Mar 11, 2019, 6:14 pm
Last edit by: yyznomad
Current eUpgrade Promotion for eUpgrade Requests Made Until June 30, 2020
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/eupgrade-offer.html
Upgrades to Business Class
US
Europe/Middle East/South America
Asia/Australia
Upgrades to Premium Economy
US (This is the only promotion for Premium Economy at this time)
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/eupgrade-offer.html
Upgrades to Business Class
US
Europe/Middle East/South America
Asia/Australia
Upgrades to Premium EconomyUS (This is the only promotion for Premium Economy at this time)
New eUpgrade Requirements! Co-pay for lower flex fares
Jan 2, 2018, 8:52 pm
#286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,257
I gave an old friend a (IKK in Y) points ticket to come visit me from Florida as a Xmas present. Maybe a bad idea given the cold wave (he's wearing my spare parka these days...), but otherwise fine.
Today I checked my eUp acct and lo and behold, -6 eUps for *his* flight came out of my account. He's not a frequent flyer and doesn't know the lingo, but turns out at checkin online he was given the option to "upgrade ORD-YYZ for $125", which he thought was "cheap" and paid the $ out of his own pocket, ignoring stuff he didn't understand about "e-something". Turns out AC just took eUps out of my account, presumably since my FF # is on the ticket since it came from my points. He definitely is not my nominee, nor was I travelling with him.
Now, as it happens he used 6 pts I would have orphaned come Feb, so this is actually a + this time from my point of view. Personally, I wouldn't pay $125+0 points for ORD-YYZ, but had I known he would have wanted this, and that's is possible to upgrade someone like this, I would have cheerfully done it. But if I had carefully just enough pt lefts for eUpping my own and/or my wife's upcoming trips to Europe, and he accidentally zinged those pts, I would have been pretty surprised and upset.
So - is this a fluke IT bug of some sort? Or is it intended behaviour, which could be super for the right kind of ticket-for-a-friend and a big pitfall in other cases?
Today I checked my eUp acct and lo and behold, -6 eUps for *his* flight came out of my account. He's not a frequent flyer and doesn't know the lingo, but turns out at checkin online he was given the option to "upgrade ORD-YYZ for $125", which he thought was "cheap" and paid the $ out of his own pocket, ignoring stuff he didn't understand about "e-something". Turns out AC just took eUps out of my account, presumably since my FF # is on the ticket since it came from my points. He definitely is not my nominee, nor was I travelling with him.
Now, as it happens he used 6 pts I would have orphaned come Feb, so this is actually a + this time from my point of view. Personally, I wouldn't pay $125+0 points for ORD-YYZ, but had I known he would have wanted this, and that's is possible to upgrade someone like this, I would have cheerfully done it. But if I had carefully just enough pt lefts for eUpping my own and/or my wife's upcoming trips to Europe, and he accidentally zinged those pts, I would have been pretty surprised and upset.
So - is this a fluke IT bug of some sort? Or is it intended behaviour, which could be super for the right kind of ticket-for-a-friend and a big pitfall in other cases?
Jan 2, 2018, 9:43 pm
#287
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,331
I was trying to do the upgrade for them myself but was unable prior to flight time. They asked the agent about possibility for upgrade and she said no way you are going to get it. I guess my priority applied and they snagged the last 2 seats. They took out 26 eupgrade credits for the two tickets (should have been 52, maybe one was comped due to MY status--they have no status with AC) out of my eupgrade account. i was quite happy they got the upgrade as that was what I was trying to accomplish but couldn't.
Jan 2, 2018, 9:45 pm
#288
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,257
Not unintended but it explains why in January points came out of my account to upgrade the daughter and son-in-law coming from Chile to Canada on an Aeroplan ticket out of my account. They weren't charged anything though (they were in Premium Economy)!
I was trying to do the upgrade for them myself but was unable prior to flight time. They asked the agent about possibility for upgrade and she said no way you are going to get it. I guess my priority applied and they snagged the last 2 seats. They took out 26 eupgrade credits for the two tickets (should have been 52, maybe one was comped due to MY status--they have no status with AC) out of my eupgrade account. i was quite happy they got the upgrade as that was what I was trying to accomplish but couldn't.
I was trying to do the upgrade for them myself but was unable prior to flight time. They asked the agent about possibility for upgrade and she said no way you are going to get it. I guess my priority applied and they snagged the last 2 seats. They took out 26 eupgrade credits for the two tickets (should have been 52, maybe one was comped due to MY status--they have no status with AC) out of my eupgrade account. i was quite happy they got the upgrade as that was what I was trying to accomplish but couldn't.
in fact, I don't think this even exists on the eUp charts. (?)
