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
Jun 28, 2022, 2:51 pm
#1277
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
I would be surprised if a Bid Upgrade is successful.
Jun 30, 2022, 7:23 am
#1278
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 3
Yyz to ATH full economy but business is not
Hello everyone! Sorry I am another newbie and have never posted to any kind of forum ever (hope I’m doing this correctly). Patience is greatly appreciated! I’m flying with my husband and son to ATH July 29 (2022). I purchased economy seats with aeroplan points and can see through seat selection (have not done yet) that there are very few economy seats left. I have put in the minimum bid offer (cash $785 each) for business class upgrade. Should I just pay for my seat selection now with my economy tickets so I can have the 3 of us sit together as my bid request most likely won’t be accepted? Or should I up my chances of business class upgrade with a higher cash bid? My son and I always check that there is a “bag” available when we get seated as we do not fly very well. 🤢 Thank you so much for any responses!
Jun 30, 2022, 7:34 am
#1279
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 479
AC 896 YYZ 7:10p → ATH 11:40a
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
Jun 30, 2022, 8:11 am
#1280
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 3
AC 896 YYZ 7:10p → ATH 11:40a
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
ahh I c. I’m not sure what the letters with numbers mean (will need to read more on this site) but thank you for taking the time to check for me and providing guidance!! Really appreciate it. I’ll need to let my husband know as he’s the one pushing to upgrade. My son and I just need a gravol and bag! Thank you!
Jun 30, 2022, 8:16 am
#1281
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 3
AC 896 YYZ 7:10p → ATH 11:40a
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
J7 C7 D6 Z3 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H8 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Showing J7 right now but you’re still a month away from departure. Plenty of time for people to snatch up those seats. If sitting together in certain part of the plane is important to you I’d lock in seats right now. There’s no guarantee there will be business seats left in a month or that your bid is enough
Jun 30, 2022, 8:16 am
#1282
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 479
ahh I c. I’m not sure what the letters with numbers mean (will need to read more on this site) but thank you for taking the time to check for me and providing guidance!! Really appreciate it. I’ll need to let my husband know as he’s the one pushing to upgrade. My son and I just need a gravol and bag! Thank you!
Your success on a bid upgrade often depends on how many seats are available right before departure (24hrs ish) so it’s impossible to say this far out if you’ll get upgraded. If it stays at J7 there’s a half decent chance but I doubt it will stay at that. Plus you’re looking to upgrade 3 people not just one.
In short, impossible to say. To be safe I’d bite the bullet on the seat fees to make sure you’re sitting together and just chalk it up as a loss if you get upgraded. You could phone in and ask they refund the seat selection fees but they’re not required to. You may get a nice agent.
Jun 30, 2022, 8:20 am
#1283
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 479
Sorry, but does that mean the likelihood of my flight back (ATH to YYZ) August 13 is the same? I should lock in my economy seat selection? Sorry I just realized I hadn’t asked about my return flight. Also when I chose the Upgrade Bid option for returning flight, I had a notice that the minimum bid was discounted. Is that a good or bad indicator that my bid would be accepted? Thank you so much for any feedback!
J9 C9 D9 Z7 P0 R0 O3 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B0 M0 U0 H0 Q0 V0 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0 F0
Looks like more business seats available as of now on your return flight but as I said before bids aren’t accepted or rejected until 24 hours before flight. So you won’t know until last minute if they’re accepted or not.
Impossible to say if your min bid is enough. General rule of thumb on this sub for transatlantic flights is typically $100/hr of flight typically is worth it. If I remember correctly from my flights to athens it’s around a 10 hour flight. I went from Montreal so maybe a little longer for you out of YYZ.
Jul 3, 2022, 6:11 pm
#1284
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 1
Newbie here and I need help! I've for the first time made a bid for upgrade to premium economy on AC 862 YVR - LHR. I did check the seats on Expert Flyer and there are maybe 3-4 seats available. my bid was $600/passenger (there's 3 of us). what are the chances it'll go through? and should I purchase the few remaining exit row seats just in case? thnxx
Jul 3, 2022, 7:32 pm
#1285
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
Newbie here and I need help! I've for the first time made a bid for upgrade to premium economy on AC 862 YVR - LHR. I did check the seats on Expert Flyer and there are maybe 3-4 seats available. my bid was $600/passenger (there's 3 of us). what are the chances it'll go through? and should I purchase the few remaining exit row seats just in case? thnxx
Jul 4, 2022, 4:06 pm
#1286
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
Hi,
I am new to the site and have been trying to learn the codes and how things work with AC.
