United’s Global Services status is one of the top elite status levels in the world. I’ve written about some of its perks here. The program is a shell of what it was pre-COVID, but it still saved me during United’s epic June 2023 meltdown.
The exact criteria for earning the status is a trade secret. Previously, you would have to spend roughly $50,000 on United flights to be invited to the Global Services program, though it also depends on the fare classes you purchase. With lower fare classes, you may need to spend $75,000 or more.
Other methods of getting the status include being a 4 million miler (lifetime miles including credit card EQMs earned before the Continental merger), a 4 million miler companion, or buying a PassPlus prepaid ticket package.
Unfortunately, daisy chaining for Global Services status is ending in a few months. And so is individual PassPlus.
The PassPlus individual program used to allow you to earn Global Services status for prepaying for $50,000 of United flights. Last year, that was increased to $75,000. That credit is good for about 13 months for you and companions booked with you. You also earn $650 of United ancillary and club spending and small discounts on flights.
Alas, the individual program has closed to new accounts as of 2 days ago. Accounts with renewals over the next few months will be allowed 1 more year, before being closed down.
The PassPlus business program will remain open. Previously, this allowed you to earn Global Services status for prepaying for $100,000 of United flights, which can be used for your employees. You also earn $2,500 of United ancillary and club spending and small discounts on flights. It’s unclear if this threshold will remain the same or will climb. That program requires a registered business with at least 5 employees traveling on United.
United has massively increased the spending requirements to earn elite status. Clearly, the airline wants to thin its elite ranks, and the end of the individual PassPlus will help with that.
American killed off its version of PassPlus, called AirPass, in November 2022, so I guess the writing was on the wall. I can’t quite comprehend why airlines can’t make money preselling flights for a year, though I assume the programs were expensive to maintain and service and also invited some level of status gaming that they no longer desired.
Are you affected by the end of United PassPlus?
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1 Comment On "United Kills Off The Individual PassPlus Path To Global Services Status"
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I’ve not use the PassPlus program, but I’ve been a GS since 2018 and that will come to an end with this flying year. I can’t afford to put my department budget through that kind of spend. $50K is not an unreasonable demand—2-3 trips to Asia and a trip or two to Europe on Polaris can reach the threshold, but another $25K on top of that means travel for the sake of travel. No thanks.