Jan 2, 2018, 11:44 pm
#289
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 50K, NZ Gold
Posts: 222
Ok, what am I missing here? J class to Pudong is $3500 RT.
The cheapest fare to upgrade is $820 + 26 credits + $850 CAD (taxes incl.)
That's $1670 plus the credits, right? OK. so please explain why you think that a Tango fare customer is going to be able to easily upgrade
You are aware that on the longhaul routes, the load factory is rather high? There is an ongoing issue of overbooking.
Then there are going to be the aeropoint addicts who will want their full points and will fly in flex and will also assume that they will stand a better chance of an upgrade. However, more likely will be the folks in PE looking to upgrade and they will occupy a higher part of the pecking order.
I appreciate that you like living life on the edge, an adventurer, willing to try new things like red tortilla chips vs yellow, or wearing those odd fitting boxer briefs from HM which I can't wear because I am too fat and too old. However, it seems to me that it is very, unlikely you will score the upgrade from a Tango fare. In plane language you are deluded. (Yes, I know it should be plain, but this is an air travel forum and I am trying to show off my grasp of language, and offer a witty pun, which I shouldn't have to explain, but I just know someone will notice). Of course, I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time, but I just think you are setting yourself up for heartbreak. Unless you have an ability to charm the system. Everyone's going to be upgrading, so it's going to be difficult to get one. What am I missing?
The cheapest fare to upgrade is $820 + 26 credits + $850 CAD (taxes incl.)
That's $1670 plus the credits, right? OK. so please explain why you think that a Tango fare customer is going to be able to easily upgrade
You are aware that on the longhaul routes, the load factory is rather high? There is an ongoing issue of overbooking.
Then there are going to be the aeropoint addicts who will want their full points and will fly in flex and will also assume that they will stand a better chance of an upgrade. However, more likely will be the folks in PE looking to upgrade and they will occupy a higher part of the pecking order.
I appreciate that you like living life on the edge, an adventurer, willing to try new things like red tortilla chips vs yellow, or wearing those odd fitting boxer briefs from HM which I can't wear because I am too fat and too old. However, it seems to me that it is very, unlikely you will score the upgrade from a Tango fare. In plane language you are deluded. (Yes, I know it should be plain, but this is an air travel forum and I am trying to show off my grasp of language, and offer a witty pun, which I shouldn't have to explain, but I just know someone will notice). Of course, I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time, but I just think you are setting yourself up for heartbreak. Unless you have an ability to charm the system. Everyone's going to be upgrading, so it's going to be difficult to get one. What am I missing?
Jan 3, 2018, 6:34 am
#290
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,331
Jan 3, 2018, 9:02 am
#291
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,257
Jan 3, 2018, 11:25 am
#292
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,331
Appears so--I had no explanation, now way of figuring out what was appropriate level of points but it was OK by me since the "kids" flew in the class of service that I wanted.
Jan 3, 2018, 2:32 pm
#293
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,437
I gave an old friend a (IKK in Y) points ticket to come visit me from Florida as a Xmas present. Maybe a bad idea given the cold wave (he's wearing my spare parka these days...), but otherwise fine.
Today I checked my eUp acct and lo and behold, -6 eUps for *his* flight came out of my account. He's not a frequent flyer and doesn't know the lingo, but turns out at checkin online he was given the option to "upgrade ORD-YYZ for $125", which he thought was "cheap" and paid the $ out of his own pocket, ignoring stuff he didn't understand about "e-something". Turns out AC just took eUps out of my account, presumably since my FF # is on the ticket since it came from my points. He definitely is not my nominee, nor was I travelling with him.
Now, as it happens he used 6 pts I would have orphaned come Feb, so this is actually a + this time from my point of view. Personally, I wouldn't pay $125+0 points for ORD-YYZ, but had I known he would have wanted this, and that's is possible to upgrade someone like this, I would have cheerfully done it. But if I had carefully just enough pt lefts for eUpping my own and/or my wife's upcoming trips to Europe, and he accidentally zinged those pts, I would have been pretty surprised and upset.
So - is this a fluke IT bug of some sort? Or is it intended behaviour, which could be super for the right kind of ticket-for-a-friend and a big pitfall in other cases?
Today I checked my eUp acct and lo and behold, -6 eUps for *his* flight came out of my account. He's not a frequent flyer and doesn't know the lingo, but turns out at checkin online he was given the option to "upgrade ORD-YYZ for $125", which he thought was "cheap" and paid the $ out of his own pocket, ignoring stuff he didn't understand about "e-something". Turns out AC just took eUps out of my account, presumably since my FF # is on the ticket since it came from my points. He definitely is not my nominee, nor was I travelling with him.
