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
Nov 9, 2018, 7:25 am
#781
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
Well, my bid of $1510 was rejected for the flight, which is this coming Sunday. Flight is still J2. I tried to go ahead and use a lot of credits and a big co-pay to get her on the eUpgrade waitlist, but was told that because she’s on a PE reward booked in N rather than an economy reward booked in X, she’s not eligible for an eUpgrade. Makes little sense to me, but I’m sure there must be a thread here dealing with this issue.
Nov 9, 2018, 7:30 am
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,254
Well, my bid of $1510 was rejected for the flight, which is this coming Sunday. Flight is still J2. I tried to go ahead and use a lot of credits and a big co-pay to get her on the eUpgrade waitlist, but was told that because she’s on a PE reward booked in N rather than an economy reward booked in X, she’s not eligible for an eUpgrade. Makes little sense to me, but I’m sure there must be a thread here dealing with this issue.
The current (seemingly perpetual) eUp promo only allows X to be upgraded with eUps (and a copay), but not a PE reward. I learned the hard way the first time, but it was for a very short flight so didn't give it much thought after that.
There has been talk about this scattered in the eUp promo master thread, IIRC.
Nov 9, 2018, 7:56 am
#783
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
Nov 9, 2018, 7:59 am
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,254
Really not worth the effort. Simply, no eUpping allowed from a PE reward.
It looks like @jc94 was pretty close on the bid value analysis.
It looks like @jc94 was pretty close on the bid value analysis.
Nov 9, 2018, 8:19 am
#785
formerly airedalemom
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 25K, AF, Marriott etc......
Posts: 260
Well, my bid of $1510 was rejected for the flight, which is this coming Sunday. Flight is still J2. I tried to go ahead and use a lot of credits and a big co-pay to get her on the eUpgrade waitlist, but was told that because she’s on a PE reward booked in N rather than an economy reward booked in X, she’s not eligible for an eUpgrade. Makes little sense to me, but I’m sure there must be a thread here dealing with this issue.
In the event she doesn’t get the J seat you know that you’ll be the one in PE, right? 😉👸🏻
Nov 9, 2018, 11:35 am
#786
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Really not worth the effort. Simply, no eUpping allowed from a PE reward.
It looks like @jc94 was pretty close on the bid value analysis.
It looks like @jc94 was pretty close on the bid value analysis.
Be interesting to see what the LMU is - be amusing if it's < $1510
And it wouldn't massively surprise me if it was - based on AC IT that is.I do wonder if AC bid/LMU offers take only the fare code/class into account or the fact that it's an award as N can be both unlike I/X.
Nov 9, 2018, 4:19 pm
#787
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
Nov 10, 2018, 4:29 am
#789
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
No LMU offered with online check-in. Is it worth asking again at the airport - do they ever become available last minute when not offered online? Looks like I’ll likely be in PE.
Nov 10, 2018, 5:38 am
#790
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
Yes,
LMU’s are offered for any open seat, up to 1 hour before the flight. After that, the open J seats go into the upgrade pool.
Nov 10, 2018, 6:25 am
#791
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,618
I bid many months ago $850 YYZ-PEK (declined) and $870 PVG-YYZ (accepted) - was booked in N (PE). First time bidding to upgrade and although the price was good I was kind of bummed because I had assumed I'd have the option to accept or decline the bid when it cleared and was going to use eUps for the return flight instead (J was wide open). Now I have tons of eUps to use before the end of Feb.
Last edited by The Lev; Nov 10, 2018 at 7:12 am
Nov 10, 2018, 1:07 pm
#792
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: 44,282
I take no pleasure in this, I thought $1500 might get it but I guess AC reckons they can still sell a seat or two or get something better at LMU.
Be interesting to see what the LMU is - be amusing if it's < $1510 And it wouldn't massively surprise me if it was - based on AC IT that is.
I do wonder if AC bid/LMU offers take only the fare code/class into account or the fact that it's an award as N can be both unlike I/X.
Be interesting to see what the LMU is - be amusing if it's < $1510
And it wouldn't massively surprise me if it was - based on AC IT that is.I do wonder if AC bid/LMU offers take only the fare code/class into account or the fact that it's an award as N can be both unlike I/X.
At T-96, there's still a very high chance to sell J2. At T-24, there's less chance. At T-2, even less chance. The expected value of a seat could go from $4000 to $500 in that timeframe, so while $1500 would be rejected in the bid system, $800 could be happily accepted in the LMU system.
Nov 10, 2018, 1:50 pm
#793
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
It's not AC IT.
At T-96, there's still a very high chance to sell J2. At T-24, there's less chance. At T-2, even less chance. The expected value of a seat could go from $4000 to $500 in that timeframe, so while $1500 would be rejected in the bid system, $800 could be happily accepted in the LMU system.
At T-96, there's still a very high chance to sell J2. At T-24, there's less chance. At T-2, even less chance. The expected value of a seat could go from $4000 to $500 in that timeframe, so while $1500 would be rejected in the bid system, $800 could be happily accepted in the LMU system.
Nov 10, 2018, 2:55 pm
#794
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Nov 10, 2018, 5:13 pm
#795
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
It is currently T-9 and I called the concierge to see if she saw a LMU available. She said there is one seat available in business and would see if she could force a LMU. A couple minutes later she said, “well there is one available, are you sitting down? It is $12,900!” Needless to say, I passed. I’ll ask again at the airport.
