United Global Services: All The Benefits & Everything You Need To Know
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Many people earn elite status with United Airlines every year. Some road warriors might even earn Premier 1K, the highest level of status available to most travelers. However, there is actually another level of elite status with United that tops them all: United Global Services.
If you are a Global Services member, you can expect to be a top priority passenger and you’ll enjoy a bunch of fun perks. While this will be out of reach for the vast majority of travelers, it’s still amazing to see what United will do for some customers.
Let’s dig into United Global Services and see what it has to offer.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Elite Status on United
Having elite status with United comes with a number of perks. The higher level of status you have, the more perks you can expect. For many who travel for work, this can mean fighting to earn Premier 1K status to improve their chances of upgrades on domestic flights.
However, earning top tier Premier 1K status with United requires you (or your employer) to spend $12,000 on United flights each year. Premier Silver, Premier Gold, and Premier Platinum status levels are a bit easier to earn.
Each status level requires you to meet a Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) requirement plus either a Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) or Premier Qualifying Segments (PQS) requirement.
Due to COVID-10, United has reduced requirements for status through the 2022 program year beginning on January 1, 2021:
| 2022 Status | Earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) | and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) | …or Meet a Higher PQP Goal |
| Silver | 8 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| Gold | 16 | 6,000 | 7,000 |
| Platinum | 24 | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| 1K | 36 | 13,500 | 15,000 |
Members holding United MileagePlus Premier status at the end of 2020 will receive a 25% bonus of the 2021 PQP requirement to help them achieve status for the following year.
The bonuses are:
- Silver: 875 PQP
- Gold: 1,750 PQP
- Platinum: 2,500 PQP
- Premier 1K: 3,750 PQP
United credit cardholders can earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) through their annual credit card spend and for 2021 can apply this earned PQP toward Premier 1K status.
| CREDIT CARD | BENEFITS & INFO |
|---|---|
UnitedSM Explorer Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
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UnitedSM Business Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
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United ClubSM Infinite Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
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United GatewaySM Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
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Hot Tip: You can also check out our in-depth guide on the best ways of earning United points. Note: Using a United card isn’t the fastest way of accumulated points with United!)
With these basics about United status in mind, you can start to see just how elite you must be to have United Global Services.
What Is United Global Services?
United Global Services is an invitation-only elite status with United Airlines that is given to some of United’s most elite and profitable customers.
With a United Global Services membership, passengers can expect a number of perks and customer service that far exceeds anything that other United passengers receive.
Qualifying for Global Services
The eligibility requirements for Global Services remain unpublished, so it is not known exactly how one can earn an invitation. However, these members typically spend thousands upon thousands of dollars per year on full-fare (i.e. changeable and refundable) tickets. You can check your United status at mystatus.united.com.
Some have even estimated that Global Services members spend upwards of $50,000 on airfare with United each year!
Global Services Benefits
While it’s hard to confirm all the benefits that Global Services members receive, several specific benefits have been revealed. Let’s discuss some of these perks.
Upgrade Priority
When it comes to upgrade priority, Global Services members are at the front of the line. This can be especially important when booking economy class tickets on transcontinental flights.
Upgrades on Award Flights
Premier members who have one of the co-branded United cards are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) on award flights. To upgrade, there must be space in the RN fare class.
Meanwhile, Global Services members can receive a CPU if there is space in the PN fare class, which often has much better availability. While Global Services members receive access to this PN fare class availability, Premier members do not.
More Upgrade Availability With Miles & Certificates
Global Services members can also redeem United miles for upgrades into the PN fare class. As we mentioned above, the PN fare class has much better availability than the standard upgrade space (RN fare class).
Additionally, PlusPoints can also be used by Global Services members to upgrade award tickets.
Companion Saver Award With a Cash Ticket
When you consider the fact that those with Global Services are not only spending a lot of money on United but also traveling very frequently, the companion perk is a really nice touch from United.
If Global Services member books a cash ticket, she or he may bring along a companion for the cost of a saver level award ticket. This allows members to extend a work trip into a vacation with a spouse, loved one, or friend.
Not only that, but these companion saver level awards are available in whatever cabin the Global Services members have booked. That means if a member has paid for a business class ticket, his or her companion can book a business class award at saver level.
Mercedes-Benz Transfer Between Flights
Probably one of the coolest benefits of being a Global Services Member is a ride to your flight in a Mercedes-Benz. Now, Global Services members won’t receive this every time they connect, as it’s only used for tight connections at specific airports.
The airports with this Mercedes-Benz service include Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO).
