Apr 2, 2017, 9:28 pm
Last edit by: Bohemian1
Moderator note: Any questions regarding availability/fare buckets on a specific flight or flights should be posted in the fare bucket check request thread. Any such posts in this thread will be deleted.
Q: When should I use eUpgrades, and when should I use AC Bid?
A: For starters, you can use both of them on a single booking. If one upgrade is accepted, the other is cancelled at no cost to you. One thing to consider is that eUpgrade priority is highly influenced by your Aeroplan Elite status and the fare class of the original ticket, but AC Bid is influenced by your bid as compared to other people. If you don't have a high Aeroplan Elite status, AC Bid may be the better choice for you.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade do I get additional SQM / SQD now for my flights?
A: No.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade on an International Flight leaving YYZ/YVR do I get access to the Signature Lounge?
A: No.
Q: When will I find out if my bid was successful?
A: You will be sent an email within 36 to 48 hours prior to your departure.
Q: If I am successfully upgraded, which baggage limit applies?
A: The baggage rules of the upgraded ticket apply. Note that this is different than eUpgrades, where the original tickets baggage rules still apply.
Q: When do I pay for a bid?
A: Your credit card is only charged when the bid is accepted, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours before departure. Note that if your card is declined, even temporarily for a fraud check, you will lose the bid and will not get another opportunity.
Q: Can I cancel an AC Bid?
A: Yes, but only until 48 hours before departure.
Q: If I cancel the booking after successfully bidding for an upgrade, or if I miss the flight, will I get a refund?
A: No.
Q: If Air Canada rebooks me on another flight, what happens to my AC Bid upgrade?
A: You keep it and Air Canada will put you in the upgraded cabin on the new flight. If the new flight does not have Premium Economy, or if there are not enough Business class seats, then your AC Bid will be refunded.
Q: I have a flight going from XXX to YYY on DD-MM-YY and the minimum bid is $ZZZ - what are my chances / what should I bid?
A: No one here really knows how Plusgrade as implemented by AC really 'decides' which bids to accept.
There are so many potential variables that it's best just to bid what you feel the upgrade is worth to you.
AC Bid Upgrade - FAQs
If your upgrade request is accepted, the fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable with respect to cancellation policies, change fees, conditions for minimum and maximum stay, and rules relating to the accrual of frequent flyer miles. All other conditions will be per the upgraded fare class.
On the AC website:
"AC Bid Upgrade - Your opportunity to travel in a higher cabin class"
https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirCanada
Q: When should I use eUpgrades, and when should I use AC Bid?
A: For starters, you can use both of them on a single booking. If one upgrade is accepted, the other is cancelled at no cost to you. One thing to consider is that eUpgrade priority is highly influenced by your Aeroplan Elite status and the fare class of the original ticket, but AC Bid is influenced by your bid as compared to other people. If you don't have a high Aeroplan Elite status, AC Bid may be the better choice for you.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade do I get additional SQM / SQD now for my flights?
A: No.
Q: If I use a Bid Upgrade on an International Flight leaving YYZ/YVR do I get access to the Signature Lounge?
A: No.
Q: When will I find out if my bid was successful?
A: You will be sent an email within 36 to 48 hours prior to your departure.
Q: If I am successfully upgraded, which baggage limit applies?
A: The baggage rules of the upgraded ticket apply. Note that this is different than eUpgrades, where the original tickets baggage rules still apply.
Q: When do I pay for a bid?
A: Your credit card is only charged when the bid is accepted, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours before departure. Note that if your card is declined, even temporarily for a fraud check, you will lose the bid and will not get another opportunity.
Q: Can I cancel an AC Bid?
A: Yes, but only until 48 hours before departure.
Q: If I cancel the booking after successfully bidding for an upgrade, or if I miss the flight, will I get a refund?
A: No.
Q: If Air Canada rebooks me on another flight, what happens to my AC Bid upgrade?
A: You keep it and Air Canada will put you in the upgraded cabin on the new flight. If the new flight does not have Premium Economy, or if there are not enough Business class seats, then your AC Bid will be refunded.
Q: I have a flight going from XXX to YYY on DD-MM-YY and the minimum bid is $ZZZ - what are my chances / what should I bid?
A: No one here really knows how Plusgrade as implemented by AC really 'decides' which bids to accept.
There are so many potential variables that it's best just to bid what you feel the upgrade is worth to you.
