Air Canada Throwback Thursday
Oct 29, 2020 | 9:22 am
#138
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,900
I only dealt with the paper certs for a year or two (and never as SE), but I don't miss them at all. I know that the GAs would occasionally forget to collect them and that was a nice bonus, but I find the eUp system to be far simpler to use.
Oct 29, 2020 | 9:29 am
#139
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
Oct 29, 2020 | 10:37 am
#140
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: 35,619
@ yyznomad Oh yes remember those SWUs which were super precious and valued like gold
Oct 29, 2020 | 6:09 pm
#141
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,684
@ yyznomad Oh yes remember those SWUs which were super precious and valued like gold
Oct 29, 2020 | 11:47 pm
#144
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,798
I actually used those certs and miss them SO much! My best uses of SSWU were YVR-SYD and SYD-YVR. I used KVS (is that still a thing?) to pick my dates strategically as a 35k (which was useful back then).
I remember being on a flight back with Mrs. PITUK LHR-YVR in J (I didn't pay for J, so I assume it was SWUs). The guy across from me was buying something expensive from duty free, so I offered him the discount coupon that we had. Turns out he was a SE who always paid for J J and said 'thanks' and gave me all his SWUs and SSWUs since he couldn't use them.
Good times.
Dr. PITUK
I remember being on a flight back with Mrs. PITUK LHR-YVR in J (I didn't pay for J, so I assume it was SWUs). The guy across from me was buying something expensive from duty free, so I offered him the discount coupon that we had. Turns out he was a SE who always paid for J J and said 'thanks' and gave me all his SWUs and SSWUs since he couldn't use them.
Good times.
Dr. PITUK
Oct 30, 2020 | 12:20 pm
#145
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: 35,619
2007/2008 Special System-Wide Upgrade (SSWU) Certificate
2007/2008 Special System-Wide Upgrade (SSWU) Certificate
Oct 30, 2020 | 1:45 pm
#146
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,684
Ahh those were golden. I always saved them for aspirational trips, which I didn't end up taking. I think I only ever used one, on PVG-YVR, My first experience in international business class (xm'd 767, it was a great flight). Thanks to FT I learned how to get higher priority on the list, and I was the last one to clear. I wanted to save the BP as a momento, but the PVG ground agents just wrote my new seat number in pen on my Y BP.
Oct 30, 2020 | 6:02 pm
#147
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,900
Remember when those were the height of luxury (or close to it, at least)? Now I'm glad to see them disappearing.
Oct 31, 2020 | 9:54 am
#149
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,671
I treasured those SSWUs. I don't think I ever finished a year with any left. I didn't treasure having to call in at midnight to ask for an upgrade, though.
Oct 31, 2020 | 9:57 am
#150
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: 35,619
Agreed that it was often inconvenient, especially when the upgrade system seemed like it was run with a tired hamster in its wheel. (The Hamsters Union should've lobbied for more hamsters to be hired)