Apr 2, 2017, 9:28 pm
Last edit by: Wigg
Moderator note: Any questions regarding availability/fare buckets on a specific flight or flights should be posted in the fare bucket check request thread. Any such posts in this thread will be deleted.
Q: When should I use eUpgrades, and when should I use AC Bid?
A: For starters, you can use both of them on a single booking. If one upgrade is accepted, the other is cancelled at no cost to you. One thing to consider is that eUpgrade priority is highly influenced by your Aeroplan Elite status and the fare class of the original ticket, but AC Bid is influenced by your bid as compared to other people. If you don't have a high Aeroplan Elite status, AC Bid may be the better choice for you.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade do I get additional SQM / SQD now for my flights?
A: No.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade on an International Flight leaving YYZ/YVR do I get access to the Signature Lounge?
A: No.
Q: When will I find out if my bid was successful?
A: You will be sent an email within 36 to 48 hours prior to your departure.
Q: If I am successfully upgraded, which baggage limit applies?
A: The baggage rules of the upgraded ticket apply. Note that this is different than eUpgrades, where the original tickets baggage rules still apply.
Q: When do I pay for a bid?
A: Your credit card is only charged when the bid is accepted, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours before departure. Note that if your card is declined, even temporarily for a fraud check, you will lose the bid and will not get another opportunity.
Q: Can I cancel an AC Bid?
A: Yes, but only until 48 hours before departure.
Q: If I cancel the booking after successfully bidding for an upgrade, or if I miss the flight, will I get a refund?
A: No.
Q: If Air Canada rebooks me on another flight, what happens to my AC Bid upgrade?
A: You keep it and Air Canada will put you in the upgraded cabin on the new flight. If the new flight does not have Premium Economy, or if there are not enough Business class seats, then your AC Bid will be refunded.
Q: I have a flight going from XXX to YYY on DD-MM-YY and the minimum bid is $ZZZ - what are my chances / what should I bid?
A: No one here really knows how Plusgrade as implemented by AC really 'decides' which bids to accept.
There are so many potential variables that it's best just to bid what you feel the upgrade is worth to you.
Q: I was successful in a Bid Upgrade to the PY cabin. Can I now use my e upgrades to attempt to upgrade to J?
A: No. Only 1 upgrade is allowed. The same applies to a last minute upgrade to PY.
AC Bid Upgrade - FAQs
If your upgrade request is accepted, the fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable with respect to cancellation policies, change fees, conditions for minimum and maximum stay, and rules relating to the accrual of frequent flyer miles. All other conditions will be per the upgraded fare class.
On the AC website:
"AC Bid Upgrade - Your opportunity to travel in a higher cabin class"
https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirCanada
Q: When should I use eUpgrades, and when should I use AC Bid?
A: For starters, you can use both of them on a single booking. If one upgrade is accepted, the other is cancelled at no cost to you. One thing to consider is that eUpgrade priority is highly influenced by your Aeroplan Elite status and the fare class of the original ticket, but AC Bid is influenced by your bid as compared to other people. If you don't have a high Aeroplan Elite status, AC Bid may be the better choice for you.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade do I get additional SQM / SQD now for my flights?
A: No.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade on an International Flight leaving YYZ/YVR do I get access to the Signature Lounge?
A: No.
Q: When will I find out if my bid was successful?
A: You will be sent an email within 36 to 48 hours prior to your departure.
Q: If I am successfully upgraded, which baggage limit applies?
A: The baggage rules of the upgraded ticket apply. Note that this is different than eUpgrades, where the original tickets baggage rules still apply.
Q: When do I pay for a bid?
A: Your credit card is only charged when the bid is accepted, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours before departure. Note that if your card is declined, even temporarily for a fraud check, you will lose the bid and will not get another opportunity.
Q: Can I cancel an AC Bid?
A: Yes, but only until 48 hours before departure.
Q: If I cancel the booking after successfully bidding for an upgrade, or if I miss the flight, will I get a refund?
A: No.
Q: If Air Canada rebooks me on another flight, what happens to my AC Bid upgrade?
A: You keep it and Air Canada will put you in the upgraded cabin on the new flight. If the new flight does not have Premium Economy, or if there are not enough Business class seats, then your AC Bid will be refunded.
