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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2022]

Old Dec 31, 2021, 11:08 pm
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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):
  • 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.
Additional Known Award and Upgrade Benefits (many unpublished)

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.)
Reported caveats & YMMV situations on unpublished benefits
  • 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.
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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2022]

Old Sep 17, 2022, 2:29 pm
  #1051  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,332
Originally Posted by kj5hp
At $76k PQD and my admin just booked me in J to Singapore and back (two one-ways… need some flexibility for a possible Paris flight to get there) for $32k (around F1 weekend there). Good lord, I don’t know how United can price this way but I guess they can and they will. That puts me at $108k PQD YTD so I’ll just prob fly Qatar/Singapore airlines for the rest of the year unless going to Europe or domestic.
OPM is glorious, isn’t it? I’m just slightly beyond that now - but it is/was wonderful!
limey1K likes this.
tcdtcd is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2022, 5:46 pm
  #1052  
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Originally Posted by kj5hp
At $76k PQD and my admin just booked me in J to Singapore and back (two one-ways… need some flexibility for a possible Paris flight to get there) for $32k (around F1 weekend there). Good lord, I don’t know how United can price this way but I guess they can and they will. That puts me at $108k PQD YTD so I’ll just prob fly Qatar/Singapore airlines for the rest of the year unless going to Europe or domestic.
Originally Posted by tcdtcd
OPM is glorious, isn’t it? I’m just slightly beyond that now - but it is/was wonderful!
That's over one million RDMs and a boat load of PPs.

99.99% of us never have that kind of OPM.

Oh well. Good for you.
kb1992 is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2022, 7:59 pm
  #1053  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, UA 2MM, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,772
Originally Posted by kj5hp
At $76k PQD and my admin just booked me in J to Singapore and back (two one-ways… need some flexibility for a possible Paris flight to get there) for $32k (around F1 weekend there). Good lord, I don’t know how United can price this way but I guess they can and they will. That puts me at $108k PQD YTD so I’ll just prob fly Qatar/Singapore airlines for the rest of the year unless going to Europe or domestic.
I fly 80% OPM but my CEO would frown excessively at anything north of $8-9K anywhere at any time. At $32K, he would most definitely say “Why don’t you Zoom that one instead?” 😁
LAXOGG likes this.
limey1K is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2022, 8:14 pm
  #1054  
 
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: 6,190
Originally Posted by limey1K
I fly 80% OPM but my CEO would frown excessively at anything north of $8-9K anywhere at any time. At $32K, he would most definitely say “Why don’t you Zoom that one instead?” 😁
As a CEO I would NEVER allow that expense for a flight -- especially for myself - there's just no way it is justifiable....
SPN Lifer, kb1992, LAXOGG and 6 others like this.
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Old Sep 17, 2022, 11:32 pm
  #1055  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,850
Originally Posted by FTLexMUC
Hi

is it fair to assume that if I buy a UA metal flight on LH ticket stock (because for some reason a few thousand $ cheaper) I don’t get GS qualification credit even if I credit to UA?

FeM
Originally Posted by telemark27
Correct, you'll get the miles, but no credit toward GS qualification.
When did this change? Didn't it used to be any flight on UA metal credited to MP?
SPN Lifer likes this.
uanj is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2022, 4:35 am
  #1056  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BOS+SFO+SIN
Programs: UA GS 2MM+, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, & Hertz PC
Posts: 110
Originally Posted by uanj
When did this change? Didn't it used to be any flight on UA metal credited to MP?
Boy this is nuanced, and as I read question again, well.... I was responding with regards to the impact on GS qualification. Having done many Lufthansa / UA flights, I recall the LH booked tickets (vs 016 United tickets) won't go toward the mythical PQP/$ spend requirement for GS qualification. Yes, the miles themselves will post over into your account. Hope this helps
telemark27 is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2022, 4:38 am
  #1057  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,837
Originally Posted by telemark27
Boy this is nuanced, and as I read question again, well.... I was responding with regards to the impact on GS qualification. Having done many Lufthansa / UA flights, I recall the LH booked tickets (vs 016 United tickets) won't go toward the mythical PQP/$ spend requirement for GS qualification. Yes, the miles themselves will post over into your account. Hope this helps
016 tickets do not matter at all. All that matters is 'flying UA'
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cfischer is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2022, 7:42 am
  #1058  
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Originally Posted by cfischer
016 tickets do not matter at all. All that matters is 'flying UA'
+1