I am on flight 848 on July 10 and found this info from expert flyer:
Business - E-Upgrades R 0
Business - NA - Upgrade from O/Y/B Z 6
Business - Partner Awards & Upgrades I No
Coach - Partner Award X No
848
YYC 07/10/22 5:40 PM
FRA 07/11/22 10:55 AM
789
Daily 84% / 63m
Can someone please help me understand the upgrade info? I am wondering what the chances are with a bid upgrade at this point, but don't know how to interpret the numbers.
Thanks!
I am new to the site and have been trying to learn the codes and how things work with AC.
I am on flight 848 on July 10 and found this info from expert flyer:
Business - E-Upgrades R 0
Business - NA - Upgrade from O/Y/B Z 6
Business - Partner Awards & Upgrades I No
Coach - Partner Award X No
848
YYC 07/10/22 5:40 PM
FRA 07/11/22 10:55 AM
789
Daily 84% / 63m
Can someone please help me understand the upgrade info? I am wondering what the chances are with a bid upgrade at this point, but don't know how to interpret the numbers.
Thanks!
Jul 5, 2022, 7:46 am
#1287
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,767
Welcome 
None of the info in EF's upgrades section is really relevant to whether a bid upgrade will be successful. AC accepts (or doesn't) bid upgrades at T-48 hours before the flight (usually, although I think a few have reported occasional discrepancies). Their willingness to accept upgrades at that point depends on how many seats they've sold in the cabin by then. What EF is showing you there is what's currently available in the R fare bucket (for eUpgrades), the I fare bucket (partner reward tickets) and the Z fare bucket (which no longer has anything to do with upgrades - and never had anything to do with upgrades on a TATL flight - and should be removed from their site). Knowing that there are 6 seats for sale in Z is better than knowing there are 0 seats in Z, but there could be 6 unsold seats in the cabin or 30.
If you were to check the regular availability and see the whole spread of what AC is selling on that flight (currently J6 C6 D6 Z6 P0 R0), it might give you a slightly better idea, but it's still of limited predictive value, even only 5 days out. J6 is better than J0, obviously, but J9 would be better. Of course, even if it were J9, the true availability could be 9 or it could be 30.
Ultimately, there's going to be some correlation between J space and your odds of winning the bid upgrade, but your result is dependent on how many seats AC sells between now and clearing bid ups, how many seats it thinks it can sell after T-48 (they don't clear bid ups in to every available seat), how many people are waitlisted for eUps that AC might want to upgrade ahead of bid ups, how many people have bid more than you on the eUp, and a few other factors. So the correlation is going to be somewhat weak.
Can someone please help me understand the upgrade info? I am wondering what the chances are with a bid upgrade at this point, but don't know how to interpret the numbers.
If you were to check the regular availability and see the whole spread of what AC is selling on that flight (currently J6 C6 D6 Z6 P0 R0), it might give you a slightly better idea, but it's still of limited predictive value, even only 5 days out. J6 is better than J0, obviously, but J9 would be better. Of course, even if it were J9, the true availability could be 9 or it could be 30.
Ultimately, there's going to be some correlation between J space and your odds of winning the bid upgrade, but your result is dependent on how many seats AC sells between now and clearing bid ups, how many seats it thinks it can sell after T-48 (they don't clear bid ups in to every available seat), how many people are waitlisted for eUps that AC might want to upgrade ahead of bid ups, how many people have bid more than you on the eUp, and a few other factors. So the correlation is going to be somewhat weak.
Jul 5, 2022, 9:13 am
#1288
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
thanks so much!