Now, as it happens he used 6 pts I would have orphaned come Feb, so this is actually a + this time from my point of view. Personally, I wouldn't pay $125+0 points for ORD-YYZ, but had I known he would have wanted this, and that's is possible to upgrade someone like this, I would have cheerfully done it. But if I had carefully just enough pt lefts for eUpping my own and/or my wife's upcoming trips to Europe, and he accidentally zinged those pts, I would have been pretty surprised and upset.
So - is this a fluke IT bug of some sort? Or is it intended behaviour, which could be super for the right kind of ticket-for-a-friend and a big pitfall in other cases?
This seems like an inappropriate use though. Per policy, this should not have been allowed. And what if you wanted to fight it? You never authorized the use. They were not your nominee. I suspect they'd have to give you the credits back.
This is something that needs fixing. It makes me much more hesitant to book Y for anyone now
Jan 16, 2018, 3:46 pm
#294
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Air Canada Altitude
Posts: 1
E-Upgrades for SE100k Members
I'm not sure if people are aware, but now you have to check the type of Flex Fare you book with AC if you want to use your e-Upgrade credits without having to make a co-pay as a SE 100k member. All Flex fares used to be co-pay free for SE 100k members, but with recent changes a co-pay is now included ... unless you want to spend almost as much as a Latitude fare but get Flex fare conditions.
I'm beyond angry at this, and sick of AC whittling away all the privileges that come with SE 100k status. I know I sound like a cry-baby, but when you spend enough money over 8 years to buy your own plane, and see the inside of their planes more than you do your own home, you would think they would take better care of you.
Thoughts from the hive?
I'm beyond angry at this, and sick of AC whittling away all the privileges that come with SE 100k status. I know I sound like a cry-baby, but when you spend enough money over 8 years to buy your own plane, and see the inside of their planes more than you do your own home, you would think they would take better care of you.
Thoughts from the hive?
Jan 17, 2018, 6:22 am
#296
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 425
Yes, welcome to FT! And I'm fully with you on this - if I'm not on a flight pass I'm required to book lowest flex, so I'm caught. Another "enhancement" by AC, this time devaluing eupgrade credits.
Jan 17, 2018, 7:57 am
#297
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,257
A reminder to some... that the Flex fares that need copay are not part of the original Flex fare classes that continue to have no copay.
All copays are required where Flex shares fare classes with Tango, differentiated by the TG and FL fare bases.
So yes "low" "Flex" (i.e. the new TG Flex fares that share the same classes as Tango) requires copay, but if these "low" "Flex" fares had been called something else like "TinkyWinky", then nobody would be complaining about Flex because nothing would have changed.
The thing that sucks for those is having corporate policies that require Tango or the *new* "low Flex" class ranges which both require copay.
All copays are required where Flex shares fare classes with Tango, differentiated by the TG and FL fare bases.
So yes "low" "Flex" (i.e. the new TG Flex fares that share the same classes as Tango) requires copay, but if these "low" "Flex" fares had been called something else like "TinkyWinky", then nobody would be complaining about Flex because nothing would have changed.
The thing that sucks for those is having corporate policies that require Tango or the *new* "low Flex" class ranges which both require copay.
Jan 17, 2018, 8:05 am
#298
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,696
A reminder to some... that the Flex fares that need copay are not part of the original Flex fare classes that continue to have no copay.
All copays are required where Flex shares fare classes with Tango, differentiated by the TG and FL fare bases.
So yes "low" "Flex" (i.e. the new TG Flex fares that share the same classes as Tango) requires copay, but if these "low" "Flex" fares had been called something else like "TinkyWinky", then nobody would be complaining about Flex because nothing would have changed.
The thing that sucks for those is having corporate policies that require Tango or the *new* "low Flex" class ranges which both require copay.
All copays are required where Flex shares fare classes with Tango, differentiated by the TG and FL fare bases.
So yes "low" "Flex" (i.e. the new TG Flex fares that share the same classes as Tango) requires copay, but if these "low" "Flex" fares had been called something else like "TinkyWinky", then nobody would be complaining about Flex because nothing would have changed.
The thing that sucks for those is having corporate policies that require Tango or the *new* "low Flex" class ranges which both require copay.
Unless I'm mistaken, the only way to determine if you're going to get a co-pay is by comparing all TG and FL fares on a given route. Is there an easier way to avoid surprises?
Jan 17, 2018, 8:23 am
#299
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,257
Nope. Not at this time.
Jan 17, 2018, 10:03 am
#300
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,211
Actually, I think that pricing out a one way and picking 'show only flights available with upgrade" will do this. The screen that shows # of credits required also shows a copay, and also has a link to show the cost of a flight with less eups (and likely no copay) required