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, 2022, 8:09 pm
#1411
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 77
I got a bid upgrade notice today for a trip I will take about 2 weeks from now.
The problem is that I have already eupgraded to the business class. No idea why AC sent to me the bid upgrade e-mail.
The problem is that I have already eupgraded to the business class. No idea why AC sent to me the bid upgrade e-mail.
Last edited by ChristiCyvr; Nov 11, 2022 at 4:30 am
Nov 10, 2022, 11:50 pm
#1412
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
That's eUpgrades, not bids which is a different process and the topic of this thread.
Nov 14, 2022, 7:59 am
#1414
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,754
I bid 1,310.00 CAD for 2x seats upgraded from PE to Biz n FCO-YUL on 31-Dec.
I am torn on if I actually care, its a 9 hour flight, in the daytime, so Ill be awake the entire time. In PE, I get a window seat, and in Biz I will sit in the middle with the Mrs.
But, on the flip side, connecting on to SFO from YUL, so anything to make the entire 17 hours or whatever of travel more comfortable is a good idea.
I am torn on if I actually care, its a 9 hour flight, in the daytime, so Ill be awake the entire time. In PE, I get a window seat, and in Biz I will sit in the middle with the Mrs.
But, on the flip side, connecting on to SFO from YUL, so anything to make the entire 17 hours or whatever of travel more comfortable is a good idea.
Nov 14, 2022, 1:13 pm
#1415
formerly known as DeltaNYC
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYZ, mostly...
Programs: AC SE100K / BA Bronze / Marriott Ambassador (LT Plat) / Hilton Diamond / IHG Plat
Posts: 1,704
I bid 1,310.00 CAD for 2x seats upgraded from PE to Biz n FCO-YUL on 31-Dec.
I am torn on if I actually care, its a 9 hour flight, in the daytime, so Ill be awake the entire time. In PE, I get a window seat, and in Biz I will sit in the middle with the Mrs.
But, on the flip side, connecting on to SFO from YUL, so anything to make the entire 17 hours or whatever of travel more comfortable is a good idea.
I am torn on if I actually care, its a 9 hour flight, in the daytime, so Ill be awake the entire time. In PE, I get a window seat, and in Biz I will sit in the middle with the Mrs.
But, on the flip side, connecting on to SFO from YUL, so anything to make the entire 17 hours or whatever of travel more comfortable is a good idea.
Nov 14, 2022, 7:36 pm
#1417
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 706
You can ask at the check-in counter, but with some airlines, they simply charge you the fare difference between economy and business class.
Nov 14, 2022, 7:46 pm
#1418
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
Nov 25, 2022, 12:21 am
#1419
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 1
Wonky bid system
Bid for upgrades in August for a December trip. For 6 different legs of my trip. Just got an email of one bid offer for a leg that the airline switched, being rejected 2 days ago, but, the other offers that used to say pending when I checked after getting that email have now completely disappeared. When calling air Canada they say it’s a third party and have no idea what’s going on. They said ‘just bid again’. Well you can’t. The window to do that is not allowed anymore. Any suggestions?
Nov 27, 2022, 2:21 pm
#1422
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
Of course, with bids being accepted or rejected well before the flight, a bid-up doesn't do anything to prevent op-ups due to last-minute no-shows. But we also don't know the true load of the flight. It's possible there are 2 unsold seats in J and Y is oversold by 20, and yes, a bid-up might help avoid an op-up.
But I think the key here is that it's likely automated and costs AC essentially nothing to get people to put in bids, just in case.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Nov 27, 2022 at 2:32 pm Reason: Corrected typo
Nov 27, 2022, 2:31 pm
#1423
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 77
I doubt anyone at AC is thinking about it. I think the e-mail goes out regardless of the load on the flight. Loads aren't static, and collecting bids doesn't really cost me anything. If I were in RM at AC, I'd rather have bids waiting in case someone changed or cancelled.
Of course, with bids being accepted or rejected well before the flight, a bid-up doesn't do anything to prevent op-ups due to last-minute no-shows. But we also don't know the true load of the flight. It's possible there are 2 unsold seats in J and Y is oversold by 20, and yes, a bid-up might help avoid an op-up.
But I think the key here is that it's likely automated and costs AC essentially nothing to get people to put in bids, just in case.
Of course, with bids being accepted or rejected well before the flight, a bid-up doesn't do anything to prevent op-ups due to last-minute no-shows. But we also don't know the true load of the flight. It's possible there are 2 unsold seats in J and Y is oversold by 20, and yes, a bid-up might help avoid an op-up.
But I think the key here is that it's likely automated and costs AC essentially nothing to get people to put in bids, just in case.
Nov 28, 2022, 12:25 am
#1424
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
Booked AC87 to YUL in PY using points (43k x2 passengers). Got bid suggestions for $550, which I thought was a good deal for a 7-8hr flight. But my wife, who is travelling with me disagreed.
That was a week pre-departure. Then checking in to our flight today they had auto-upgrade for US$317 each ($425). We hit the bid, but IT glitches that are rare at AC didn’t process the transaction evidenced by seat selection still showing PY. Tried a few times to the same result. When checking in at the airport the same price was available and they were able to process. Yay! But I am now afraid to see how many times AC charged my card!
While we were checking in the lady passenger next to us was really upset because she clearly had the same experience as us. That is “hit the bid” and assumed it was locked in only to find out it wasn’t.
That was a week pre-departure. Then checking in to our flight today they had auto-upgrade for US$317 each ($425). We hit the bid, but IT glitches that are rare at AC didn’t process the transaction evidenced by seat selection still showing PY. Tried a few times to the same result. When checking in at the airport the same price was available and they were able to process. Yay! But I am now afraid to see how many times AC charged my card!
While we were checking in the lady passenger next to us was really upset because she clearly had the same experience as us. That is “hit the bid” and assumed it was locked in only to find out it wasn’t.
Dec 3, 2022, 9:11 am
#1425
Formerly known as newbie elite
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Platinum, AC50K
Posts: 2,927
This is a new one (for me) and slightly frustrating. Had bid to move up to Rouge J on the return leg LAS-YUL later today AC1706. Was J3R3 up until yesterday then J1R1. Got notified at 36 hours that it did not clear (I put in a decent bid, not a lowball).
This morning I see they changed the 321 from the 12J config to the 16J config one which is now J7R7 and has 4 seats open on the seat map. I guess there is no way they may evaluate the bid again?
They were charging $1200 on the app to upgrade my flight yesterday (still old 12J config on app at that time) which is too expensive but I guess that is what I would be offered at the airport as well later today?
Edit: purchased upgrade at check-in for less than what I had bid so it all worked out in the end!
This morning I see they changed the 321 from the 12J config to the 16J config one which is now J7R7 and has 4 seats open on the seat map. I guess there is no way they may evaluate the bid again?
They were charging $1200 on the app to upgrade my flight yesterday (still old 12J config on app at that time) which is too expensive but I guess that is what I would be offered at the airport as well later today?
Edit: purchased upgrade at check-in for less than what I had bid so it all worked out in the end!
Last edited by Admiral Ackbar; Dec 3, 2022 at 4:15 pm