‘Global Services For A Day’: United Is Now Surprising Flyers With Private Check-In And Tarmac Transfers

When United introduces its new Boeing 787-9 business class next year, flying first from San Francisco to London and Singapore, row 1 will have extra space and extra perks like better wine, amenities and bedding. Customers paying extra for row 1 will be able to use Global Services check-in a possibly even get tarmac transfers on tight connections, though this is not guaranteed.

Before this happens, though, it seems like United has been expanding its capacity for tarmac transfers and to process passengers through Global Services check-in.

  • We’ve seen United expand tarmac transfers on a surprise and delight basis to economy customers who are top frequent flyers.

  • And we’ve seen business class customers invited on a case-by-case basis to use Global Services check-in, too.

There have been scattered reports of Global Services for a Day treatment, and invitations to use Global Services check-in. The narrative there was,

Global Reception is for [Global Services] “soon for Polaris Studio passengers and invited 1K members.”

A reader who is a MileagePlus 1K, flying Newark to San Francisco in paid business class, received a text inviting him to Newark’s Global Services check-in:

He describes, “This is an old school Polaris ticket (not fancy row 1) – high fare class (J class) to 1K. See..below, welcoming to global services for the day…”

United customers – usually “1K” top elites, flying paid business class – have been reporting extra ‘surprise and delight’ experiences usually reserved for the airline’s truly top Global Services customers who either influence big corporate contracts or spend $60,000 or more a year with the airline (though required amounts vary).

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Aww. That’s cute. All I got when I was a 1K was worthless ‘PlusPoints’ that never cleared, and ample complimentary snack boxes (Takeoff was my go-to) and an alcoholic beverage (usually Bombay), while seated in the Exit Row.

  2. Anyone else seen United’s new jet-bridge advertisements… “HECK YEAH, WE FLY THERE.” *nice images of Cape Town, Tokyo, Fairbanks, etc.* (also cute)

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