I have a question about JAL's upgrade bidding system. I've purchased JL5 (JFK-HND) in PE (fare E) for early November and would very much like to bid on an upgrade to Biz. ExpertFlyer.com shows 20 available seats atm. I have no status with JL nor OW.

When I go to JAL's bid page, the counter shows the following:
- Fair starts at USD 730
- Very Good starts at USD 900

For those of you who have succeeded with paid upgrades recently, how much did you bid and what did the counter say your odds were?
Any suggestions on how much I should bid for JL5 (which I assume is always a busy route in C, yes?)
If I bid earlier rather than later, does it make a difference? I believe I can update/cancel the bid until 2-3 days before the flight.

Any feedback you guys can provide is greatly appreciated!