echino

My experience was the opposite. Y seat on J Aeroplan award on AC transborder flight. Numerous upgrades cleared, but I remained in Y seat. An AC agent explained to me that I was at the very bottom of the list, after all upgrades, etc.

canadiancow

Because you have no status.

It's not that they clear "after", it's just that they're at the bottom of the fare class list.

pitz

nevermind.... too much time wasted on this topic, and nobody seems to be happy with any of the answers as it seems to be all over the map... Bottom line: seek confirmation whenever possible. Otherwise, it might just turn out to be a bit of a lotto, even though 'officially' AP J should get a person on the waitlist, not an upgrade list.

gcashin

The terms of a mixed cabin Aeroplan reward are clear that you can "request an upgrade" at the airport for J seat. Everything else on this forum including info from AC reps and experience from other passengers says that they go on the upgrade list. OP's experience that their upgrade didn't clear when plenty of other upgrade requests cleared is a pretty good example of how they are handled on the upgrade list, differently than if someone bought a J ticket and was waitlisted for a seat.

Yes, the person has paid the points for J, but AC sets the rules and AC treats it as an upgrade, so there's a decent chance it may not clear.

gcashin

At one point (many years ago), this was correct. My understanding is that this was changed several years ago, and the current system where these are handled via the upgrade list has been in effect for a few years. What makes you think AP tickets are confirmed ahead of upgrade requests?

pitz

We've had various posters who have indicated that it works through the behaviour I mention. And only one poster, thus far, who has indicated something different, in actual experience.

So its not entirely clear what the 'rules' are, but unless something has changed very recently, AP J goes onto a waitlist, not an upgrade list. And is not considered an 'upgrade'.

I wouldn't recommend anyone make a mixed booking unless they have no hurt feelings if they ultimately are forced to sit in Y as confirmed.

As J cabins continue to shrink to reflect revenue ticket demand, the prognosis for successful waitlisting and/or upgrading is likely to worsen.

canadiancow

The "upgrade list" is a "waitlist", so I'm not sure what you mean.

Also, when you book a mixed cabin itinerary, this is the message you get (current as of this morning, emphasis mine):

I'll also note that standby is a separate list that is processed AFTER upgrades.

So a no-status nominee on a low Flex fare will get an upgrade ahead of a SE on a J fare standing by from a later flight. But that SE will be offered the seat that that upgrader has vacated. And while you can say that you paid for J with Aeroplan, you've paid Aeroplan, but not Air Canada. In my example, you've paid AC for J. I have experienced this several times. The idea that you've paid for J, therefore you're at the top, simply isn't true.

Ben Lipsey

Apologies, I thought I was pretty clear. For AC flights on an Aeroplan-issued award you will be allowed into the MLL even if you have a connecting flight in Y. For Star Alliance flights or for AC flights booked via a Star Alliance member, since we have no way of looking up your reservation, a valid Star Gold card is required for lounge entry.

Ben Lipsey

You should have been allowed in YYZ assuming it was an Aeroplan award (ie not a *A award). If agent refused to look up your AC PNR to check for J redemption, I apologise but this was a mistake.

Ben Lipsey

It's the same list. Passengers who have paid [revenue] J but seated in Y are at the top of the waitlist for an upgrade, as technically an upgrade is any time you are moved from a lower cabin to a higher one and as far as the system is concerned you are seated in a lower cabin.

Aeroplan tickets are not considered 'revenue J' and as a result are prioritised below those that have paid revenue fares, distinguished by status. As canadiancow mentions (referencing what I said when I first posted the list) an Aeroplan Y ticket books into X which is at the bottom of the fare hierarchy, so as a result will be processed after revenue tickets (i.e. Flex/Latitude/Premium Economy) but ahead of those holding lower status. I hope that clears things up.

Stranger

According to this, the policy was changed in 2006: Not sure I would call that "very recently."

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/6725292-post1.html

Additionally, as mentioned earlier Ben did indeed at one point confirm that X is near the bottom, below revenue fare classes, within each status category:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23155613-post102.html

canadiancow

I'm getting a kick out of that thread.

What the heck are D and W?

It's interesting seeing the same arguments of who should have priority 9 years ago as we've had here recently.

yscleo

I had the exact opposite, allowed in MLL and denied in United Club (while allowed in UC in the same situation just days ago).

jcoop

So in a nutshell, someone in this situation is very far down the pecking order, behind any pax who has a revenue ticket in any fare class. They will only be ahead of other Aeroplan ticketholders with lower status, and op ups.

Ben Lipsey

No, as far as I understand it they will be behind revenue fare tickets held by those with the same status, but ahead of revenue tickets held by those of lesser status. i.e. SE in X will be ahead of E in H