If I was AC, I would not do step 1 until after step 4.

This whole thread has me thinking about another idea I had a decade ago... imagine an arm's-length intermediary like a Walrasian auction that instead of fiddling with the price like RM does, essentially collects sealed bids and reserve pricing (say like full charter), and doesn't close the transaction of flight confirmation until equilibrium is established, thus setting the price for the flight flat across the board. This ensures healthy rent for the vendor and "fair" pricing for consumer. The problem it seems with airlines is that they're too spiky in profits, which is no good for either side.

Also, this intermediary can accept "bids" on ranges of flights... like "I'm in XYZ and I wan to go to either ABC, DEF, or GHI and I'm willing to pay $1234".... I'm willing to give up this ceiling info to the intermediary, because the intermediary does not disclose it to the supplier, hence the arm's-length requirement.

Have I essentially described a TA?

Was perusing the refunds section of the AC website when I stumbled upon this. Any thoughts? Looks like it will be a soon-to-be enhancement...

Very nice. Ought to clean out all the cheapeners. You want J, you pay J. Bid or otherwise.

A proper business finally...

Better not be ML*1... I hate booking 2 hours out, buying my LMU, and being asked last of last for my meal.

ML* codes are not supposed to be even looked at unless there are more J pax than meals.

Also, "or otherwise" would very reasonably include "miles" or "eUpgrades".

Right, I'm not necessarily arguing that current revenue basis for upgrade should be different than prior-revenue basis. eUps that clear prior to waitlist do not show ML*1, eUps do have an economic value (and arguably a monetary value), and eUps really represent prior-revenue.

So, AC just needs to lose the ML*1. If that means a P25k waitlisted eUp takes the last "Chicken" from a AC*A on full paid J, then so be it.

Agreed this is a moot point as it rarely plays out to make a difference, but I have had my second choice before as an SE with ML*1, despite what seems contrary to SOPs. It basically looks the same as an SE with opup.

Now, for an opUp at zero cost to pax (no eUp points, no $), ML*1 for sure, and as I've had many times in the past a handwritten note scrawled on the BP that says "*NO MEAL PROMISED*" or something to that effect.

new site called Plusgrade.com. It was mentioned in an article in National Post on Nov 21, otherwise I would never have heard of it.

This is certainly going to mess up benefits for loyal AC Members.

I always find that amusing.

Because the crew never checks your BP :p

From chats with other FTQV's when traveling, this is how the quest for an upgrade appears to be ranked...

Pay the full-freight-for-weight for O or J class at booking time.

Use your points to "purchase" O or J class at booking time.

Use your eUpgrade credits after booking up until check-in.

Request a LMU after check-in.

Now where eBid for UPG will fall-in, by e-vite, we'll soon know.

I've looked over the shoulder of an AC staff who was on standby and noticed in idle conversation, they were waiting to get a seat, but had access to a private list which showed where they fell on that list including "chances" to be seated in O or J class. I know many of the OAL's make public that list at the departure gate and/or app, so with that type of visibility and transparency knowledge might just make collusion a tad more difficult and trump any ideas of gaming the system, maybe.

The email was received four days in advance, IIRC.

There will be no ML* anything. This is not an LMU, the upgrade bids will be decided a couple of days before departure. The winning bid(s) should be treated no differently (AFIK) than an e-up clearing more than 24 hours before the flight.

Air Canada Bidding for J Upgrade
 

Has anyone else seen this before?

Received this email today for an upcoming flight from YVR to YWG via YYC in just over a week.

Gave me options to bid (from $95) for each sector.

This is going to be super-interesting!

If its offered a week out then it will trump (oops! not the right word any more) LMU and gate eup's but with the current eupgrade 'promo' maybe not regular upgrades.

An enhancement would be to revise your bid. "Mr TomYVR, Your current bid of $300 is $50 below the current bid leader, would you like to revise it?"

It certainly has the potential to impact the complimentary latitude flight pass upgrades. It wouldn't surprise me if those go away.

I would imagine that "maybe not" will not be good enough if eUpgrades are going to retain any value. If you can buy an instantly upgradeable fare and use them, great, that adds an obvious value. But if R space is zero, its R game players vs. cash bidders. Who will AC prefer when deciding to open up space?


The premium paid for flex would mostly be the benefit of more AQM, which may or may not prove to have much worth in the long run. Tango ticket, credit card benefits and the savings being held in a bid kitty might be the better alternative for those who would otherwise be middling elites. LMUs are already available for purchase to tango passengers, but the auction significantly reduces the probability that no one bites because of mispricing.

What I really want to know is what the average minimum bid for an upgrade from an international tango fare flight will be. The "limited time" promotion suggests that AC expects that a tango flyer will be prepared to pony up 21 eup credits and $600 cash to upgrade to J on a TATL flight. Will the minimum bid on the same flight be more to offset the value of AC accountants place on the eup coming off their books or will it just be who brings the most additional cash to the auction regardless of what fare and status the bidder has?

I got bunches of miles and points, do I deserve J ? :p