Apr 2, 2017, 9:28 pm
Last edit by: warrens
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: 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: 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
Sep 2, 2018, 12:50 pm
#691
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Altitude 75K, LT Marriott Platinum
Posts: 258
I had success with a minimum bid of $520 from LYS - YUL (Premium Economy lowest - N) and the maximum bid was $1,200. Only 9 seats were taken in business class. It should be noted that if one reserved in Standard fare, the minimum bid for Premium class and business classes were $350 and $635, respectively.
Checking the difference in fares from PE to lowest business for fall travel to Lyon are approximately $625, so AC may have realized that asking a fare difference of at least $1,000, when I reserved my ticket in June, was a bit steep for the A330.
Checking the difference in fares from PE to lowest business for fall travel to Lyon are approximately $625, so AC may have realized that asking a fare difference of at least $1,000, when I reserved my ticket in June, was a bit steep for the A330.
Sep 2, 2018, 1:36 pm
#692
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: 44,296
@capedreamer, as you found out, the systems are independent.
Put in the bid if you're willing to pay it, and put in the eUpgrade request. If the eUpgrade clears ahead of time, the bid won't go through.
However, I'd be watching loads around T-100, because if the cabin's J9, it might be worth withdrawing the bid and just hoping for a gate upgrade.
Put in the bid if you're willing to pay it, and put in the eUpgrade request. If the eUpgrade clears ahead of time, the bid won't go through.
However, I'd be watching loads around T-100, because if the cabin's J9, it might be worth withdrawing the bid and just hoping for a gate upgrade.
Sep 2, 2018, 1:46 pm
#693
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
@capedreamer, as you found out, the systems are independent.
Put in the bid if you're willing to pay it, and put in the eUpgrade request. If the eUpgrade clears ahead of time, the bid won't go through.
However, I'd be watching loads around T-100, because if the cabin's J9, it might be worth withdrawing the bid and just hoping for a gate upgrade.
Put in the bid if you're willing to pay it, and put in the eUpgrade request. If the eUpgrade clears ahead of time, the bid won't go through.
However, I'd be watching loads around T-100, because if the cabin's J9, it might be worth withdrawing the bid and just hoping for a gate upgrade.
Sep 5, 2018, 9:36 am
#694
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I just checked on the ugrade bidding options for a YVR-SJC flight and was surprised to find the bids priced in USD. My fare was in CAD. And previous (successful) bids to other destinations were always priced in CAD.
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Sep 5, 2018, 10:32 am
#695
formerly airedalemom
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 25K, AF, Marriott etc......
Posts: 260
I just checked on the ugrade bidding options for a YVR-SJC flight and was surprised to find the bids priced in USD. My fare was in CAD. And previous (successful) bids to other destinations were always priced in CAD.
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Is your location set as Canada?
Sep 5, 2018, 11:05 am
#696
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Sep 5, 2018, 11:48 am
#697
formerly airedalemom
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 25K, AF, Marriott etc......
Posts: 260
Sep 5, 2018, 1:42 pm
#698
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I did notice something odd however, right next to the max price there's a little icon with a tooltip that says "Average upgrade price."
So, their average upgrade price is the maximum allowed? Is this just poor UI design?
Sep 8, 2018, 2:36 pm
#701
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
I just checked on the ugrade bidding options for a YVR-SJC flight and was surprised to find the bids priced in USD. My fare was in CAD. And previous (successful) bids to other destinations were always priced in CAD.
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Is this a new trick to squeeze more revenue out of pax?
Sep 8, 2018, 2:51 pm
#702
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I've got a multi-city itinerary with AC (YYZ -> MAN Sep 16 on outbound then LHR -> YYZ Dec 5 on return), both are booked into K fare. The entire trip is ticketed and operated by AC and AC Rogue.
When I go to the bid upgrade site I see that I can offer an upgrade for YYZ->MAN but not LHR->YYZ. Any ideas why not?
-James
When I go to the bid upgrade site I see that I can offer an upgrade for YYZ->MAN but not LHR->YYZ. Any ideas why not?
-James
Sep 8, 2018, 8:42 pm
#704
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I've got a multi-city itinerary with AC (YYZ -> MAN Sep 16 on outbound then LHR -> YYZ Dec 5 on return), both are booked into K fare. The entire trip is ticketed and operated by AC and AC Rogue.
When I go to the bid upgrade site I see that I can offer an upgrade for YYZ->MAN but not LHR->YYZ. Any ideas why not?
-James
When I go to the bid upgrade site I see that I can offer an upgrade for YYZ->MAN but not LHR->YYZ. Any ideas why not?
-James
Edit - If you somehow booked basic on the return (no idea if K is possibly basic these days, I think it used to be Tango) ... no upgrades are allowed.
I think to this and the other poster what’s nefarious is that it may not always be apparent. It should be like luggage payments and LMUs, offer should be in currency from departing country (with offer to change).
Did you perhaps pay for this flight in USD and that’s why it defaults to USD? I see CAD as mentioned on a US VPN and off it in Canada.
Sep 9, 2018, 12:06 am
#705
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
I think to this and the other poster what’s nefarious is that it may not always be apparent. It should be like luggage payments and LMUs, offer should be in currency from departing country (with offer to change).
Did you perhaps pay for this flight in USD and that’s why it defaults to USD? I see CAD as mentioned on a US VPN and off it in Canada.
Did you perhaps pay for this flight in USD and that’s why it defaults to USD? I see CAD as mentioned on a US VPN and off it in Canada.
I'm US based but have been using the US, Canadian, and Dutch versions of the site (logging on from these locations). For an itinerary originating in the US, my page was defaulted to CAD, but provided the option to change the currency to USD, EUR, and several others. I ended up submitting my bid in USD. The FX rate they are using appears pretty close to market. Not sure what's so strange or nefarious about this.
