Originally Posted by Emma65
How does the upgrade system work?
I'm *A Gold via BD and by the looks of it will do quite a few jumps between Europe and North America in jan - march which will render me elite with AE (I think AE program is better) by end of march.
Can I use my *A Gold to request upgrades?
I flew KLM a lot and have been gold with them for the past 3 years but losing it now. Once in all the times I've asked have I been upgraded on request. One op-up, one on points and NWA upgraded med when I was delayed in to Detroit and they realised they'd forgotten to reschedule me on a later flight to Orlando. By then Y was full and when they noticed my elite status with FD (at the time) gave me a seat in first.
I've never asked at check in. Always at gate (until I gave up as I was always turned down) and was also told at gate to check with flight crew (and that never works. Was rather rudely told I need to be a member of their FFP and use miles or have elite status. I was wondering what part of "I am gold elite" she didn't understand but never said anything. Y was chock full and C was wide empty)
So, anyway - how does it work? I keep reading a lot about people being upgraded with no voucher, nor are they using miles.
The one thing I have understood is to not book a special meal.
/E
1) You need to have Air Canada status;
2) *G (except for Air Canada of course Elite or Super Elite of course) status doesn't apply in terms of upgrades;
3) You can use Air Canada upgrade certificates on eligible fares;
4) No other upgrade certificates (i.e. *G certs, UA certs, etc) on Air Canada metal will work;
5) If you don't have status with AC then if a travel companion who has status with Air Canada can upgrade you with a cert if you are on the same flight as them (provided you and your host are on an eligible fare);
6) Can't use Aeroplan miles to upgrade (nor any other type of miles).
7) Those using flight passes that are originally booked in Latitude fares can upgrade 24 hours before the flight without using a certificate;
8) If your upgrade doesn't clear when you call in ahead of time you will have to wait until the date of departure to see if it clears and if not you have check-in (online (12 hours) or in person) and get back onto the upgrade waitlist that the airport has control of, in which case you will most likely need to wait at the gate for your name to be called.
9) If your upgrade clears ahead of time then you're pretty much good to go.
10) Priority for upgrades (i.e. at the gate) are supposed to be in order of status, then fare paid, then time of checkin. So theoretically a Super Elite on a Tango Plus fare trumps an Elite on a Latitude fare trumps a Prestige on a Latitude Plus fare trumps a second Prestige on a Latitude Plus fare who checked in a minute after the first Prestige.
I'm probably missing other points so I'll let others chime in.