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
Jun 22, 2018, 12:18 pm
#616
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 12
Upgrade to PY or J
Ok, I am looking into the option of the biding on a upgrade for a flight segment from NRT to YUL direct on the 787-8.
My question is J worth it over PY, I have been watching reviews of J and PY on Air Canada and other then the lay flat bed / seat the meals look similar I understand J is J and you get upgraded service and more attention to detail but is the price difference really worth it.
When I look at reviews of J on ANA or Singapore they seem to have a much higher level of service, unlimited meals, more options...
Thanks in advance.
My question is J worth it over PY, I have been watching reviews of J and PY on Air Canada and other then the lay flat bed / seat the meals look similar I understand J is J and you get upgraded service and more attention to detail but is the price difference really worth it.
When I look at reviews of J on ANA or Singapore they seem to have a much higher level of service, unlimited meals, more options...
Thanks in advance.
Jun 22, 2018, 12:21 pm
#617
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,954
Is it worth over PY?
Well yes 100% on a TPAC thats for sure.
I fly J for a bed to sleep in... whether or not service being good or bad doesnt really move the needle that much. You do get unlimited food in a way by being able to order various hot food and snacks between the two meal services
Well yes 100% on a TPAC thats for sure.
I fly J for a bed to sleep in... whether or not service being good or bad doesnt really move the needle that much. You do get unlimited food in a way by being able to order various hot food and snacks between the two meal services
Jun 22, 2018, 12:40 pm
#619
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 12
That's good to know, my concern is if I put a bid in for J I lose the ability to bid on PY for that segment. I am also trying to figure out which is more likely to actually be awarded.
The bed seems like a very big reason to fly J however this is the return trip home, we are used to flying in economy and are trying to figure out if the bed is worth the 2500-3000 bid, versus a 1200 bid for PY.
The bed seems like a very big reason to fly J however this is the return trip home, we are used to flying in economy and are trying to figure out if the bed is worth the 2500-3000 bid, versus a 1200 bid for PY.
Jun 22, 2018, 12:56 pm
#620
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I would look to upfare to PY then bid to J which should be less. Did you check the upfare cost to PY? Could well be less than $1200 and then is guanateed and you get the extra AQM too. And AQD.
Is J worth $2.5-$3k per direction? For even a TPAC for me that is hard to justify if I’m on vacation and spending my own $ (might be different if I’m on say honeymoon), If I’m touching down and going to a $1m bid or training 100 people though, you better be sending me in J. Or 2-3 days early.
Really depends what $3k means to you. And only you can answer that.
Edit - Random July dates are selling lowest available Y as Standard for $975. PY is $1753, $778 more! Even with AC PY I would jump at that for 12h. Be interesting to see what it would lower a J bid to.
Is J worth $2.5-$3k per direction? For even a TPAC for me that is hard to justify if I’m on vacation and spending my own $ (might be different if I’m on say honeymoon), If I’m touching down and going to a $1m bid or training 100 people though, you better be sending me in J. Or 2-3 days early.
Really depends what $3k means to you. And only you can answer that.
Edit - Random July dates are selling lowest available Y as Standard for $975. PY is $1753, $778 more! Even with AC PY I would jump at that for 12h. Be interesting to see what it would lower a J bid to.
Jun 22, 2018, 4:31 pm
#622
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: YWG
Programs: AC SE100, SPG Plat, Visa Inf Priv
Posts: 509
I think it really depends on your net worth and how you value money. If you’re a multi-millionaire, no biggie. If your net worth is low, not a good idea.
For TPAC, J really is superior.
For TPAC, J really is superior.
Jun 22, 2018, 7:06 pm
#623
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 54
First time trying this out, successfully upgraded an S fare on YYZ-MUC to Intl Business for $995, "A bit low". Minimum bid at the time was $990 (a week before the flight), but when I checked back on the bidding page after the upgrade was accepted, the pointer was grayed out and fixed in the "Pretty good" range. I wonder if the bidding threshold had dropped between the time I bid and when bidding closed. If I ever use this in future, I'll double check before the 72 h limit to see if bidding ranges have changed.
Jun 23, 2018, 8:53 am
#624
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Altitude 75K, LT Marriott Platinum
Posts: 258
Travelling in a couple of months on AC 828 (YUL - LYS) in PY (N) and the range of the bid to upgrade to business class is $655 - $1200. On the return flight, travelling in Economy class (L), and the range of bid to upgrade to business class is $1,050 - $1,600 and the range of the bid to upgrade to PE is $360 - $900. As already mentioned, in this scenario, if chose the mid range for the upgrading to business class, it would be a savings of approximately $400, and one won't receive the AQM additional miles of approximately 5000 as well as not having to worry about obtaining the upgrade.
Jun 23, 2018, 9:43 am
#625
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
the simple reality with this bid upgrade system is down to perceived comfort and the perks associated with the booking class if none are held already from existing status because as you said, there's no additional mileage credited for the upgraded fare class so how much is your comfort worth?
Jun 24, 2018, 9:58 am
#626
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 26
I am flying from YQR to YQM and i am debading if i am bidding for the upgrade. The minimum is 240.00 I was wondering would it be worth it or should i stick with my Comfort fare and I added on the food vouchers on both legs? I am simply wondering is it really worth the extra for the domestic flight?
Jun 24, 2018, 11:50 am
#627
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
I am flying from YQR to YQM and i am debading if i am bidding for the upgrade. The minimum is 240.00 I was wondering would it be worth it or should i stick with my Comfort fare and I added on the food vouchers on both legs? I am simply wondering is it really worth the extra for the domestic flight?
So is $240 palatable for 5 hours in the air?
Jun 24, 2018, 11:10 pm
#628
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sun Peaks, Taupo.
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet Teal, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,135
the simple reality with this bid upgrade system is down to perceived comfort and the perks associated with the booking class if none are held already from existing status because as you said, there's no additional mileage credited for the upgraded fare class so how much is your comfort worth?
Jun 25, 2018, 2:54 am
#629
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: YVR/YEG/YYZ depending on day
Programs: E35K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 392
AC4 June 28.
Originally in PY (N). Called AC and was told price for J upgrade was 1200pp. Placed ebid upgrade at 950pp.
Thanks to FT, I've been checking expertflyer regularly and saw there were many empty seats in J, so I've been slowly lowering my bid. It settled on 815pp (about 100/hr flying time) and today found bid was successful.
Thanks again FT for making me feel like the airlines don't have all the power and teaching how to be little more flight savvy.
Originally in PY (N). Called AC and was told price for J upgrade was 1200pp. Placed ebid upgrade at 950pp.
Thanks to FT, I've been checking expertflyer regularly and saw there were many empty seats in J, so I've been slowly lowering my bid. It settled on 815pp (about 100/hr flying time) and today found bid was successful.
Thanks again FT for making me feel like the airlines don't have all the power and teaching how to be little more flight savvy.
Jun 25, 2018, 4:40 am
#630
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
for me, I factor in the length of the flight, type of plane, whether I need to rest or can manage the trip without a snooze, and then of course my own valuation for the experience overall.
Considering the the majority of my flying is company paid (in Y) if the cost/benefit is appealing enough than I will make a bid, but when the cost outweighs the benefit than I give it a miss. Case in point is the YYZ-LHR flight I’m waiting for this morning....I don’t see enough benefit to pay $500 for PY when the Y seat on the 787 is sufficient for a daytime flight, and looking at the loads the Y cabin appears full with quite a few on the stand by list so I’m sure there will be op ups given the less than full J cabin so me, like many others I’m sure will be hoping to hear the call prior to boarding 😁