Welcome
None of the info in EF's upgrades section is really relevant to whether a bid upgrade will be successful. AC accepts (or doesn't) bid upgrades at T-48 hours before the flight (usually, although I think a few have reported occasional discrepancies). Their willingness to accept upgrades at that point depends on how many seats they've sold in the cabin by then. What EF is showing you there is what's currently available in the R fare bucket (for eUpgrades), the I fare bucket (partner reward tickets) and the Z fare bucket (which no longer has anything to do with upgrades - and never had anything to do with upgrades on a TATL flight - and should be removed from their site). Knowing that there are 6 seats for sale in Z is better than knowing there are 0 seats in Z, but there could be 6 unsold seats in the cabin or 30.
If you were to check the regular availability and see the whole spread of what AC is selling on that flight (currently J6 C6 D6 Z6 P0 R0), it might give you a slightly better idea, but it's still of limited predictive value, even only 5 days out. J6 is better than J0, obviously, but J9 would be better. Of course, even if it were J9, the true availability could be 9 or it could be 30.
Ultimately, there's going to be some correlation between J space and your odds of winning the bid upgrade, but your result is dependent on how many seats AC sells between now and clearing bid ups, how many seats it thinks it can sell after T-48 (they don't clear bid ups in to every available seat), how many people are waitlisted for eUps that AC might want to upgrade ahead of bid ups, how many people have bid more than you on the eUp, and a few other factors. So the correlation is going to be somewhat weak.
None of the info in EF's upgrades section is really relevant to whether a bid upgrade will be successful. AC accepts (or doesn't) bid upgrades at T-48 hours before the flight (usually, although I think a few have reported occasional discrepancies). Their willingness to accept upgrades at that point depends on how many seats they've sold in the cabin by then. What EF is showing you there is what's currently available in the R fare bucket (for eUpgrades), the I fare bucket (partner reward tickets) and the Z fare bucket (which no longer has anything to do with upgrades - and never had anything to do with upgrades on a TATL flight - and should be removed from their site). Knowing that there are 6 seats for sale in Z is better than knowing there are 0 seats in Z, but there could be 6 unsold seats in the cabin or 30.
If you were to check the regular availability and see the whole spread of what AC is selling on that flight (currently J6 C6 D6 Z6 P0 R0), it might give you a slightly better idea, but it's still of limited predictive value, even only 5 days out. J6 is better than J0, obviously, but J9 would be better. Of course, even if it were J9, the true availability could be 9 or it could be 30.
Ultimately, there's going to be some correlation between J space and your odds of winning the bid upgrade, but your result is dependent on how many seats AC sells between now and clearing bid ups, how many seats it thinks it can sell after T-48 (they don't clear bid ups in to every available seat), how many people are waitlisted for eUps that AC might want to upgrade ahead of bid ups, how many people have bid more than you on the eUp, and a few other factors. So the correlation is going to be somewhat weak.
Jul 5, 2022, 3:27 pm
#1289
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
During my most recent online check-in, Air Canada offered me to pay for upgrades for each sector. Two sectors to business, one to Economy+. (No bidding, straight purchase.)
Would such an upgrade to Business during checkin also include the increased checked luggage allowance that usually comes with business class?
I know from A3 that upgrading a single sector in a multi sector itinerary provides for more checked luggage allowance for the entire trip. Is that how AC handles it as well?
Is this form of buying an upgrade different from successfully bidding for an upgrade as it pertains to checked baggage allowance?
TNX
Would such an upgrade to Business during checkin also include the increased checked luggage allowance that usually comes with business class?
I know from A3 that upgrading a single sector in a multi sector itinerary provides for more checked luggage allowance for the entire trip. Is that how AC handles it as well?
Is this form of buying an upgrade different from successfully bidding for an upgrade as it pertains to checked baggage allowance?
TNX
Jul 14, 2022, 8:48 am
#1290
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 50K
Posts: 133
e-upgrade and bid upgrade at same time?
I'm waitlisted for a flight YVR-YUL and am waitlisted for business class, T-7 days, R=0, J=8.
I noticed that it looks like I can also do a bid upgrade as well, with an instant option.
Is there any advantage to do the bid upgrade, while still waitlisted with the e-up request and cancel the big upgrade if unsuccessful?
I noticed that it looks like I can also do a bid upgrade as well, with an instant option.
Is there any advantage to do the bid upgrade, while still waitlisted with the e-up request and cancel the big upgrade if unsuccessful?
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jul 14, 2022 at 10:14 am Reason: Move content to appropriate thread