|
Originally Posted by Stranger
(Post 15003326)
I think you still got this wrong.
Surely they must have eUpgrades enabled from the moment they release next year's program. So for the period Jan-February, they'll have to have both systems working concurrently. Which is what I read in the statement whereby the system will be enabled in December. |
Originally Posted by pnear
(Post 15003275)
The most interesting part of the announcement for me was this:
"And no matter how you completed your booking, you can request upgrades to Executive ClassŪ or Executive FirstŪ on aircanada.com." I am forced to book my travel through a corporate travel agent, and to be honest I don't trust that they are processing my upgrade requests as diligently as I would. I interpret from the sentence above that I'll be able to now get in line for upgrades at the four-day mark on my own via aircanada.com. For me, that's a huge improvement. Pete |
My plan had been to make my E choices as soon as I received the email and to try to use my 2 SSWUs in mid Jan or Feb on flights already booked. It now appears that this will not be possible.
As with others, I will also be curious to see how this works initially, particularly in making upgrade requests online. Right now, I always use the midnight phone call process, but I suspect that the eupgrades will be like flight pass reservations and changes - generally only able to be done online, not by phone. I understand this is a function of the limitations between the separate software that runs these functions and the AC main res system. Anyone else have any insight? |
I support this and is a great move. We have been asking for this for years. Well Done AC! ^:D
|
Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
(Post 15000961)
There are a couple of other issues nobody has realized yet...
1. If you book a Latitude fare you can upgrade at time of booking, even if you are not yet in possession of an expected upgrade mailing. You just have to hope that it arrives before your flight. On the other hand, if they are deposited into your "account" immediately upon reaching the threshold you wouldn't have to worry about the mail. 2. If you go from nothing/Presige (same thing, really) to Elite to Super Elite in the same year, and you select bonus status miles as part of your Elite package, AC has been clawing back those status miles once you reach Super Elite. Now it may be possible to do the same thing with upgrades. I suppose you could just use them up in advance of reaching Super Elite, but if you select certs as part of your SE package, it would be possible to debit them against your previously issued upgrades. Not saying it would happen, only that it could. |
another happy customer!
Originally Posted by Silvercity
(Post 15005864)
...We have been asking for this for years. Well Done AC! ^:D
|
Absent minded
Speaking for all absent-minded travellers out there, the e-cert availability will trump any other potential drawbacks. Nothing, I mean nothing, is worse than sitting in the back of the bus because you put the wrong shorts on the morning of a long flight...
Congrats AC...now all you need to do is the proper IT homework. Benchmark the success stories, conduct some focus groups, and perform a beta-test on software, in the hopes you will get it right, the first time. |
Great move for AC and upgrades! ^^^^^^^^
Now, it's time for Air Canada and Aeroplan to step up to the plate and introduce a few TWEAKS simultaneously. 1) Allow each Electronic Upgrade a ONE YEAR VALIDITY. 2) Allow RE-qulifying members to access the following year's upgrades on January 1st This is an important turning point for the Aeroplan program. I hope they take the time to do it right. Once again, great announcement! |
While I agree that this move is, in general, good. But the evil is in the details. I won't give AC ^ yet until I see the fine prints.
Just like elimination of 30% IKK surcharge, we all praised AC too soon before realizing that capacity control made it worse than the 30% surcharge. |
Originally Posted by seanthepilot
(Post 15008944)
2) Allow RE-qulifying members to access the following year's upgrades on January 1st If my departure date is January 1, when do I request my upgrade? If I am planning a trip to Florida for January and buy my Latitude ticket in September, I should be able to confirm my upgrade immediately if upgrade space is available, as it is the case now. It should be on a rolling 12 months basis with the caveat that the member is still a P, E or SE at time of travel. |
Originally Posted by Clipper801
(Post 15009575)
Why?
If my departure date is January 1, when do I request my upgrade? If I am planning a trip to Florida for January and buy my Latitude ticket in September, I should be able to confirm my upgrade immediately if upgrade space is available, as it is the case now. It should be on a rolling 12 months basis with the caveat that the member is still a P, E or SE at time of travel. In the past, anyone could phone into HH to book a reward room, regardless of whether they had enough points, cert in hand, etc, etc. Once HH went totally electronic, you needed a cert in hand. I'm pretty sure this will be implemented once they go electronic. As for sean's suggestion, I think you're talking about something totally different. Sean is suggesting the ability to access upgrade certs as of Jan 1, 2011 that are part of your 2011/12 P/E/SE selected benefits. However, I do agree with your rolling 12 month validity suggestion. No reason why that can't be done now that they'll be electronic. |
"caveat that the member is still a P, E or SE at time of travel"
Not sure this is even important. In other programs, like UA, anyone can use the certs--you just get to do it by status in terms of first or last in line. They could change the rules so newly basic members that were previously SE or E or P could still use them but perhaps it would be 24 hours in advance for basic, 48 for P, 4 days for E and 7 days for SE for Tango Plus fares. That would still give higher tiers first dibs on lower fares. I think anyone could still use them for Latitude fares at time of booking or even here it could be a tier: SE at time of booking, 7 days for E, 48 for P and 24 hr for basic. It would encourage recently "fallen" members to continue flying AC and perhaps even get back with the program. |
Originally Posted by BlondeBomber
(Post 15010138)
"caveat that the member is still a P, E or SE at time of travel"
Not sure this is even important. In other programs, like UA, anyone can use the certs--you just get to do it by status in terms of first or last in line. They could change the rules so newly basic members that were previously SE or E or P could still use them but perhaps it would be 24 hours in advance for basic, 48 for P, 4 days for E and 7 days for SE for Tango Plus fares. That would still give higher tiers first dibs on lower fares. I think anyone could still use them for Latitude fares at time of booking or even here it could be a tier: SE at time of booking, 7 days for E, 48 for P and 24 hr for basic. It would encourage recently "fallen" members to continue flying AC and perhaps even get back with the program. In fact, by Dec. 1, 2011 you have only accumulated a total of 20,000 Status Miles and therefore received a threshold upgrade that is good until Dec. 1, 2012. (Assuming threshold does not change and the upgrade is for 12 months from date of issue.) You book a flight with the upgrade cert. for April 15, 2012. You do not fly again after Dec. 1, 2011 and do not even qualify for P. So should you be able to use the upgrade cert. on April 15, 2012? Lots of questions and lots of assumptions here. Let's wait for the eUpgrade to officially roll out to read the "fine prints"! How does the UA scheme work in such a case when one does not re-qualify for upper tier? |
sure--why not? you earned it
|
Originally Posted by Braindrain
(Post 15009744)
I'm guessing it'll turn into the HH style of e-certs.
In the past, anyone could phone into HH to book a reward room, regardless of whether they had enough points, cert in hand, etc, etc. Once HH went totally electronic, you needed a cert in hand. I'm pretty sure this will be implemented once they go electronic. As for sean's suggestion, I think you're talking about something totally different. Sean is suggesting the ability to access upgrade certs as of Jan 1, 2011 that are part of your 2011/12 P/E/SE selected benefits. However, I do agree with your rolling 12 month validity suggestion. No reason why that can't be done now that they'll be electronic. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:57 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.