Old Apr 2, 17, 9:28 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Bohemian1
If I use a Bid Upgrade do I get additional SQM / SQD now for my flights?

No.

If I use a Bid Upgrade on an International Flight leaving YYZ/YVR do I get access to the Signature Lounge?

No.

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?

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


https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/en/AC-Bid-Upgrade-FAQ.pdf

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



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Air Canada Bid Upgrade Program

Old Nov 10, 22, 8:09 pm
  #1411  
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Join Date: Nov 2022
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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.

Last edited by ChristiCyvr; Nov 11, 22 at 4:30 am
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Old Nov 10, 22, 11:50 pm
  #1412  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
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Originally Posted by homegrowned View Post
did that earlier this year, I bid for both. If your fare was latitude you can even instantly clear if there is space. For me it was 90k RT to Europe per person, and my e-ups cleared instantly allowing us both lie flats
That's eUpgrades, not bids which is a different process and the topic of this thread.
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Old Nov 11, 22, 5:39 am
  #1413  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
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Originally Posted by TechnoTourist View Post
That's eUpgrades, not bids which is a different process and the topic of this thread.
d’oh sorry I am an idiot =\

ty for clarifying!
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Old Nov 14, 22, 7:59 am
  #1414  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
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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.
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Old Nov 14, 22, 1:13 pm
  #1415  
formerly known as DeltaNYC
 
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Originally Posted by returnoftheyeti View Post
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.
Paying for upgrades is a highly personal choice of course, but I would not be spending this kind of money for a day flight which is not ULH, especially if I'm in PE. Depending on the loads (and that flight is looking light in J at the moment) you may get a better offer during OLCI or be able to upgrade at the airport for a set amount. Or save the money and treat yourself & your traveling companion to a nice spa day in SFO upon arrival.
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Old Nov 14, 22, 7:22 pm
  #1416  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan; Nexus
Posts: 17
Does bid-upgrade work with flights operated by another carrier booked through AC? I have a flight coming up with EVA Air, booked with AC.
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Old Nov 14, 22, 7:36 pm
  #1417  
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
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You can ask at the check-in counter, but with some airlines, they simply charge you the fare difference between economy and business class.

Originally Posted by StopThisTrain View Post
Does bid-upgrade work with flights operated by another carrier booked through AC? I have a flight coming up with EVA Air, booked with AC.
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Old Nov 14, 22, 7:46 pm
  #1418  
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Originally Posted by StopThisTrain View Post
Does bid-upgrade work with flights operated by another carrier booked through AC? I have a flight coming up with EVA Air, booked with AC.
No. AC will only offer you a bid upgrade on flights operated by AC. What BR might offer, I don't know; that would be a question for the BR forum.
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Old Nov 25, 22, 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?
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Old Nov 25, 22, 3:17 pm
  #1420  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, Marriott
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DP: Had bids for upgrade to J for $1200 and to PY for $410 from Flex V refused at exactly T-36 for AC 860 YVR-LHR while it was J5R0O1.

Playing Aerolotto now at J3O1
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Old Nov 27, 22, 2:09 pm
  #1421  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
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I got an email to bid on an upgrade for a flight 4 Dec that is J0 Y0. Guessing AC is hoping that someone from J will cancel and they can get some $ instead of having to give an op-up?
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Old Nov 27, 22, 2:21 pm
  #1422  
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by vancouver25k View Post
I got an email to bid on an upgrade for a flight 4 Dec that is J0 Y0. Guessing AC is hoping that someone from J will cancel and they can get some $ instead of having to give an op-up?
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 AC 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.

Last edited by Adam Smith; Nov 27, 22 at 2:32 pm Reason: Corrected typo
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Old Nov 27, 22, 2:31 pm
  #1423  
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Originally Posted by Adam Smith View Post
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.
I routinely got bid upgrade invitations on flights I have already eupgraded or cancelled/changed, so most likely they are automated.
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Old Nov 28, 22, 12:25 am
  #1424  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,579
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.
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Old Dec 3, 22, 9:11 am
  #1425  
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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!
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Last edited by Admiral Ackbar; Dec 3, 22 at 4:15 pm
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