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
Nov 22, 2016, 2:06 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
That's a good idea actually. But I wonder if that would be too much of a logistical nightmare at the gate. Hmmm...
If I was AC, I would do this:
1. Clear all Altitude Upgrades
2. Process Bids for 50-75% of seats T-2 or 3 days (would depend on data about last minute J purchases and stuff).
3. Clear bids
4. Offer LMU T-24h adjusted for an internal reserve price and expected demand.
AC gets to fill J while still having an opportunity to extract more value with better priced LMU.
If I was AC, I would do this:
1. Clear all Altitude Upgrades
2. Process Bids for 50-75% of seats T-2 or 3 days (would depend on data about last minute J purchases and stuff).
3. Clear bids
4. Offer LMU T-24h adjusted for an internal reserve price and expected demand.
AC gets to fill J while still having an opportunity to extract more value with better priced LMU.
Nov 22, 2016, 2:14 pm
#62
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
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?
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?
Nov 25, 2016, 2:15 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
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.
Nov 25, 2016, 6:40 am
#65
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: 44,316
Also, "or otherwise" would very reasonably include "miles" or "eUpgrades".
Nov 27, 2016, 1:15 pm
#66
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
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.
Nov 27, 2016, 5:02 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AC Million Miler & long time SE; StarwoodPlat for 10+ yrs & lifetime Gold; Hilton Honours Diamond; IC Ambassador; AMEX Plat;Avis Presidents Club; Airmiles GOLD; and just about everything else!
Programs: aeroplan & 25+year loyalty
Posts: 3,822
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.
This is certainly going to mess up benefits for loyal AC Members.
Nov 28, 2016, 12:25 am
#68
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: 44,316
Because the crew never checks your BP
Nov 28, 2016, 6:56 am
#69
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC Aeroplan
Posts: 80
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.
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.
Last edited by AC*AP*FQTV; Nov 28, 2016 at 7:03 am
Nov 28, 2016, 4:10 pm
#70
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
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.
Nov 30, 2016, 4:22 am
#72
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: AC75 MM
Posts: 959
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?"
Nov 30, 2016, 9:04 am
#73
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYT/YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AC*MM, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Diamond, PC Plat Elite, R&C Club 5C, Hyatt GP
Posts: 2,201
It certainly has the potential to impact the complimentary latitude flight pass upgrades. It wouldn't surprise me if those go away.
Nov 30, 2016, 12:03 pm
#74
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 57
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?
Nov 30, 2016, 12:53 pm
#75
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790