Global Services Customer Service
Customer service is at its best for Global Services members. They can expect a dedicated phone line that very rarely has any wait time, United staff tracking their flight status to ensure connections are made, and getting served meals before anyone else when flying business class or first class.
United really goes above and beyond for its Global Services Members!
Private Check-in
Global Services members never have to worry about check-in lines when departing Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Newark (EWR), or San Francisco (SFO). There are dedicated check-in areas just for them, which can be a huge benefit if running late.
Priority Boarding
While United sometimes struggles to get flights out on time and leaves passengers huddling around the gate, Global Services members will be the first to board and get settled into their seats.
Final Thoughts
Though most people will never spend enough to be considered for an invite to Global Services, a look at the benefits of membership is a great insight into how customer service at an airline could work.
Global Services members not only receive a number of benefits, but United really looks after them to ensure their travel experiences are seamless and enjoyable.
40K USD actually is enough, that’s how I did it the last two years.
$40K could be enough but the point is, as the author states, the invitation is “given to some of United’s most elite and *profitable* customers”. So you’re stating revenue ($40K), we can’t tell how profitable your tickets were to United. I’ve hdone over $40K for several years but all on low margin non-refundable tickets so I’ve not been invited. Buying more refundable tickets, or buying business class outright is definitely going to help your chances of getting a Global Services invitation.
I was confirmed yesterday for GS, YTD I’m ~$70K of spend with 7x Polaris round-trips to EU from NA and eighth R/T in another week plus a lot of mainline United flights (not only regional).
One of your members shoved an oversized bag into an overhead compartment. Flight 4149 Halifax to Newark today after staff told him not to. The “guy” gave the staff member a hard time. He shoves it in and busted the door. We sat in airport for 6 hours to finally be told flight canceled. Now spending night. That “AH” got on the next flight that was booked up. So to let you know you have an “AH” in your program. I’ll spread the word. Hope he wasn’t a united executive. And why can’t your 14 dollar voucher buy booze?
We are not an airline, we are a blog that publishes content.
It is published that Global Services for Life is a perk after 4 million paid miles. I am at 3.9 million, so UA only has a little time left to close that loophole.
Note also that Global Services is the FOURTH boarding group, not the first, after handicapped, military, and families with children. Boarding Group 1 is FIFTH. UA skirts this by referring to the others as “preboarding”, but they rearely start preboarding until after the published boarding time.
BTW, while GP members may not have United Club automatically, I received United Club for life at 2 million and 1K for life at 3 million. Nice perks, but recently UA reduced the awards miles by roughly a factor of 3, giving 11 miles/dollar instead of 2.5 miles per mile flown. A huge reduction in benefit. THey are compensating slightly by giving free meals and drinks to 1K flyers.
Hey Nengadai,
Thanks for providing us with this information! It’s very helpful. Congratulations on nearly achieving Global Services for life.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/airport/boarding-process.aspx
Shows GS is 4th now, Pre-boarding before Group 1.
1. Unaccompanied minors
2. Customers with disabilities
3. Active members of the military
4. United Global Services® members
5. Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
6. Premier® 1K® members
I am not sure about the $40K. I do about $500k miles a year, mostly in business. Only crickets regarding GS so far.
Um, sorry, nope. If you spent $500k per year, you would be flying private, not United, and if you spent $500k per year, United would have granted you GS long ago. Nice try though.
good answer sir, you got this right.
I’m pretty sure he meant 500K miles, not 500K dollars.
Well, let’s talk about what spending $500k a year on business class looks like. The average round-trip business class price w/ tax as the longest flight UA hold, from SFO/LAX to PEK/HND/HKG/ is about $5k and it takes 11+12 +2= 25 hours per round-trip, so basically you spend more than 1/3 of your life on an airplane with no social life and jet lag every second. Can’t imagine how a human being would survive that.
GS for 2019: 68k PQD, 212 PQM
Thank you for this information.
I have been given GS status since the United-Continental merger every year but two, when I was Premium 1K.
While I cannot 100 % verify what I am presenting here, I feel that it makes sense and this is what I think.
There is no pre-set $ value for GS, rather they look at the normal distribution of money spent and give it to probably to the top 1%. There is a factor if someone is renewing the GS or has a long continuous history of being GS member.
So if the economy is bad, to be in the top 1% is easier as business people travel less so you would need less revenue to qualify. On the other hand, in a good economy, with more business and flying, the amount needed for qualification would be higher.
One important aspect though, you must fly on actual UA flights, not on a codeshare. You get points and miles on a codeshare, but they do not count toward GS.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, GO. We appreciate you taking the time to comment.
