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
Oct 29, 2022, 7:52 am
#1398
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25
Upgrade bid from YYZ to ICN
Hi - I have a flight booked in premium economy from YYZ to ICN. I'm wondering if I should bid for an upgrade. The minimum bid is at $800 each way. It looks like there are about 8 available seats in the business class as of now. It would be my first time bidding so wanted to ask if there is a better time to bid (i.e. closer to the flight?) and is there a math/logic that people use when deciding how much to bid? Thank you.
Nov 1, 2022, 7:07 pm
#1400
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Aeroplan AA
Posts: 249
I put in a bid for YYC-PVR upgrade a few weeks ago. Flight is Thursday. According to the AC website, I was supposed to hear something (accepted or rejected) approximately 48 hours before the flight. I’ve not heard anything at all. Should I assume no upgrade?
Nov 2, 2022, 11:08 am
#1401
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,363
It's a safe bet - the flight is sold out.
Nov 3, 2022, 11:18 am
#1402
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC: Ac*A, , Nexus: Expired
Posts: 1,489
Upgrade Strategy
Hi Everyone,
Been a while since I posted - just getting back into the swing of travel.
I am flying YEG-YYZ-CPH (November 8) then DUS-FRA-YYZ-YEG. (November 16) YYZ-CPH and FRA-YYZ are in Premium Economy. I was looking at trying to use miles and/or cash to upgrade everything. I only have 2 eUpgrade credits because I burned them all earlier this year on domestic travel as this CPH/DUS trip was unlikely to proceed until 2 weeks ago.
I was looking at Bid Upgrades, but never done them before. I only have 115K Aeroplan miles right now because I just booked 10 of us on points to LA so I cant use miles for both. The YYZ-CPH leg has a "Buy it now" of 110K miles, but the same is not offered for FRA-YYZ.
Anywho, I have never done bid upgrades before. My preference would be to upgrade the homecoming flight so I can sleep better, but not sure what would be acceptable or what algorithms they use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated on maximizing value and optimizing chances of upgrading.
Thanks,
Dana
Been a while since I posted - just getting back into the swing of travel.
I am flying YEG-YYZ-CPH (November 8) then DUS-FRA-YYZ-YEG. (November 16) YYZ-CPH and FRA-YYZ are in Premium Economy. I was looking at trying to use miles and/or cash to upgrade everything. I only have 2 eUpgrade credits because I burned them all earlier this year on domestic travel as this CPH/DUS trip was unlikely to proceed until 2 weeks ago.
I was looking at Bid Upgrades, but never done them before. I only have 115K Aeroplan miles right now because I just booked 10 of us on points to LA so I cant use miles for both. The YYZ-CPH leg has a "Buy it now" of 110K miles, but the same is not offered for FRA-YYZ.
Anywho, I have never done bid upgrades before. My preference would be to upgrade the homecoming flight so I can sleep better, but not sure what would be acceptable or what algorithms they use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated on maximizing value and optimizing chances of upgrading.
Thanks,
Dana
Nov 3, 2022, 11:27 am
#1403
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: AP AS BA
Posts: 364
Hi Everyone,
Been a while since I posted - just getting back into the swing of travel.
I am flying YEG-YYZ-CPH (November 8) then DUS-FRA-YYZ-YEG. (November 16) YYZ-CPH and FRA-YYZ are in Premium Economy. I was looking at trying to use miles and/or cash to upgrade everything. I only have 2 eUpgrade credits because I burned them all earlier this year on domestic travel as this CPH/DUS trip was unlikely to proceed until 2 weeks ago.
I was looking at Bid Upgrades, but never done them before. I only have 115K Aeroplan miles right now because I just booked 10 of us on points to LA so I cant use miles for both. The YYZ-CPH leg has a "Buy it now" of 110K miles, but the same is not offered for FRA-YYZ.
Anywho, I have never done bid upgrades before. My preference would be to upgrade the homecoming flight so I can sleep better, but not sure what would be acceptable or what algorithms they use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated on maximizing value and optimizing chances of upgrading.
Thanks,
Dana
Been a while since I posted - just getting back into the swing of travel.
I am flying YEG-YYZ-CPH (November 8) then DUS-FRA-YYZ-YEG. (November 16) YYZ-CPH and FRA-YYZ are in Premium Economy. I was looking at trying to use miles and/or cash to upgrade everything. I only have 2 eUpgrade credits because I burned them all earlier this year on domestic travel as this CPH/DUS trip was unlikely to proceed until 2 weeks ago.
I was looking at Bid Upgrades, but never done them before. I only have 115K Aeroplan miles right now because I just booked 10 of us on points to LA so I cant use miles for both. The YYZ-CPH leg has a "Buy it now" of 110K miles, but the same is not offered for FRA-YYZ.
Anywho, I have never done bid upgrades before. My preference would be to upgrade the homecoming flight so I can sleep better, but not sure what would be acceptable or what algorithms they use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated on maximizing value and optimizing chances of upgrading.
Thanks,
Dana
YYZ-CPH is J5 C5 D5 Z5 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9
FRA-YYZ is J5 C0 D0 Z0 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K0
Nov 10, 2022, 9:25 am
#1405
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
Bid accepted for FRA-YYZ at exactly T-48h for $970 which was $100 above the lowest option. The range was higher a week ago but the flight went from J5R0 to J9R2 a few days ago so I canceled and lowered my bid. Base fare was Flex V and OPM so I'm ok with the out of pocket spend.
Nov 10, 2022, 10:20 am
#1406
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 166
Bid accepted for FRA-YYZ at exactly T-48h for $970 which was $100 above the lowest option. The range was higher a week ago but the flight went from J5R0 to J9R2 a few days ago so I canceled and lowered my bid. Base fare was Flex V and OPM so I'm ok with the out of pocket spend.
Nov 10, 2022, 10:32 am
#1407
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
SEs snapped up all R space before it came to my 75k window. With a $500 copay the 15 eUps would only have accounted for $470 in value so I'll take the confirmed upgrade now and keep the credits for something else
Nov 10, 2022, 11:08 am
#1408
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 1
If there is no Buy Now, then AC thinks it can sell all the J seats for full fare. Looking at flight loads, both flights have the same number of empty J seats (5) but the return only have the seats available in the highest bucket (J). All the cheaper buckets have sold out.
YYZ-CPH is J5 C5 D5 Z5 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9
FRA-YYZ is J5 C0 D0 Z0 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K0
YYZ-CPH is J5 C5 D5 Z5 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9
FRA-YYZ is J5 C0 D0 Z0 P0 R0 O0 E0 A0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K0
Nov 10, 2022, 11:09 am
#1409
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150