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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2024]

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Old Dec 31, 2023, 7:13 pm
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Last edit by: IAH-OIL-TRASH
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 (rumored to be $75K beginning in 2024). 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&S [2023]

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.
  • Upgrades clear into PN class rather than PZ class for other elite tiers, which usually have much better availability. Instruments (PlusPoints or miles) 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). Requires that a seat be available on the seat map for assignment.
  • Jaguar Tarmac Transfer for tight connections between flights at major hubs (cannot be requested in advance). Occasionally, distance between concourses/gates may result in a transfer.
  • 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)
  • 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. Only for GS member + 1 companion.
  • GS can create saver business award space (IN) if PZ inventory is available. United-operated flights only. 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 3 (three) J class premium seats remain for sale after the upgrade is processed and they are at the top of the waitlist. Within T-24 hours only 2 J class seats need remain. Since fall 2022, agents have been saying its valid for "one exception per PNR," thus only one-way. Having separate one-way PNRs for a round-trip may help, but some agents look for this.
  • 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. Update: April 2023, this exception now also requires PZ space to exist for them to open IN. If PZ is not available, then they will open XN for the companion, and PlusPoints can be used to upgrade to PN in the same transaction.
  • 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 > 3 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. The passenger being upgraded must be a GS, or the sponsoring GS must be flying on the same flight.
  • 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 access VIP Lounge at LHR (former Global First Lounges) when booked in Polaris Business on an international itinerary. One guest permitted (two guests if a United Club member).
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
  • 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.
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Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2024]

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Old Dec 31, 2023, 7:10 pm
  #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: 4,392
Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions, Experiences [2024]

This is the 2024 GS thread, continued from the 2023 thread. Happy flying in 2024!
United747 and limey1K like this.
wxguy is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2024, 6:37 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Thanks for establishing
wxguy likes this.
manstein58 is online now  
Old Jan 1, 2024, 9:40 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 71
Starting off 2024 with a bang

Will share a success story to start the new year. Several months ago I booked a R/T business class ticket to Sydney departing January 1st. I had checked numerous times since booking to ascertain fares and availability…nothing better materialized. After checking in for my flight yesterday I checked the flight status and available buckets. To my delight, PN(2) popped up on my exact itinerary for all segments. In a scant 5 minutes I cancelled my original booking and rebooked in economy. Applied plus points and grabbed my original seats. A good omen for 2024? Saved almost $7K. And BTW, did the same thing 30 minutes later for a flight to Dubai in late January and recouped $2K.
SPN Lifer, gutt22, wxguy and 6 others like this.
Rocketman1 is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2024, 6:34 am
  #4  
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: 4,392
I've cleaned up the WIKI a bit from last year's thread. As always, updates based on real experiences are welcome!
SPN Lifer and anandrg like this.
wxguy is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2024, 7:43 am
  #5  
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium / LT Plat
Posts: 658
Originally Posted by wxguy
I've cleaned up the WIKI a bit from last year's thread. As always, updates based on real experiences are welcome!
What about complimentary UA Club access on domestic itineraries? Is that gone in 2024?

Sorry, you have that already, missed it. Sorry!
jonisflying is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2024, 7:45 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,700
Originally Posted by jonisflying
What about complimentary UA Club access on domestic itineraries? Is that gone in 2024?
Not according to GS benefits tabs on mystatus.united.com
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kirkwoodj is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2024, 8:29 am
  #7  
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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: 4,392
Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
Not according to GS benefits tabs on mystatus.united.com
Correct. If you already have a UC membership, you are entitled to guests. If not, then no guests as part of the GS benefit.
SPN Lifer likes this.
wxguy is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2024, 8:39 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: NYC/SEA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 84
Perhaps a silly question, do I as a GS earn a second set of 280 Pluspoints on top of what I earned as a 1K? (Became GS in December 2023 for 2024 through PassPlus after previously earning 1k for 2024)
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Old Jan 2, 2024, 9:00 am
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,025
Originally Posted by ChazzaBazza
Perhaps a silly question, do I as a GS earn a second set of 280 Pluspoints on top of what I earned as a 1K? (Became GS in December 2023 for 2024 through PassPlus after previously earning 1k for 2024)
No. All PPs received after attaining 1K are by running up more PQPs in the same qualifying year. Your next PPs are when you hit the Plat qualification hurdle(s) this year.
SPN Lifer, wxguy and ChazzaBazza like this.
IAH-OIL-TRASH is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2024, 2:34 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: United GS, BAEC GGL, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 472
I have a colleague flying on a UA codeshare/ANA prime. Can I use PPs to upgrade them? Do I need to call GS number to do this or is there a way to do online?
Jpm81 is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2024, 5:40 pm
  #11  
Original Member
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
Originally Posted by Jpm81
I have a colleague flying on a UA codeshare/ANA prime. Can I use PPs to upgrade them? Do I need to call GS number to do this or is there a way to do online?
Using PlusPoints on NH / ANA
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PTahCha is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2024, 8:56 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ICT
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 129
I was only confirmed into GS on January 3rd 2024 BUT on my last trip of the year (Dec 15 2023) I received an airside transfer between flights in a nice Jaguar.

My connection was not especially tight (ORD C-gates to F-gates with ~30mins between gate arrival and boarding) and I was officially just a 1K. Maybe I was just getting an early taste of what was coming?
steviebas is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2024, 11:13 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: United GS, Qantas Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Lifetime Platinum, IC Diamond Elite Amb
Posts: 11
I received that twice as 1K in 2023. In May and September. If there are no GS on a flight and they see a 1k who has a relatively high spend (and probably looking like they might make GS) then I was told they will give them a taste of GS if they have a car available.
His Grace The Duke Of Twickenham is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2024, 4:07 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
I know that UA no longer sends welcome kits at other status levels but do they send a welcome package/bag tag to new GS ? Thanks for any info .
Mister Nice is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2024, 5:08 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Originally Posted by Mister Nice
I know that UA no longer sends welcome kits at other status levels but do they send a welcome package/bag tag to new GS ? Thanks for any info .
Yes, but it may not arrive quickly.
AugustusM is offline  


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