Q: I have a flight going from XXX to YYY on DD-MM-YY and the minimum bid is $ZZZ - what are my chances / what should I bid?
A: No one here really knows how Plusgrade as implemented by AC really 'decides' which bids to accept.
There are so many potential variables that it's best just to bid what you feel the upgrade is worth to you.
Q: I was successful in a Bid Upgrade to the PY cabin. Can I now use my e upgrades to attempt to upgrade to J?
A: No. Only 1 upgrade is allowed. The same applies to a last minute upgrade to PY.
AC Bid Upgrade - FAQs
If your upgrade request is accepted, the fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable with respect to cancellation policies, change fees, conditions for minimum and maximum stay, and rules relating to the accrual of frequent flyer miles. All other conditions will be per the upgraded fare class.
On the AC website:
"AC Bid Upgrade - Your opportunity to travel in a higher cabin class"
https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirCanada
Air Canada Bid Upgrade Program
Nov 8, 2016, 10:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
Air Canada Bid Upgrade Program
A friend of mine mentioned that she received an e-mail stating she can submit a bid (auction?) for an upgrade to business class. The thing is that the URL in the e-mail that she is instructed to go to is not an Air Canada (according to her) domain URL.
Has anyone else heard about this?
I'm not in a position to check it out properly - only on mobile, so no web inspection tools at my disposal for the moment.
Has anyone else heard about this?
I'm not in a position to check it out properly - only on mobile, so no web inspection tools at my disposal for the moment.
Last edited by jaysona; Nov 8, 2016 at 10:46 pm Reason: Spelling correction - damn autocorrect
Nov 8, 2016, 10:44 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Did the email really originate at AC?
I'd be suspicious as I assume that bidding would require a credit card and other personal details.
I'd be suspicious as I assume that bidding would require a credit card and other personal details.
Nov 8, 2016, 10:46 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
Nov 8, 2016, 10:52 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
Nov 8, 2016, 10:54 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
A friend of mine mentioned that she received an e-mail stating she can submit a bid (auction?) for an upgrade to business class. The thing is that the URL in the e-mail that she is instructed to go to is not an Air Canada (according to her) domain URL.
Has anyone else heard about this?
I'm not in a position to check it out properly - only on mobile, so no web inspection tools at my disposal for the moment.
Has anyone else heard about this?
I'm not in a position to check it out properly - only on mobile, so no web inspection tools at my disposal for the moment.
It say "up to" but it's not bidding, and you have to call in too.
Nov 8, 2016, 10:55 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,706
This makes total sense to me! Not surprised one bit and I believe it.
This year with the changes I've been seeing a ton of space in the J cabins while flying. Why not get people to tell you how much they are willing to pay extra to be up there and then decide if you want to take it or not? Great way for some extra revenue that's at your discretion to take or not.
As ffsim pointed out, R games and all.
This year with the changes I've been seeing a ton of space in the J cabins while flying. Why not get people to tell you how much they are willing to pay extra to be up there and then decide if you want to take it or not? Great way for some extra revenue that's at your discretion to take or not.
As ffsim pointed out, R games and all.
Nov 8, 2016, 10:56 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
Nov 8, 2016, 11:00 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,694
I'd love to know what the email actually said. How it works, why the URL isn't AC's, etc. Who knows, maybe Sparse is right and OP's friend is confused.
Nov 8, 2016, 11:03 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Nov 8, 2016, 11:41 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
It wouldn't surprise me if this were true.
The number of airlines which have implemented a "bidding for upgrade" system has exploded over the last two years. Pretty much much all the airlines use the IT platform developed by Plusgrade:
www.plusgrade.com
I had the opportunity to meet the founders during a conference last week and it's probably one of the most significant innovations in generating ancillary revenue in recent years.
Of course this would be bad news for frequent flyers, but let's see whether the news is true....
The number of airlines which have implemented a "bidding for upgrade" system has exploded over the last two years. Pretty much much all the airlines use the IT platform developed by Plusgrade:
www.plusgrade.com
I had the opportunity to meet the founders during a conference last week and it's probably one of the most significant innovations in generating ancillary revenue in recent years.
Of course this would be bad news for frequent flyers, but let's see whether the news is true....
Nov 9, 2016, 12:17 am
#12
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,801
Nov 9, 2016, 8:03 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
Nov 9, 2016, 8:59 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,743
