 9:29 pm
#1011
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: 1,052
Sep 13, 2022, 10:12 pm
#1012
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, UA 2MM, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,800
Well, I have now officially joined the ranks of my fellow GS’ers who have experienced the rank incompetence of these “so called” GS agents who on occasion answer the GS line. Just got off the phone with one of these agents. I was within the 24 hour SDC parameters and called to get an earlier flight to IAH for my connecting flight to LHR. I knew 20 seconds into the call where I stood with this lady. I elected to stay with her and experience the full Monty treatment. I had booked a Z fare and there were two empty J seats, one being in the Z bucket…so I was good to go, or so I thought. When she proceeded to tell me the fare difference I interrupted her and said, Ma’am, you know there is no chargeable fare difference in this circumstance. She put me on hold for four minutes. Only to immediately tell me about city pairs and that this was an exception that she could not and would not push. I politely disagree with her and referenced the numerous times that I had done this within the 24 hour parameter. She put me on hold again and upon her return she emphasized that perhaps “other” reps had done this in the past but that she would not be among their ranks. She then proceeded to tell me the fare difference for changing my short, typically 37 minute flight to Houston. $1750 was needed before she would make the change. I politely refused and indicated this call was over. She then proceeded to lecture me about City pairs and making changes to that holy grail of protocols. Since I refused the upcharge, I inquired about my reservation and had she made any changes. She had and it took a good three minutes for her to restore it. The sheer incompetence of this lady was mind boggling. And the utter gall to lecture me was unbelievable. Call was 37 minutes in duration. I immediately called my local United Club and in less than two minutes my flight was changed and my seat assignment done. Amazing experience. Never again. I could have HUCA’d…next time I will.
Sep 13, 2022, 11:05 pm
#1013
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: 1,052
I had the same agent or her clone last week. Mid-con, within 24 hours, SDC into the same fare bucket, multiple seats left for sale and was told that it was $780 to change to the earlier flight. Multiple holds, multiple no's, pricing is dynamic explanation (?) and then a long uncomfortable silence while she undid everything she'd already done. Waste of 30 min.
Now, unless I can do it in the app I assume its impossible. GS is totally worthless.
Sep 14, 2022, 8:37 am
#1014
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,498
Any recent Welcome Lounge experiences? I notice the Wiki still says must show physical GS card, but those haven't been around for awhile, so I assume they're now accepting the virtual card on the app?
Sep 14, 2022, 8:56 am
#1015
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: 4,670
I hang right up and pray I don't get the same agent again. Or I DM United on Twitter, where I now often get better service (albeit slower) than the GS line.
Sep 14, 2022, 10:21 am
#1016
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K | Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 459
While LH (but even more so Swiss) used to be terrible about proof of the right status to access lounges, for all of my travel over the past 3-4 years, their lounges have all correctly identified my privileges simply by scanning my boarding pass.
Sep 14, 2022, 12:16 pm
#1017
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,092
Sep 14, 2022, 2:21 pm
#1018
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: 4,388
For the first time in memory, there was a GS agent at my departing flight from IAD (to BOS) today. She said there were seven (!) GS on the flight.
Sep 14, 2022, 2:26 pm
#1019
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Think there will be fewer GS a year from now? Or will GS be but a memory? It is asad shell of what it once was. Everything is like pulling teeth
Sep 14, 2022, 3:39 pm
#1020
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: 4,670
UA can't even spare a shiny membership card like their competitors manage to do.