Originally Posted by telemark27
Correct, you'll get the miles, but no credit toward GS qualification.
Originally Posted by FTLexMUC

is it fair to assume that if I buy a UA metal flight on LH ticket stock (because for some reason a few thousand $ cheaper) I don’t get GS qualification credit even if I credit to UA?
UA metal ticket will count toward GS qualification, regardless which stock
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Old Sep 18, 2022, 7:52 am
  #1059  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,850
Originally Posted by kb1992
+1





UA metal ticket will count toward GS qualification, regardless which stock
At least until the pandemic there were three criteria: paid ticket (not award), flight operated by United or United Express (does not matter which airline issues the ticket), passenger credits the flight to Mileage Plus.
SPN Lifer likes this.
uanj is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2022, 10:40 am
  #1060  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BOS+SFO+SIN
Programs: UA GS 2MM+, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, & Hertz PC
Posts: 110
Originally Posted by kb1992
+1
UA metal ticket will count toward GS qualification, regardless which stock
I stand corrected!

Originally Posted by uanj
At least until the pandemic there were three criteria: paid ticket (not award), flight operated by United or United Express (does not matter which airline issues the ticket), passenger credits the flight to Mileage Plus.
yep, you said it better than I did, this was my understanding as well.
telemark27 is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2022, 5:53 pm
  #1061  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 764
Originally Posted by kj5hp
At $76k PQD and my admin just booked me in J to Singapore and back (two one-ways… need some flexibility for a possible Paris flight to get there) for $32k (around F1 weekend there). Good lord, I don’t know how United can price this way but I guess they can and they will. That puts me at $108k PQD YTD so I’ll just prob fly Qatar/Singapore airlines for the rest of the year unless going to Europe or domestic.
I’m questioning why you didn’t take the $32K and fly Qatar/Singapore THIS time? $76PQD already gets you GS, so why continue suffering?
Dyce is online now  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 6:15 am
  #1062  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,606
Trying to fly out of EWR last night and it was the usual clusterf@ck. Rampway congestion delayed pushback for so long that, if I continued, I would have missed connection. The team at EWR rebooked me on LH tonight. Should that spend still qualify as spend on UA metal. I had zero choice in the selection of LH
manstein58 is online now  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 6:26 am
  #1063  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,820
Yes, you should apply for original routing credit (ORC).
SPN Lifer is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2022, 6:18 am
  #1064  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,633
Originally Posted by Dyce
I’m questioning why you didn’t take the $32K and fly Qatar/Singapore THIS time? $76PQD already gets you GS, so why continue suffering?
Beat me to it!
manstein58 likes this.
kirkwoodj is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2022, 12:25 pm
  #1065  
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: LA,NYC
Programs: AA-EXP 2.8 MM,UA-GS 1.3 MM,DL-PL,HH-DM,LH-SEN,Bonvoy-GL
Posts: 296
Originally Posted by limey1K
As soon as I hear the word supervisor, all my hopes of speaking to a legacy GS agent fly out the window.
same issue here I have for the past three days been trying to take Mrs LAkid as companion even after speaking to a supervisor I get three different answers seems like either the “supervisors “ are clueless of the GS benefit that a companion can come for 1 segment in same class of the GS revenue for saver award pricing or they changed the rules again without notice
Here’s what I got from the different “supervisors” regarding companions
1) need “PZ”
2)book YN then use plus points
3)purchase revenue and use plus points

does anyone know where that line is in the agents manual that I can just say look up line …
lakid is offline  

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