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
Jul 20, 2018, 1:00 pm
#661
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
Flying in premium economy, YYZ to FCO next Friday (July 27). Used Aeroplan miles (300K) for 4 PE tickets. I was given the option to "bid" for an upgrade to biz class (there was even a note saying for a limited time, they've reduced the 'minimum' bid for this particular route by 30%), so I put in a bid for each of us (4 passengers total) just above the minimum bid ask ($585 CAD). I just checked my flight, and there are still 12 biz-class seats available. Sooo...based on everyone's experiences, what are my chances of getting 4 seats upgraded to biz when the original PE seats were booked using aeroplan miles?
Jul 20, 2018, 3:21 pm
#662
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,417
Flying in premium economy, YYZ to FCO next Friday (July 27). Used Aeroplan miles (300K) for 4 PE tickets. I was given the option to "bid" for an upgrade to biz class (there was even a note saying for a limited time, they've reduced the 'minimum' bid for this particular route by 30%), so I put in a bid for each of us (4 passengers total) just above the minimum bid ask ($585 CAD). I just checked my flight, and there are still 12 biz-class seats available. Sooo...based on everyone's experiences, what are my chances of getting 4 seats upgraded to biz when the original PE seats were booked using aeroplan miles?
Jul 21, 2018, 12:12 am
#664
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lima Sierra Zulu Hotel
Programs: AC*SM, M&M SEN, BA Gold, DL Gold; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 777
Flying in premium economy, YYZ to FCO next Friday (July 27). Used Aeroplan miles (300K) for 4 PE tickets. I was given the option to "bid" for an upgrade to biz class (there was even a note saying for a limited time, they've reduced the 'minimum' bid for this particular route by 30%), so I put in a bid for each of us (4 passengers total) just above the minimum bid ask ($585 CAD). I just checked my flight, and there are still 12 biz-class seats available. Sooo...based on everyone's experiences, what are my chances of getting 4 seats upgraded to biz when the original PE seats were booked using aeroplan miles?
Jul 21, 2018, 1:34 am
#665
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
Jul 21, 2018, 2:22 pm
#666
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
oh and I just noticed i'm reply #666 on this thread. should I be worried?
Jul 21, 2018, 2:42 pm
#667
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
yup just noticed that myself. thanks for the correction
Aug 10, 2018, 11:22 pm
#670
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS; *A Gold
Posts: 990
Aug 11, 2018, 1:12 am
#671
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Aug 12, 2018, 5:45 am
#672
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: 44,302
Bids are processed 3-4 days before departure. If they expect to sell 3 seats in that time and there are 3 left, I'd expect the bid to be declined.
If they end up not selling any seats, I'd expect an LMU offer, which could be much less than your bid.
If they end up not selling any seats, I'd expect an LMU offer, which could be much less than your bid.
Aug 13, 2018, 10:26 am
#673
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,417
Aug 29, 2018, 12:31 pm
#674
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 187
It appears the bid I put in to upgrade to J for my SFO-YYZ flight on Saturday has been accepted ($500USD) as I just noticed a foreign transaction posted to my Amex from Plusgrade. No e-mail from AC yet but I assume it's coming at some point today.
So, so many questions.
1) I had already paid extra for a preferred seat assignment just in case the bid didn't go through. Does that get refunded or do I forfeit? I think it was ~$35.
2) Do I get to choose my own seat?
3) Do I get to use a lounge at SFO?
4) Do I get free checked bags or is the baggage policy based on my original ticket?
Sorry, I know I'm clearly a newbie to both business travel, loyalty points etc.
So, so many questions.
1) I had already paid extra for a preferred seat assignment just in case the bid didn't go through. Does that get refunded or do I forfeit? I think it was ~$35.
2) Do I get to choose my own seat?
3) Do I get to use a lounge at SFO?
4) Do I get free checked bags or is the baggage policy based on my original ticket?
Sorry, I know I'm clearly a newbie to both business travel, loyalty points etc.
Last edited by ShinyO; Aug 29, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Aug 29, 2018, 3:49 pm
#675
formerly airedalemom
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 25K, AF, Marriott etc......
Posts: 260
It appears the bid I put in to upgrade to J for my SFO-YYZ flight on Saturday has been accepted ($500USD) as I just noticed a foreign transaction posted to my Amex from Plusgrade. No e-mail from AC yet but I assume it's coming at some point today.
So, so many questions.
1) I had already paid extra for a preferred seat assignment just in case the bid didn't go through. Does that get refunded or do I forfeit? I think it was ~$35.
2) Do I get to choose my own seat?
3) Do I get to use a lounge at SFO?
4) Do I get free checked bags or is the baggage policy based on my original ticket?
Sorry, I know I'm clearly a newbie to both business travel, loyalty points etc.
So, so many questions.
1) I had already paid extra for a preferred seat assignment just in case the bid didn't go through. Does that get refunded or do I forfeit? I think it was ~$35.
2) Do I get to choose my own seat?
3) Do I get to use a lounge at SFO?
4) Do I get free checked bags or is the baggage policy based on my original ticket?
Sorry, I know I'm clearly a newbie to both business travel, loyalty points etc.
Here's an FAQ about AC Bid Upgrades
https://www.aircanada.com/content/da...pgrade-FAQ.pdf