AC Bid Upgrade - FAQs
If your upgrade request is accepted, the fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable with respect to cancellation policies, change fees, conditions for minimum and maximum stay, and rules relating to the accrual of frequent flyer miles. All other conditions will be per the upgraded fare class.
On the AC website:
"AC Bid Upgrade - Your opportunity to travel in a higher cabin class"
https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirCanada
Air Canada Bid Upgrade Program
Dec 24, 2016, 7:18 am
#166
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 82
So I bid on a YYZ-FRA flight. I am currently booked in PY(N) and the bid range was $400-$800. Based on the seat map alone, it looked like J was wide open so I bid $450 (x2) but my bid was declined. I have since got access to EF and this is the availability (granted this could have changed if other bids were accepted):
J5 C5 D5 Z5 P4 R4 O8 E7 N3 Y1 B1 M1 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0
I don't fully understand what this means. Is the highest fare class in each cabin the total seats available i.e. 5 for business, 8 for premium economy and 1 for economy?
J5 C5 D5 Z5 P4 R4 O8 E7 N3 Y1 B1 M1 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0
I don't fully understand what this means. Is the highest fare class in each cabin the total seats available i.e. 5 for business, 8 for premium economy and 1 for economy?
Dec 24, 2016, 8:38 am
#167
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: 44,302
You're correct in your understanding, but I want to clarify that Y1 means there is 1 seat in economy available for sale.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
Dec 24, 2016, 9:21 am
#168
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 82
You're correct in your understanding, but I want to clarify that Y1 means there is 1 seat in economy available for sale.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
We will probably end up with our original PY seats (which is fine) as I am guessing an LMU will be too pricey if offered and an op-up unlikely with no status.
Dec 24, 2016, 9:37 am
#169
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,396
You're correct in your understanding, but I want to clarify that Y1 means there is 1 seat in economy available for sale.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
It could already be oversold in economy.
With J5, I'm not surprised your bids were not accepted.
One of my biggest issues with UA is that on day of departure, so many flights are F0 that I simply can't book or change to them. I don't want AC zeroing out flights a few days out to accept a couple hundred dollars. And I'm glad they're not doing it.
Dec 24, 2016, 9:45 am
#171
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
I'm glad to hear this. Presumably the revenue AC will get from the bidding program will be less than the impact they would feel if they degraded the ability to upgrade.
Dec 24, 2016, 1:01 pm
#172
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: SEMM
Posts: 22
Is my understanding of this correct?
T-7 I request an upgrade. As long as R>0 or P>0 (domestic and tb vs international) my request will clear. It doesn't matter that there is now bidding.
If it's J2P1R1, and I request an upgrade at T-7, since R>0, my request will clear for a flight in Canada. Bids come out of R, but as long as I request the upgrade farther than 3 days out, then I'm good?
Question #2: If I put in a min. bid of $300 and my max bid is $1000, will AC automatically take $1000? Or if the going bid is $500, that they take $510?
T-7 I request an upgrade. As long as R>0 or P>0 (domestic and tb vs international) my request will clear. It doesn't matter that there is now bidding.
If it's J2P1R1, and I request an upgrade at T-7, since R>0, my request will clear for a flight in Canada. Bids come out of R, but as long as I request the upgrade farther than 3 days out, then I'm good?
Question #2: If I put in a min. bid of $300 and my max bid is $1000, will AC automatically take $1000? Or if the going bid is $500, that they take $510?
Dec 24, 2016, 1:15 pm
#173
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 82
When you are able to bid, AC gives you a range of how much you can bid. You pick a number in that range which is your bid and will be how much you will be charged if your bid is successful.
Dec 24, 2016, 1:55 pm
#174
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,396
Dec 24, 2016, 2:01 pm
#175
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: SEMM
Posts: 22
I have been perusing this thread off and on. The information that led me to think it came out of R is based on the information on this thread. But no, it is not official info from AC
Dec 24, 2016, 2:34 pm
#176
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: 44,302
People have lost bids when there was still R space after bids were processed. It is definitely not as simple as just looking at a fare class.
Dec 24, 2016, 3:30 pm
#178
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: 44,302
For example, SE Y IKK isn't based on any specific class, but you're booked in X. SE J IKK availability is based on R, but you're booked in I.
Dec 24, 2016, 4:26 pm
#179
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,396
(You are absolutely right; just illustrating that there are other ways that you can end up with an R fare even if you didn't/can't buy it.)