GS used to be a better program before the United merged with Continental. A downgrade as far as the customer experience is concerned both at airports and flights. Having Newark and Houston as hubs after the merger certainly made it even worse.
My company gets GS if you’re at a certain tier (job level) or above. About 30 people get it. We have United as a preferred partner for all travel. (4k employees)
My husband got GS for 2019 with about 175,000 miles and $43,000 in premier qualifying dollars. He has received the status every year since 2012. We have liked the service although we have never experienced the top tier of other airlines.
The going spend has been $50k – in the major markets. If you are in a big hub city like SFO where the United loyalty runs deep, the spend requirement is higher than a smaller non-hub city.
On another web site, we did polls of spend and miles flow to hit GS. We found the mileage didn’t matter, I had a co-worker that didn’t even hit 1k, yet his spend was north of $50k and received GS.
$50k was the pretty solid number, everyone on my team that crossed it got GS the following January. Under $50k in our major market and no love.
Hi Doug! Thanks for your stories and for sharing your experience.
I travel what I feel like is a boat load for work. But my flights are not long. I rack up segments.
I am at 105k miles for the year and 135 segments with multiple flights remaining from now until the end of the year.
I have 1k from last year and clearly achieved for this year.
I have paid $35k PQD.
I am RARELY upgraded and feel no love or perks.
Does this year seem to be easier for people to gain perks with United? It seems everyone is 1k.
I am thinking of switching to delta…. thoughts?
I am at 254k (PQM) & 160 (PQS) with over $60K spent, with several trips yet to finish this year. Would this get me to GS with United? Almost all flights were Business class.
Thanks
Lee
Hi Lee,
The eligibility requirements for Global Services are not published, so there is no way to be certain. With that said, I would think those figures would give you a very good chance of being invited.
Jarrod
Thanks for the Info..
I ended up with the following
PQM 302,988
PQS. 184
PQD $81,534.00
99% of PQD was first or Business Class.
Let’s see if that qualifies for GS…
Keep me posted. I hope to get it this year too. Best of luck, I have had 1k for 5 years and spent $54,000.
I’m lucky at almost 5M miles so I crossed the threshold at 4m a while ago. My sense is you need ~ 150-200k miles with 4-6 international business class trips to drive up your $. Another benefit across mileage plus program that is great is the spouse/significant other shared status. I think this works at all levels (e.g., 1K as well), but my wife has Global Services status. This is great when she travels, and in helping get upgrades for her family on combined trips. I think it is why she is still married to me …..
Is the Private Check-In benefit only useful if one has luggage or is there something else the GS flyer would use it for?
Hi GD,
It can also be useful when checking in for the flight if you haven’t already done so online.
I just made GS myself with $77k spent in 2019. In order to qualify you have to use United Only, not flying let’s say Lufthansa and think that because they are partners, you get points too with United. So remember:
* Use only United (aka UA metal);
* If you can use business class versus economy, that’s a plus…
* you have to have spent minimum 100k for the past 3 years…
* it also helps if you are not flying out from a very busy airport… like SFO… where people/corporate people are traveling out of big cities and also have a larger portfolio…
I flew $40k in 2018 and didn’t manage to get GS. So now I am GS for 2020 and can’t be happier.
It’s achievable if work allows you to travel, otherwise, I guess you must have to win the lottery. 😉
Hi Jetsetter,
Thanks for sharing this data point with the community. Congratulations and enjoy GS!
Why does my comment state that it “is waiting moderation”? Helen
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I am a global for life united member. Recently I booked a ticket for the least expensive and most restricted fares I read that premium seats for these tickets were not available but were for global members. However, when I tried to book the seat I was told that was not true. Has this changed and if so why? Helen
Hello Dr. Helen. First, to be clear, we are not affiliated with United Airlines, we are Upgraded Points, a blog specializing in providing travel, points, and miles resources. Regarding your question, I am assuming you are referring to purchasing a basic economy fare ticket. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, these tickets are not upgradeable. Additionally, I was unable to find any information that Global Services members would get upgraded on such fares. You might want to make a call to your Global Services dedicated customer service line and ask them this question for a definitive answer.
Basic Economy fares are not eligible for upgrades, no matter what status.
Odd, I buy basic economy tickets and I am upgraded all the time. I’m just a gold member. Looks like I will miss platinum by $700.
Hi Eric. The official policy is that basic economy tickets are not upgradeable. There are occasions, however, where it does happen and it sounds like you’ve been the fortunate recipient.