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
May 25, 2017, 7:11 am
#331
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Please confirm your dates so we can check prices. 2200 for each PY is pretty high, there might be P space left if not too close in.
If there isn't a decent P fare left (you can phone and pay difference) you are down to bidding as per this thread or trying for an LMU.
To be honest if a mod sees this I'm not sure this belongs in a bidding thread as there may be better options?
If there isn't a decent P fare left (you can phone and pay difference) you are down to bidding as per this thread or trying for an LMU.
To be honest if a mod sees this I'm not sure this belongs in a bidding thread as there may be better options?
May 26, 2017, 11:51 am
#332
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,958
Altitude Qualifying Dollars?
I cant find any info on AQD, not in this thread, nor in the terms or FAQs.
Most of the the posts here are specific to a bid, bot what gets posted to your Altitude account later.
Can someone please confirm, that if you successfully bid for an upgrade, do those dollars spent count towards AQD?
Thanks
Most of the the posts here are specific to a bid, bot what gets posted to your Altitude account later.
Can someone please confirm, that if you successfully bid for an upgrade, do those dollars spent count towards AQD?
Thanks
May 26, 2017, 10:32 pm
#336
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto,Canada
Programs: aeroplan, united, Fairmont, SPG, HHonours
Posts: 24
Please confirm your dates so we can check prices. 2200 for each PY is pretty high, there might be P space left if not too close in.
If there isn't a decent P fare left (you can phone and pay difference) you are down to bidding as per this thread or trying for an LMU.
To be honest if a mod sees this I'm not sure this belongs in a bidding thread as there may be better options?
If there isn't a decent P fare left (you can phone and pay difference) you are down to bidding as per this thread or trying for an LMU.
To be honest if a mod sees this I'm not sure this belongs in a bidding thread as there may be better options?
If I understand you correctly -I can call AC and see if I pay the difference for the Business class ( if available?) . Can you please guide me as per my original post - how I can figure out how many seats left in each class/cabin?
May 30, 2017, 6:09 am
#337
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
Not all AC flights seem to be elligible for bid upgrades. AC042 on June 1st doesn't want to cooperate when I try to access the bid upgrade page, although load seem pretty light. I don't have an EF account so I can't check for sure but eUp seems wide open.
May 30, 2017, 12:12 pm
#340
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Apologies if I am in the wrong place - I originally posted in what I thought was one of the Noubie forums...and I was transferred here.
If I understand you correctly -I can call AC and see if I pay the difference for the Business class ( if available?) . Can you please guide me as per my original post - how I can figure out how many seats left in each class/cabin?
If I understand you correctly -I can call AC and see if I pay the difference for the Business class ( if available?) . Can you please guide me as per my original post - how I can figure out how many seats left in each class/cabin?
Further to your questions:
1. This post and thread will tell you the rules on buying up to Biz Class
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27576115-post20.html
2. There are multiple ways to see how many seats are left for sale in the Business Class Cabin.
On the Air Canada site, when you look at the business class fare for your site, sometimes, if there are only a few seats left, there is a notation under the fare that says 3 tickets or seats left for sale.
The seat map - while not always accurate, can give you a sense of what is available, however be advised, some business tickets have been purchased but the specific seats were not yet selected.
EF (an Expert Flyer) subscription, can tell also show you the seats map and number of seats left for sale in each fare class.
Others here can add more info or correct mine.
----
I don't think your question belongs in this thread as it doesn't seem related to the Bid Upgrade program.
Jun 4, 2017, 8:08 am
#341
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Aberdeenshire
Programs: BA Exec Silver, Aeroplan, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 1,127
Just for fun on my upcoming YVR-YWG I bid $150 (the lowest it would allow, which the metre called 'weak' or something like that). I just got the upgrade confirmation e-mail. Worth it for the lounge access, since I will not have to hang around downtown.
Jun 4, 2017, 1:01 pm
#342
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
There are much cheaper ways of buying lounge access.
Jun 5, 2017, 8:25 am
#343
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
True. And downtown YVR is much more fun than the lounge. The only redeeming part of the lounge is liquor. The food offerings are poor and it tends to be completely packed in the evenings which is when I normally fly out of YVR domestic.
Jun 5, 2017, 3:55 pm
#345
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
Your better option though completely hit and miss is LMU which is in AC's control and which I have found to be cheaper than bids.
IMHO.