Originally Posted by
AClover
This thread keeps on veerying onto various topics related to LMUs and upgrades but I think the crux of what was raised is still valid and has not been answered by anyone.
Specifically, in the original thread when LMUs were introduced and there were a whole bunch of questions Andrew stated on June 6, 2009:
"I don't have a problem answering the questions. This last minute paid upgrade program is not related to upgrade certificate upgrades in any way. All this is based on someone making the comment that if there is I class for a flight, then for sure this will be offered - this is simply not true, you guys are more than welcomed to test this out on your flights. Our revenue management department will determine what flights will be available for this and passengers will be offered this option when they OLCI or kiosk check in. They are well aware that one of the ways our tier passengers can access the J cabin is to use their upgrade certificates, so let's not start any rumors or theories that we will not clear I class but instead try to sell the cabin with this program and keep our tier passengers from upgrading (which is not true). This is simply just another way for our passengers to access the J cabin and is really no different than the J seat sales that we have sometimes (including the very attractive one that we had last week - example: $599 for YYZ/YVR, $299 YYZ/MCO, $399 YYZ/LAS). If anything, you guys should see this as a positive such that if you ran out of certs and this happen to be offered on your flight, this is another way that you can get into the J cabin.
The bolded part is where I believe the general FT understanding that AC will clear R class (then known as I class) before offering LMUs came from.
...
Actually, AY directly addressed this question when I posted it a while back, as I've posted earlier here,
From this thread:
Originally Posted by
Andrew Yiu
We only make LMU available after we clear all waitlisted R class customers. If you decide to add yourself to the list on the day of departure, you're on the waitlist not because we didn't clear you, but because you didn't request the upgrade in advance.
There is no "general understanding", it's what's presented as facts by an official AC rep!