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
Apr 4, 2018, 1:58 pm
#557
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: 6,228
Apr 5, 2018, 12:19 pm
#560
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,423
Apr 5, 2018, 12:26 pm
#561
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Be interested to see what sort of LMU you are offered if any. Though $1750 wouldn't be unheard of if you are currently Tango.
Apr 5, 2018, 2:14 pm
#562
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
I just called AC to confirm my economy seat number and ask about a potential upgrade. It appears only one business class seat remains and according to her the flight is "almost oversold". I expect any LMU option to be quite expensive.
Apr 12, 2018, 6:40 am
#563
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
Been reading this thread for awhile now, I placed a bid just to try as I wouldn't mind sitting in PE instead of Economy for the AC6 flight. Bid $600 and got it, minimum bid was $480. Last I checked the cost of PE was $1900 for the flight so I wasn't expecting to get it as I only paid $550 for tango. The flight was actually pretty full which explained why LMU to Business was really high.
Apr 16, 2018, 9:39 am
#565
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,916
Apr 24, 2018, 11:46 am
#566
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
April 7th - AC5 YYZ-HND I bid $1,750 on Business Class and it was denied. The LMU price ended up being $5,200.
April 22nd - AC6 HND-YYZ I bid $1,750 on Business Class and it was denied. The LMU price ended up being 144,000 Yen. I was able to purchase the seat and it ended up being slightly less than my bid ($1,698/Cdn hit my credit card).
April 22nd - AC6 HND-YYZ I bid $1,750 on Business Class and it was denied. The LMU price ended up being 144,000 Yen. I was able to purchase the seat and it ended up being slightly less than my bid ($1,698/Cdn hit my credit card).
Last edited by Rip2184; Apr 24, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Apr 25, 2018, 4:16 pm
#567
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, UA PLAT, EK GOLD, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 438
Going through this thread, but can't find my answer, so forgive me if this has already been asked. My bid was accepted from PE to J, and now my booking shows Fare Class R. I know the upgrade comes from R, but does that mean that is my new fare class now, or does it remain N? As far as I can tell, R class does not earn any mileage on United, or even with Aeroplan? What am I getting wrong here?
Apr 25, 2018, 4:33 pm
#568
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: 44,324
Going through this thread, but can't find my answer, so forgive me if this has already been asked. My bid was accepted from PE to J, and now my booking shows Fare Class R. I know the upgrade comes from R, but does that mean that is my new fare class now, or does it remain N? As far as I can tell, R class does not earn any mileage on United, or even with Aeroplan? What am I getting wrong here?
Apr 25, 2018, 4:39 pm
#569
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Going through this thread, but can't find my answer, so forgive me if this has already been asked. My bid was accepted from PE to J, and now my booking shows Fare Class R. I know the upgrade comes from R, but does that mean that is my new fare class now, or does it remain N? As far as I can tell, R class does not earn any mileage on United, or even with Aeroplan? What am I getting wrong here?
@M Singh
Right.
As per the FAQ page on Air Canada linked in the wiki above:
What are the fare rules of the upgraded ticket?
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.
How many miles can I earn?
Aeroplan Miles may be accrued from flights auctioned in the AC bid upgrade online auction. The basis for calculation is the original booking class of the flight segment being auctioned and not the upgraded class of service.
May 15, 2018, 2:46 pm
#570
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Bonvoy PE; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 425
Here's a data point for those that care:
T-48hours -- advised that my bid was not accepted
YYZ-TLV -- bid $440 USD
PE to J
Air Canada online is showing 8 J seats available
LMU -- T-24 hours notes upgrade from PE --> J -- $1437 CDN -- no wonder my bid was rejected
T-48hours -- advised that my bid was not accepted
YYZ-TLV -- bid $440 USD
PE to J
Air Canada online is showing 8 J seats available
LMU -- T-24 hours notes upgrade from PE --> J -- $1437 CDN -- no wonder my bid was rejected
**edit***. TLV - YYZ — bid $480USD — ACCEPTEDPE to JAir Canada showed 10 seats available in J and 6 in PE. Post upgrade, there were 8 seats left in J.
Last edited by Sam_AE; May 20, 2018 at 11:31 pm