The end result is often fare class on YYZ / YYC
 

So I suspect that my experience can then be explained due to the large number of *SE folks on this route looking to upgrade. So in the end it ends up being fare class within that pool. Since I'm only allowed to purchase the least expensive tango plus fares that pretty much places me near the bottom unless there are other factors.

Andrew, when you say 'status' is that a purely binary thing or does that have shades of grey - eg # status miles this year/last year etc?

Similarly with class of fare you can purchase the same classs of fare but at different prices, do these factor into the sort for upgrades?

I suspect that at the level of the gate, that kind of information is not going to be available, so it is likely to be status alone. But maybe they could give priority to the Million Milers ;), because that does show.

I'm glad that Andrew has confirmed that connections do not trump status, I guess I was misled by a concierge. I am however pretty certain that connections at least put you at the top of the status ladder as I have experienced first hand a few times.

As much we'd love them to spell it out, Air Canada has never been willing to confirm or deny the full upgrade priority rules. I'll let Andrew tell me I'm wrong, but I now believe the day of list is done by: status, connection/no connection, fare class, check-in time. With e-upgrades may also depend on when you were added to the e-upgrade list.

In my world,use em or lose em.I use them on rapidair,transcons and family member trips.

I am going thru my E-Credits like water weekly!:td::mad::mad::mad:

FYI, Apparently from what both the Concierge in YYZ and YVR MLL have confirmed to me that the following is what determines priority:

1. Status (I.E. SE, E, P)
2. Connections (furthest point connecting E.I YUL-YYZ-HKG, the SE in YUL connecting will go ahead of an SE originating in YYZ)
3. Fare Paid

thanks for confirming. I assume that check-in time or eupgrade time must also be the tie breaker in the end, but not sure which. I'm sure ties are rare, but I may ask next time I am speaking with a concierge.

At that point if there was a tie then the time of check-in would apply between both SE's.

I am 2 for 2 since the new rules came into place..both cleared immediately....usually buy Z fares on trans-pacific travel, so use the upgrades for domestic and transborder flights.

Thanks ANdrew for the clarification on priority.

Plumber

Can you please clarify as I can't seem to find info on my question on the AC website

I want to fly Latitude from YYZ to Sydney the week of July 18

I'm Elite

At the moment there are no instant upgrades guaranteeing me a seat in the front cabin

If i pay Latitude now, i'm still sitting in the back

What are my chances to get upgraded?

Because I would fly Latitude I would hope to be at the front of the wait list before a SE.......would this work?

I would also plan to fly with my friend who has no status (also flying latitude) and upgrade my friend with my eUpgrades

Most of the flights that week are showing J9, so there's a reasonable chance that if you book now, they will open up a seat within the next few weeks. The rules they use to decide on this are not public, so it's hard to know how status factors in. At the very worst, if things looked really bad you could cancel you r LAT fare for a refund and get a T+. I don't know how things work for a nominee.

If there is no R space released in advance then no you would not be ahead of the list it would still proceed as SE, E and then P etc...

SEs would always be ahead of Es if both are on the waitlist at the same time (whether prior or on day of departure)

thanks for the info Andrew

So i haven't booked yet as there is no advantage for me to buy a latitude flight now that doesn't guarantee me a first class seat

i could end up flying tango plus and have the same chance of upgrading if we waited until 4 days before

the benefit that I would get (please let me know if this is right)
is if I bought latitude now and 2 upgraded seats are available for us (say in the next week - more than a month ahead of the departure) we would get upgraded if i used my eUpgrades since with latitude fares you can get upgraded before the 4 days before departure

Air Canada would have my money now if i could use my eUpgrades in combo with buying 2 latitude fares....

Well if I were you this would be my strategy: buy a lat ticket right now and get on the waitlist, and set a deadline for yourself for the wait. Monitor the Y cabin load closely on the T+ fare classes because that'll determine how much you'll pay if you end up having to rebook into T+. If your upgrade doesn't get cleared by that deadline, get a full refund for your lat ticket and immediately rebook into T+.

I am 5 for 6, with the 6th currently waitlisted. However, 3 of those were latitude fares. The 2 T+ fares I have gotten through were waitlisted up until the 24 hour mark. I have 8 eUpgrades left as an SE.

Kind of seems like a low total of upgrades, especially since we got that one time bonus this year.

I should knock down one more threshold though.