Apr 2, 2017, 9:28 pm
Last edit by: Wigg
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.
Q: I was successful in a Bid Upgrade to the PY cabin. Can I now use my e upgrades to attempt to upgrade to J?
A: No. Only 1 upgrade is allowed. The same applies to a last minute upgrade to PY.
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.
Q: I was successful in a Bid Upgrade to the PY cabin. Can I now use my e upgrades to attempt to upgrade to J?
A: No. Only 1 upgrade is allowed. The same applies to a last minute upgrade to PY.
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
Sep 6, 2017, 11:52 am
#436
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,233
Sep 11, 2017, 10:47 pm
#437
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Vancouver / Los Angeles
Programs: AP Altitude E75K
Posts: 30
Sep 29, 2017, 12:19 pm
#438
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
I have an OW AP ticket from GRU to YYZ next monday. I just got an email about bid upgrade and was offered min. bid $1050 for J and $375 PE. Are those good price? Or I should wait? Would LMU be different usually? Thanks.
Oct 3, 2017, 6:16 am
#439
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 305
Upgrade question
I am flying YUL-ORD in a couple of weeks and would like to pay for an upgrade.
What are the odds that I will be able to bid on an upgrade 10 days out? Any advice on how much to bid?
How likely is it that an upgrade will be offered a check-in? Any idea how much these usually cost?
Thanks!
What are the odds that I will be able to bid on an upgrade 10 days out? Any advice on how much to bid?
How likely is it that an upgrade will be offered a check-in? Any idea how much these usually cost?
Thanks!
Oct 3, 2017, 8:26 am
#440
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
Not bad for J, would definitely jump on the PY if the J is not in your price range.
Oct 3, 2017, 1:17 pm
#441
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 678
Pretty happy with the new flights - no lie flat but no red eye for me either, so I do not have to go to work next tues like a zombie
Oct 3, 2017, 5:28 pm
#442
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
There are threads dedicated to how much it may cost. It depends on the number of available seats and AC's random number generator. I don't follow YUL to ORD but for a 2-3h(?) flight I'd say it'd be $200-$2000.
You can also phone AC and ask them how much it'd cost to upfare your current ticket to business class. If it's 2 weeks out they may be selling P (lowest business) and if you bought a high flex fare recently it may be a small difference. If you bought tango 6 months ago, it will likely be more.
Good luck.
Oct 4, 2017, 8:30 am
#443
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 305
I am flying YUL-ORD in a couple of weeks and would like to pay for an upgrade.
What are the odds that I will be able to bid on an upgrade 10 days out? Any advice on how much to bid?
How likely is it that an upgrade will be offered a check-in? Any idea how much these usually cost?
Thanks!
What are the odds that I will be able to bid on an upgrade 10 days out? Any advice on how much to bid?
How likely is it that an upgrade will be offered a check-in? Any idea how much these usually cost?
Thanks!
My outbound flight is #7595 (ERJ75) which is mid-day on a Sunday so the business travelers on this flight are not as prevalent as in the morning or evening on a weekday. At least I have that going for me.
The last time I flew this route I (well, my employer) paid for J class. I don't know what I was thinking when I booked this ticket. Assuming I get rejected I'll keep my eye on a LMU.
Oct 19, 2017, 7:48 am
#445
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: TLV, JFK, ORD and everywhere in between (no longer SEA)
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 233
upgrade bid YYZ to EZE?
Hi all,
I'll start by saying I've never flown AC. I'm planning a trip to BA for xams and prices in Y from Chi are out of this world. on average, around $1800-$2200, and most of them go through Santiago.
I read that I can bid for an upgrade with AC, which is great. Any recs for that? the rules on the bidding site doesn't stipulate if every economy fare is eligible for an upgrade, though. What's are prices where these would actually be accepted? the F on that route is currently at a little over $4K.
Any help on how to make the move from Y to F as painless $ wise as possible?
thanks all!
I'll start by saying I've never flown AC. I'm planning a trip to BA for xams and prices in Y from Chi are out of this world. on average, around $1800-$2200, and most of them go through Santiago.
I read that I can bid for an upgrade with AC, which is great. Any recs for that? the rules on the bidding site doesn't stipulate if every economy fare is eligible for an upgrade, though. What's are prices where these would actually be accepted? the F on that route is currently at a little over $4K.
Any help on how to make the move from Y to F as painless $ wise as possible?
thanks all!
Oct 19, 2017, 7:59 am
#446
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Just a note Air Canada does not have F class only Business Class.
https://www.aircanada.com/content/da...pgrade-FAQ.pdf
https://www.aircanada.com/content/da...pgrade-FAQ.pdf
Oct 19, 2017, 8:02 am
#447
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Hi all,
I'll start by saying I've never flown AC. I'm planning a trip to BA for xams and prices in Y from Chi are out of this world. on average, around $1800-$2200, and most of them go through Santiago.
I read that I can bid for an upgrade with AC, which is great. Any recs for that? the rules on the bidding site doesn't stipulate if every economy fare is eligible for an upgrade, though. What's are prices where these would actually be accepted? the F on that route is currently at a little over $4K.
Any help on how to make the move from Y to F as painless $ wise as possible?
thanks all!
I'll start by saying I've never flown AC. I'm planning a trip to BA for xams and prices in Y from Chi are out of this world. on average, around $1800-$2200, and most of them go through Santiago.
I read that I can bid for an upgrade with AC, which is great. Any recs for that? the rules on the bidding site doesn't stipulate if every economy fare is eligible for an upgrade, though. What's are prices where these would actually be accepted? the F on that route is currently at a little over $4K.
Any help on how to make the move from Y to F as painless $ wise as possible?
thanks all!
Chi for Chicago, I assume?
BA, Buenos Aires?
(just a suggestion, use full names or the city airport codes, helps others who read your post)
Air Canada does not have F.
There is no list of prices for any route. Approximately 10 days prior to departure of your first flight, AC sends an email with an offer to Bid Upgrade.
Oct 19, 2017, 8:07 am
#448
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: TLV, JFK, ORD and everywhere in between (no longer SEA)
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 233
Chi for Chicago, I assume?
BA, Buenos Aires?
(just a suggestion, use full names or the city airport codes, helps others who read your post)
Air Canada does not have F.
There is no list of prices for any route. Approximately 10 days prior to departure of your first flight, AC sends an email with an offer to Bid Upgrade.
BA, Buenos Aires?
(just a suggestion, use full names or the city airport codes, helps others who read your post)
Air Canada does not have F.
There is no list of prices for any route. Approximately 10 days prior to departure of your first flight, AC sends an email with an offer to Bid Upgrade.
I apologize, I mean C and not F! do you, or anyone else, has info about how much, on average for the upgrade from CHI to EZE? I see that AC's route there is through SCL
thanks!!
Oct 19, 2017, 8:59 am
#449
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: YFC
Programs: AC*50K
Posts: 104
Check for LMU history here Post your LMUs (Last Minute Upgrades) here.
Oct 19, 2017, 1:10 pm
#450
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 305
How long does it take to hear if your bid was accepted? It is now 2 hours past the 72 hour cutoff and I still have no response. Mind you, I am not holding my breath that my bid will be accepted, but it would be nice to know one way or the other.