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 10, 2018, 7:07 pm
#796
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
E
$5k at J1 no longer surprises me, but taking the $21 million AC IT ones out that’s the worse I’ve seen. I wonder what J2 went for.
Enjoy PY.
Oh and incidentally 004 NRT YVR tomorrow has a J (full J) seat on sale for $7664. It’s J2 I believe based on them selling 2 but not 3 seats.
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.
Enjoy PY.
Oh and incidentally 004 NRT YVR tomorrow has a J (full J) seat on sale for $7664. It’s J2 I believe based on them selling 2 but not 3 seats.
Nov 11, 2018, 2:04 am
#797
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,085
Quick update as we head to the gate. Concierge was aware we wanted a LMU and was waiting for us at the check-in counter. Great proactive service. We got the upgrade for $1506 Canadian, slightly less than my rejected bid!
Nov 11, 2018, 9:15 am
#798
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Hope it was a good deflate free flight for you both.
Nov 11, 2018, 12:04 pm
#799
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: 35,255
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.
But at the price, is one allowed to complain about their frozen solid fruit?
Nov 11, 2018, 5:27 pm
#800
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,085
Nov 15, 2018, 8:04 am
#802
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
Nov 16, 2018, 11:19 am
#803
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: LotusLand...
Programs: AC Elite50k, BAEC Blue, Amex Plat, RBC Black Tin Visa
Posts: 635
So 800 comments later, does a $$ bid trump a waitlisted eup?
Nov 16, 2018, 1:14 pm
#804
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Altitude 75K, LT Marriott Platinum
Posts: 258
Travelling from PEK to YYZ and at T- 16 days, I have been offered an upgrade from Premium Economy lowest (Booking Class E ) as follows: PEK - YYZ: $860 - $1,700, initial prompt from AC is $1050.
Nov 16, 2018, 1:31 pm
#805
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Just like if someone buys a last minute J ticket and reduces the seats available for upgrade. After all we empirically know that AC sometimes rejects bids which will be when they think they can get more from last minute sales, LMUs, or copay eUps.
And sometimes, you end up getting a $1506 LMU after a $1510 bid gets rejected
Nov 16, 2018, 5:26 pm
#806
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
Ticket prices are one thing not effected by status. We need lesser buckets, but a given bucket costs what it costs.
I would assumes bid upgrades are a RM activity trying to draw out cash as revenue. And eUps are a status activity out of unsellable things RM has given up on and given away to the loyalty department to strew over the loyal..
Broad strokes.
I would assumes bid upgrades are a RM activity trying to draw out cash as revenue. And eUps are a status activity out of unsellable things RM has given up on and given away to the loyalty department to strew over the loyal..
Broad strokes.
Nov 16, 2018, 5:32 pm
#807
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: LotusLand...
Programs: AC Elite50k, BAEC Blue, Amex Plat, RBC Black Tin Visa
Posts: 635
Bids are cleared 72-96h out. Given the waitlist isn’t public until t-24 we may never know for sure - but I would be amazed if AC looked at anything beyond “this person will pay us $xxx” and prioritize the option that makes them the most money.
Just like if someone buys a last minute J ticket and reduces the seats available for upgrade. After all we empirically know that AC sometimes rejects bids which will be when they think they can get more from last minute sales, LMUs, or copay eUps.
And sometimes, you end up getting a $1506 LMU after a $1510 bid gets rejected
Nov 16, 2018, 6:05 pm
#808
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: LotusLand...
Programs: AC Elite50k, BAEC Blue, Amex Plat, RBC Black Tin Visa
Posts: 635
Ticket prices are one thing not effected by status. We need lesser buckets, but a given bucket costs what it costs.
I would assumes bid upgrades are a RM activity trying to draw out cash as revenue. And eUps are a status activity out of unsellable things RM has given up on and given away to the loyalty department to strew over the loyal..
Broad strokes.
I would assumes bid upgrades are a RM activity trying to draw out cash as revenue. And eUps are a status activity out of unsellable things RM has given up on and given away to the loyalty department to strew over the loyal..
Broad strokes.
Nov 17, 2018, 10:38 am
#810
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: 44,324
My recent experience (granted as SE) is that if my upgrade hasn't cleared by T-96, the flight is REALLY full. J4 max. Sure, this only applies to routes/dates/times I've actually booked, but it's been pretty consistent.
If I happen to be waitlisted, and someone bids $5000, I'm sure they'll get it. But that's not because they're ahead of me on the list, it's because the person or system looking at the bids says "this is a good price, let's accept it", without paying any attention to PS/PA waitlists.