via email:

Introducing Air Canada eUpgrades
Based on consistent Super Elite feedback, our 2011 Select Privileges will now feature Air Canada eUpgrades. If you select this privilege, we will set up a personal online account for you and deposit your eUpgrade Credits there.

Starting in December, you will be able to manage and use your eUpgrade Credits for travel on any Air Canada or Jazz� flight as of March 1, 2011. You'll even be able to share your eUpgrade Credits with other travellers. And no matter how you completed your booking, you can request upgrades to Executive Class� or Executive First� on aircanada.com. We will announce all the details when we unveil our 2011 Air Canada Top Tier Program in a few week's time.

In the meantime, your current paper certificates will remain valid until February 28, 2011. Should you have a confirmed upgrade for travel prior to this date, you will need to present a valid Air Canada Top Tier upgrade certificate at the airport.

Just beat me to it

^^^^ Very nice.

Just received this email myself,

As much as this is great news I have one big question. It sounds like it will not be implemented until March 1, after the 2010 certs expire. I would assume that means we do not have access to our 2011 certs until then.

I have a yearly overseas trip that I take mid January that I would use my 2 SSWU that would usually arrive just before my trip. It will be very disappointing if this means I can no longer do this.

I applaud the move, it just may effect me in a selfish way.

based on the wording ('if you select this privilege') - sounds like we might have to give something else up to get access to them..

It's about time!!! I'm curious what the "sleek new look" will look like

Yeah that's how I read that as well. Worrisome until clarified.

I read it as "if you select upgrade certs as part of your benefits package". There must be a few people out there (particularly at the AC*P level) who skip SW/NA upgrades in favour of benefits they can actually use.

Gee, my email says it was based on Elite feedback......

Among other things, the email is silent on when R space will be available to be booked for 2011.

It also mentioned you can share your certs with other travelers?
Can you give an SWU or SSWU other travelers now if they aren't on your flight?

Unless/Until we hear otherwise, I would take it to mean "and you can even book upgrades for your companions on the same flights right from the web!".

No. But with eUpgrades they will be able to track certs and see how they are used -- you might not be able to transfer one a second time, for example, or they might look for patterns of people selling certs.

So farewell to the GA *ahem* forgetting to lift the cert.

I was quite interested to see the comment that they will be releasing the details of the 2011 program in just a few weeks. That seems earlier than last year..

Also I noticed the e-mail was signed by Craig Landry the VP of Marketing - don't these messages normally go out under Ben Smith's name/title?

... or accepting incorrect cert. Even though I have to admit that neither of these things has happened in a long time. They seem to be much more vigilant now.

I hate spelling errors in official announcements. Maybe I should offer my proofreading services to AC even though English isn't even my first language!

I'm also curious to know if the certs will be valid for 12 months!!!!