Air China Auction Upgrade
Apr 18, 2015, 5:31 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,012
Apr 18, 2015, 9:29 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Apr 19, 2015, 12:29 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Apr 20, 2015, 9:10 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 71
It's probably most useful to know several things about any successful/unsuccessful bid:
1. PhoenixMiles status
2. Original fare
3. Bid amount
4. Route
Those are some of the data points that CA says factor into whether a bid is accepted or rejected. The other factors (again, according to CA) are competing bids and the number of seats available for an upgrade. But those other two factors are a bit more difficult to track then the first 4. ('Route' is not actually mentioned by CA but of course required knowledge if someone is trying to determine the likelihood of making a successful bid.)
I'd also find it interesting to know if the winning bidders saw any open seats in J, although it's hard to say what, if anything could be read into that.
Again, I'm interested because I think I'd like to give this a try, but I'd prefer not to get stuck in Y on a TPAC or (more likely) stuck with costs & time associated with getting a refund.
1. PhoenixMiles status
2. Original fare
3. Bid amount
4. Route
Those are some of the data points that CA says factor into whether a bid is accepted or rejected. The other factors (again, according to CA) are competing bids and the number of seats available for an upgrade. But those other two factors are a bit more difficult to track then the first 4. ('Route' is not actually mentioned by CA but of course required knowledge if someone is trying to determine the likelihood of making a successful bid.)
I'd also find it interesting to know if the winning bidders saw any open seats in J, although it's hard to say what, if anything could be read into that.
Again, I'm interested because I think I'd like to give this a try, but I'd prefer not to get stuck in Y on a TPAC or (more likely) stuck with costs & time associated with getting a refund.
Apr 28, 2015, 2:51 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
FWIW CA also offer onboard paid upgrade from Y to J on some selected routes. Price is 1000 USD one way with some current promos at 400 USD (MXP, ARN, HNL notably). Up to two seats per flights are available. Catering is Y though.
Jun 19, 2015, 3:33 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 71
Sorry, but for me I just haven't found an opportunity where it would be worth trying.
When I've looked at the Y fares on CA, the cheapest Y fare class that ensure I can credit 100% miles to UA is typically within a couple hundred (US) of BR PE. I know I can survive BR PE, particularly if I manage to have an open seat next to me. I'm sure I'd like CA J a good deal more than BR PE (although probably not quite as much as BR RL), but it's just too risky for me. I'd be quite happy to give it a go if I wasn't going to be limited to a single bid...
When I've looked at the Y fares on CA, the cheapest Y fare class that ensure I can credit 100% miles to UA is typically within a couple hundred (US) of BR PE. I know I can survive BR PE, particularly if I manage to have an open seat next to me. I'm sure I'd like CA J a good deal more than BR PE (although probably not quite as much as BR RL), but it's just too risky for me. I'd be quite happy to give it a go if I wasn't going to be limited to a single bid...
Nov 29, 2015, 6:15 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Just an update. I flew Air China last week from LAX and back and never got an email with a link for bidding. I probably did make a mistake of putting my United FF number for crediting my miles and that could have been the reason why I never got the link.
I called them a couple of days before and asked if they had any business seats available and they said they had a few open and the upgrade was around $5000 per ticket. At the airport, I asked again if they had any business class seats available and that said they had a few. The business/first was probably 40% empty when I checked and this was both going and coming.
Very strange that they would allow so many seats go empty and not collect any additional revenue.
I called them a couple of days before and asked if they had any business seats available and they said they had a few open and the upgrade was around $5000 per ticket. At the airport, I asked again if they had any business class seats available and that said they had a few. The business/first was probably 40% empty when I checked and this was both going and coming.
Very strange that they would allow so many seats go empty and not collect any additional revenue.
Nov 29, 2015, 6:45 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
I called them a couple of days before and asked if they had any business seats available and they said they had a few open and the upgrade was around $5000 per ticket. At the airport, I asked again if they had any business class seats available and that said they had a few. The business/first was probably 40% empty when I checked and this was both going and coming.
Very strange that they would allow so many seats go empty and not collect any additional revenue.
Nov 29, 2015, 7:42 am
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,012
Nov 29, 2015, 11:12 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305