Comfort and luxury come as part of premium air travel. Isn’t it? If you are a frequent flyer with United Airlines, the airline caters to your desire for top-class travel through its exclusive program, United Global Services. As the highest tier within United’s MileagePlus loyalty program, Global Services is reserved for the airline’s most dedicated, high-spending customers.
This detailed guide helps you explore what the United Global Services is all about. You can also read in detail about how to qualify for it, and what exclusive benefits bring to you an ultimate flying standard.
Read on!
What is United Global Services?
United Global Services is a high-level segment of the airline’s MileagePlus program, which is meant for frequent flyers. The members can earn miles on flying with United or its partner airlines, get upgrades, and avail other benefits.
The MileagePlus program has different levels – General Member, Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K®. If you, as a member, reach the Premier 1K® status, you can attain the highest level of membership, which is United Global Services. It may be noted that this is available only on an invitation basis. It is provided to select customers only on the basis of their annual spending on flights booked with the airline.
So, as you may already know, the more you fly with United and its partner airlines, the higher is your status. You keep attaining the next MileagePlus status gradually according to the frequency of your flights.
United Global Services Benefits
Let’s see some benefits associated with this elite membership.
Dedicated Customer Service
There is a dedicated United Global Services contact number available 24/7. There is also a different email address for your assistance. So, you need not wait for customer service executives to attend your calls, as they respond quickly.
Private Check-In
Special private check-in lanes are available at select airports for your comfort and convenience. So, you don’t have to wait in the usual queues. You can check your baggage in a hassle-free manner.
Priority Boarding
You can board a United flight with a special group that includes unaccompanied minors, passengers with disabilities, active military personnel, families traveling with children, and Premier 1K® members. This group boards before Group 1, which has Polaris business class and Premier Platinum passengers.
Priority Upgrade Service
Global Services members get priority for seat upgrades, especially on transatlantic and transpacific flights reserved in economy class.
Companion Travel
You can bring a companion with you by paying a charge similar to a saver-level award ticket, if you reserve a cash ticket. Apart from this, if you earn your Global Services status level through the Million Miler program, your partner can also enjoy these benefits, whether they are flying with you on the same itinerary or not.
Luxury Car Transfers Between Layovers
In case of short layovers, you might be taken to your next gate through a luxury vehicle. Available at select airports, this service helps you catch your next flight on time.
United Lounge Access
If you are flying on a domestic route on United Airlines, you are eligible to visit the United Club lounge. Besides, you can also visit the Polaris lounge if you have the Polaris ticket.
Star Alliance Gold Status
If you are a United Global Services member, you automatically receive Star Alliance Gold status, which brings plenty of benefits associated with member airlines. These include priority check-in and baggage handling, lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and speedy reservations.
Cancellation Support
If your flight is delayed or canceled, a dedicated concierge looks after your flight and handles rebooking for you. Your name is mentioned on priority on rebooking lists.
How to Attain United Global Services Membership?
As such there is no specific information provided on the official website of United Airlines. But as per travel industry experts, if you spend a minimum of US$50,000 per year on United flights purchased through official channels or travel approximately 150,000 miles on a yearly basis, you will be eligible for the Global Services status.
Apart from this, accumulating around 4 million lifetime miles by flying with United is another medium to attain the membership.
Concluding Words
On the whole, the United Global Services represents the elite level membership of frequent flyers. It is an invitation-only status provided for the United MileagePlus members who reach the Premier 1K® status. Substantial annual expenditures and extensive miles determine whether you can earn this status or not. While the exact thresholds remain unclear, one aspect is clear that attaining Global Services opens your way to a world of ultra-modern facilities like expedited check-ins, great airport experience, United lounge access, priority boarding, cancellation support, luxury car transfers between flights, companion travel, and more. These members are also provided with a dedicated customer service number and email address for support.
So, if you value luxury in flying, and have to fly frequently with United Airlines, you may give it a thought!
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to certain key queries are provided below. Take a look!
United Global Services is an elite membership status offered by United Airlines to its MileagePlus members who attain the Premier 1K® status. This status is provided by the airline on the basis of an invitation only to select customers.
United Global Services is an invitation-only status offered by the airline to customers on the basis of their annual expenditures and miles collection associated with flight bookings.
Although there is no specific information available on the airline’s official website, you need to spend at least US$50,000 per year on United flights purchased through official platforms or travel around 150,000 miles on a yearly basis. This is as per the industry experts.
The benefits are dedicated customer support, private check-in, priority boarding, luxury car transfers for layovers, lounge access, star alliance gold status, cancellation support, companion travel, and more.
United MileagePlus is the airline’s frequent flyer program which has various status levels. The more you fly with the airline, the higher your status.
Yes, you need not pay any fee to join the United MileagePlus program. You can start earning miles through United and other partner airline flight bookings right after you sign up for the membership.
