Summary

  • Qualifying for United Global Services requires significant spending, usually at least $50,000 annually.
  • The secret top-tier status offers exclusive benefits like private check-in and upgrades.
  • United Global Services members enjoy unique perks like companion saver awards and luxury car transfers.

The most dedicated United Airlines passengers, those who spend upwards of $20,000 per year on flights (or, more likely, their employers), may be able to earn Premier 1K status. This tier includes access to dozens of priority facilities, upgrades on regional and international flights, and lounge access, all benefits one would expect for a carrier’s most loyal customers.

However, there is an additional level of status that goes far beyond even what United 1K status can offer passengers. This secret top-tier status is only available to a select few. It offers a set of unimaginable benefits that are only befitting of those who spend exorbitantly on the carrier.

United 737-900

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

This special tier, United Global Services, is not officially published, and the status is offered to passengers only on an invitational basis. In this article, we will examine the unbelievably lavish benefits members of United’s most elite tier of frequent flier status can access.

1

Qualification can be difficult

There is only one way to guarantee United Global Services’ status

Attaining the highest priority tier in United’s published MileagePlus status system is already hard enough. Passengers must do one of the following:

  • Earn 24,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) on United Airlines flights during a calendar year
  • Fly 54 qualifying flight segments and earn 18,000 Premier Qualifying Points

Earning PQP’s is relatively straightforward, and passengers can do so by spending on United Airlines flights or through purchase on a higher-tier United Airlines cobranded credit card. This results in an estimated annual expenditure of around $20,000 to qualify for Premier 1K status.

A United Airlines Airbus A319 about to land.

Photo: lorenzatx | Shutterstock

Earning United Global Services status, however, requires an even larger financial commitment than this. For starters, passengers in search of this status will likely need to spend around $50,000 annually even to begin being considered for membership.

There is one extremely challenging way to guarantee United Airlines Global Services status. According to Upgraded Points, Those who achieve 4,000,000 lifetime flight miles will be entitled to a lifetime Global Services membership.

2

Private check-in

These check-in counters are available at the following three airports:

  1. Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  2. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

These exclusive check-in facilities go far beyond what the carrier’s premier access kiosks typically offer. While any member of United’s Premier status program will be eligible to use the premier access kiosks, those at these three facilities are exclusively reserved for United Global Services passengers.

These check-in counters are almost always guaranteed to be empty, as there are rarely many Global Services passengers at an airport at any given time. As a result, United Global Services members will be able to sail directly through check-in without any stress.

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3

Star Alliance Gold Status

This status is also offered to:

  • Premier Gold members
  • Premier Platinum members
  • Premier 1K members

Automatic gold status on the Star Alliance is also a valuable benefit that should not be overlooked, even if it is offered to most who have made their way up the first few rungs of United’s status ladder. When dedicated United Global Services check-in facilities are unavailable, passengers can access the priority check-in counters for any Star Alliance carrier, thanks to their Gold status.

SA Gold

Photo: Star Alliance

The benefits of Star Alliance gold status are extensive and include access to over 1,000 global airport lounges, including some of the world’s best. Furthermore, Star Alliance gold status passengers will always be able to access priority waitlists, priority baggage handling, and priority boarding, according to the organization.

Related

The Top 6 Star Alliance Gold Benefits

The benefits can stop passengers from queuing soo much, while making the airport experience more pleasant.

4

Companion saver awards

These are unique in the industry

United Global Services members are able to access one-of-a-kind saver award tickets, which are likely targeted at business travelers seeking to turn business trips into extended adventures with a spouse or other companion. These tickets work as follows:

  1. A Global Services customer must purchase a full-price ticket in any cabin
  2. They can book an additional ticket for a companion at the lower “saver” rate
  3. Both will travel in the same class of service
united-polaris

Photo: United Airlines

This discount is not accessible to any other members of United’s mileagePlus scheme, and provides a unique opportunity. All other benefits of United Global Services include companion access and making complete trips with a spouse or other guests enjoyable and relaxing.

Related

How To Access The United Polaris Lounge

Getting into some of the US’ most premium lounges isn’t easy.

5

Private car transfers

A one-of-a-kind luxury service

Luxury car transfers are typically reserved for first class passengers on the most luxurious carriers of Europe and the Middle East, but they are actually rather accessible for United Global Services customers. These transfers emerged as part of United’s collaboration with luxury auto manufacturer Jaguar.

Not all Global Services passengers will be eligible for these transfers, as they are reserved for unique situations only. In the event that a Global Services member is at risk of missing a short connection flight, the carrier may deploy a luxury vehicle to help them transfer flights. This service is not even offered by the most exclusive invite-only status tiers at other US airlines, such as American’s Concierge Key.

Have you ever had United Global Services status? Let us know in the comments below!


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