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
May 24, 2018, 11:21 am
#572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Another Question
I've never flown AC before and just booked BOS-YUL-LYS after Norwegian emailed me that my flight was cancelled.
I bid $345 on the YUL-LYS segment (and another $345 on the return) for an upgrade to premium economy. The minimum bid was $275. It's an L fare on the outbound and a K fare on the return. Current status is "Pending". I suppose I won't find out for a couple weeks...but anything else to keep in mind?
Thanks!
I bid $345 on the YUL-LYS segment (and another $345 on the return) for an upgrade to premium economy. The minimum bid was $275. It's an L fare on the outbound and a K fare on the return. Current status is "Pending". I suppose I won't find out for a couple weeks...but anything else to keep in mind?
Thanks!
May 24, 2018, 12:15 pm
#573
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,426
I've never flown AC before and just booked BOS-YUL-LYS after Norwegian emailed me that my flight was cancelled.
I bid $345 on the YUL-LYS segment (and another $345 on the return) for an upgrade to premium economy. The minimum bid was $275. It's an L fare on the outbound and a K fare on the return. Current status is "Pending". I suppose I won't find out for a couple weeks...but anything else to keep in mind?
Thanks!
I bid $345 on the YUL-LYS segment (and another $345 on the return) for an upgrade to premium economy. The minimum bid was $275. It's an L fare on the outbound and a K fare on the return. Current status is "Pending". I suppose I won't find out for a couple weeks...but anything else to keep in mind?
Thanks!
Other option is to call AC and find out what it would cost to upfare to PE so you dont have to guess if you win the lottery. On a dummy booking in July the fare to PE from lowest economy is $400 is which is very close to what you have 'bid' ($345). So if you are willing to pay $345, may make more sense to cough up $400 and get a confirmed seat in PE.
May 24, 2018, 12:18 pm
#574
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
If you post the dates, someone can check the loads and predict the possibility of success. Without knowing how many unsold seats there are in PY its pretty hard to predict.
Other option is to call AC and find out what it would cost to upfare to PE so you dont have to guess if you win the lottery. On a dummy booking in July the fare to PE from lowest economy is $400 is which is very close to what you have 'bid' ($345). So if you are willing to pay $345, may make more sense to cough up $400 and get a confirmed seat in PE.
Other option is to call AC and find out what it would cost to upfare to PE so you dont have to guess if you win the lottery. On a dummy booking in July the fare to PE from lowest economy is $400 is which is very close to what you have 'bid' ($345). So if you are willing to pay $345, may make more sense to cough up $400 and get a confirmed seat in PE.
AC 828 on June 8
AC 829 on June 17
When I booked this morning it wanted another $1200 per person for PE.
Last edited by gfunkdave; May 24, 2018 at 12:24 pm
May 24, 2018, 12:32 pm
#575
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,426
9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 R4 O9 E9 N9 Y9 B9 M9
U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9
So I would say your chances are good for the bid being accepted. Specially since you have offered more than the min.
AC829 :
J9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 R4 O8 E8 N6 Y9 B9 M9
U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9
Little tougher here but still likely to succeed.
These loads may change nearer that date but unlikely to completely sell out or sell close to capacity.
This a Airbus 330. E and N are PE classes. So this means there are at least 9 seats unsold in PE on the outbound and 8 on the return.
All the low fare economy classes are still available so unlikely to be any op-ups.
May 25, 2018, 7:34 am
#578
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirCanada
Accepted bids give you J allowance 2 x 32kg checked luggage. I assume LMUs do too but am not 100% and AC doesn’t seem to clearly define this.
It’s possible someone who doesn’t get that allowance (so basically non status, though P25 gets 2 at 23kg) already can chip in, or someone with better search skills than me.
May 27, 2018, 6:57 am
#579
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
I've only ever bid the absolute minimum for PE (price to J has always been insane) and to date I've never been rejected which for me is just fine on both trans-con and TATL
Latest example has been about $200 CAD for a bid up to PE at T-72 which on a YYZ-YVR trip of just under 5 hours is fine for me given i was on a S fare bucket but YMMV
Latest example has been about $200 CAD for a bid up to PE at T-72 which on a YYZ-YVR trip of just under 5 hours is fine for me given i was on a S fare bucket but YMMV
May 28, 2018, 1:56 pm
#580
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
I recently attended a Plusgrade presentation and learned the following:
- Altitude status positively impacts chances to be approved for an upgrade, even if bid is lower that nobody or lower status passengers.
- Certain passenger categories, such as passengers ticketed with kids, are disqualified from having their upgrade bids selected.
- These kind of criteria can be different for other airlines using Plusgrade.
May 28, 2018, 2:12 pm
#581
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,426
I recently attended a Plusgrade presentation and learned the following:
- Altitude status positively impacts chances to be approved for an upgrade, even if bid is lower that nobody or lower status passengers.
- Certain passenger categories, such as passengers ticketed with kids, are disqualified from having their upgrade bids selected.
- These kind of criteria can be different for other airlines using Plusgrade.
What other passenger categories disqualify a upgrade ? Got the part about kids but what else ?
May 28, 2018, 9:54 pm
#582
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
I recently attended a Plusgrade presentation and learned the following:
- Altitude status positively impacts chances to be approved for an upgrade, even if bid is lower that nobody or lower status passengers.
- Certain passenger categories, such as passengers ticketed with kids, are disqualified from having their upgrade bids selected.
- These kind of criteria can be different for other airlines using Plusgrade.
May 29, 2018, 8:17 am
#584
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,959
Jun 1, 2018, 6:11 pm
#585
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Bonvoy PE; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 425
Here's a bidding strategy question -- I have a flight coming up from YTZ-YUL-TLV (the PE seats were 1/2 the price on the connecting flight). If I submit an eBid for the YUL-TLV leg and 'win' then I can't even try a same day confirmed change to get onto the YYZ-TLV flight. So, the question is whether it's worth even trying for J or sucking it up and just accept the fact that I'm flying PE -- so that I can at least try to get on the direct TLV flight.