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]
#1
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: 4,316
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2022]
Hello GSers and all with interest... and happy new year! Here's the 2022 thread continued from the 2021 thread.

#2
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
I flew back from LHR yesterday pm with my wife and son , although the airport was not super busy the checkin was a little chaotic, due to a missing sign the GS checkin was not visible so I just jumped in the regular Polaris line , after a few minutes in there we were fished out by a GS gent who checked us in and on the way scolded the passport checker for not paying enough attention. We checked into the lounge, both agents were talking on the phone so we scanned in , personally I think this is rude whatever your status.The flight crew were excellent engaging and made a big deal of my multi mm and G S status.At the end of the flight the purser gave me her card with an appreciation note on the back. She also apologized for the food quality which was truly awful and would rank amongst the worst I have ever had in any class on my travels,I have been traveling heavily in the past weeks international and domestic ,with odd exception there are are a lot more thank you for your business comments being handed out than I can recall in the past

#3
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,590
I flew back from LHR yesterday pm with my wife and son , although the airport was not super busy the checkin was a little chaotic, due to a missing sign the GS checkin was not visible so I just jumped in the regular Polaris line , after a few minutes in there we were fished out by a GS gent who checked us in and on the way scolded the passport checker for not paying enough attention. We checked into the lounge, both agents were talking on the phone so we scanned in , personally I think this is rude whatever your status.The flight crew were excellent engaging and made a big deal of my multi mm and G S status.At the end of the flight the purser gave me her card with an appreciation note on the back. She also apologized for the food quality which was truly awful and would rank amongst the worst I have ever had in any class on my travels,I have been traveling heavily in the past weeks international and domestic ,with odd exception there are are a lot more thank you for your business comments being handed out than I can recall in the past
Too bad Door Dash does not deliver T/A

#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,402
I flew back from LHR yesterday pm with my wife and son , although the airport was not super busy the checkin was a little chaotic, due to a missing sign the GS checkin was not visible so I just jumped in the regular Polaris line , after a few minutes in there we were fished out by a GS gent who checked us in and on the way scolded the passport checker for not paying enough attention. We checked into the lounge, both agents were talking on the phone so we scanned in , personally I think this is rude whatever your status.The flight crew were excellent engaging and made a big deal of my multi mm and G S status.At the end of the flight the purser gave me her card with an appreciation note on the back. She also apologized for the food quality which was truly awful and would rank amongst the worst I have ever had in any class on my travels,I have been traveling heavily in the past weeks international and domestic ,with odd exception there are are a lot more thank you for your business comments being handed out than I can recall in the past

#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,382
I jumped from Polaris line to Premier line at LHR a couple of days ago because it made sense to do so. Finished checking my bag before about 5-6 people in the Polaris/1K line that were ahead of me - but they had the privilege of standing in the Polaris line and they were going to see it through
The Premier line is one desk over from the left-most Polaris/1K desk, so easy to compare lines.

Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 2, 22 at 7:05 pm

#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 357
Is an award ticket eligible for CPU if not booked with chase CC ?

#7
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,941

#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United Global Services and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 9,955
Is this still true?
On upgrade list, a non-status pax supported by GS PP is ranked ahead of 1K supported by 1K PP?
On upgrade list, a non-status pax supported by GS PP is ranked ahead of 1K supported by 1K PP?

#10
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,774

#12
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: UA GS, MR TE, HH Diamond, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, National EE, Avis PC
Posts: 127
I can confirm this is true. I applied my PPs for my kids (both silver) who were on the same flight and they were immediately pulled up to #1 and #2 in the waitlist for a EWR-SFO transcon we took in November. Granted they are both silver but I would imagine the same would have happened if they were general members.

#13
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,285

#14
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA GS, AA ExP
Posts: 118

This is my boarding pass from an international flight a few weeks ago. While pre boarding wasn't an issue, I was just surprised to see boarding group 2 printed on the boarding pass.
I also had a bizzare experience while checking in. At the Airport they did have a dedicated counter for GS check in, but the ground agent simply refused to let me go use the counter, even after me saying multiple times that I was a GS ( his rationale because others ( premier members) are in line ( for premium check in, not GS). Anyhow, I went checked in and then ask the person behind the counter why I was allowed to use the GS counter and she was surprised to hear that. I asked for the station manager, who came within few minutes, profusely apologized for this ground agents behavior. He worked as a contractor, so the station manager summoned the contract companies supervisor to come talk with me. By then I was running late so just asked the station manager to reinforce the training for the ground agents.
Last edited by akhibhag; Jan 5, 22 at 11:28 am

#15
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York City
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 357

This is my boarding pass from an international flight a few weeks ago. While pre boarding wasn't an issue, I was just surprised to see boarding group 2 printed on the boarding pass.
I also had a bizzare experience while checking in. At the Airport they did have a dedicated counter for GS check in, but the ground agent simply refused to let me go use the counter, even after me saying multiple times that I was a GS ( his rationale because others ( premier members) are in line ( for premium check in, not GS). Anyhow, I went checked in and then ask the person behind the counter why I was allowed to use the GS counter and she was surprised to hear that. I asked for the station manager, who came within few minutes, profusely apologized for this ground agents behavior. He worked as a contractor, so the station manager summoned the contract companies supervisor to come talk with me. By then I was running late so just asked the station manager to reinforce the training for the ground agents.
