Feb 2, 2022, 11:40 pm
Last edit by: canadiancow
The gist of this thread is that if you board while waiting for an upgrade, and someone no-shows for J, there is a decent chance the agent will not come on to upgrade you. There are no guarantees either way though.
YBYL (You Board You Lose) on AC?
Mar 13, 2023, 2:01 pm
#226
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,342
I just think you should assume you're sitting in the seat you scanned at boarding.
"I am on the upgrade list. Has J boarded full yet?" is a very reasonable question to ask, and the number of remaining passengers to board, per cabin, is fairly prominently displayed on the agent's screen.
"I am on the upgrade list. Has J boarded full yet?" is a very reasonable question to ask, and the number of remaining passengers to board, per cabin, is fairly prominently displayed on the agent's screen.
Mar 13, 2023, 2:12 pm
#227
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan SE, MB Gold, ALL Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 54
On a recent YVR-YYZ flight I was #2 on the list but the gate agent told me J was full and so was PY. I boarded my Y seat. A few minutes before departure they came and got me and upgraded me to PY. #1 on the list apparently got the seat of a J no-show and they gave me his PY seat.
Mar 14, 2023, 1:48 pm
#228
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,496
Several times I've had SDs move me to J once the door is closed, both in the ground and in the air, when there were empty seats that I should have been upgraded into and was not - probably because of YBYL. But that is obviously not policy.
One time I did't get a seat in J that I should have, again probably because of YBYL, and the SD refused to move me so I contacted AC on social media and they proactively bumped me into J for my next trip free of charge. I'm guessing this was goodwill not policy.
YBYL obviously sucks from the perspective of the passenger. At the same time the gate agents are usually understaffed and have enough problems getting the flight boarded and closed and dealing with bags that don't fit in the overhead etc. even remotely close to on time. So I understand why they're not always running back down the jet bridge with J boarding passes for Y pax to fill J seats left empty from other misconnecting pax.
If AC wants to fix this situation they'd have to put some effort into doing so, not just relying on GAs being proactive or SDs being nice.
One time I did't get a seat in J that I should have, again probably because of YBYL, and the SD refused to move me so I contacted AC on social media and they proactively bumped me into J for my next trip free of charge. I'm guessing this was goodwill not policy.
YBYL obviously sucks from the perspective of the passenger. At the same time the gate agents are usually understaffed and have enough problems getting the flight boarded and closed and dealing with bags that don't fit in the overhead etc. even remotely close to on time. So I understand why they're not always running back down the jet bridge with J boarding passes for Y pax to fill J seats left empty from other misconnecting pax.
If AC wants to fix this situation they'd have to put some effort into doing so, not just relying on GAs being proactive or SDs being nice.
Mar 14, 2023, 2:24 pm
#229
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K MM, BA-S HH-D, MB-G LT Sil, IHG-Plt, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 3,803
Mar 14, 2023, 5:25 pm
#230
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,496
Mar 25, 2023, 12:04 pm
#231
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,374
I paid more attention for my YYC–YVR flight today, and won at YBYL!
Business class showed as 14/14 booked at check-in and I was second on the upgrade list when boarding started. It suddenly dropped to 11/14 while I was in line for zone 2 boarding, so I stepped out and asked the agent at the counter. In the end, I got an upgrade along with one other passenger and an AC crew member in uniform. The others (including whoever was first on the list) on the upgrade list dropped off as they presumably boarded.
Business class showed as 14/14 booked at check-in and I was second on the upgrade list when boarding started. It suddenly dropped to 11/14 while I was in line for zone 2 boarding, so I stepped out and asked the agent at the counter. In the end, I got an upgrade along with one other passenger and an AC crew member in uniform. The others (including whoever was first on the list) on the upgrade list dropped off as they presumably boarded.
Apr 11, 2023, 6:12 pm
#232
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,427
Pleasantly surprised today on YYZ-LAS. I was second on the upg list and the flight checked in full. I boarded in Zone 1, was seated for about 15 mins and the plane was halhway thru boarding when I got a text that my upgrade cleared. Asked the FA to check with the GA and after boarding was almost complete, got a new BP and moved up to J. I guess there were misconnects. No idea if No 1 on the list also got upgraded.
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
Apr 11, 2023, 6:16 pm
#233
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,342
Pleasantly surprised today on YYZ-LAS. I was second on the upg list and the flight checked in full. I boarded in Zone 1, was seated for about 15 mins and the plane was halhway thru boarding when I got a text that my upgrade cleared. Asked the FA to check with the GA and after boarding was almost complete, got a new BP and moved up to J. I guess there were misconnects. No idea if No 1 on the list also got upgraded.
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
1. Seat goes empty (I've seen them hit errors trying to upgrade #2 (#1 on the onload recommendation list, but #2 on the "true" list)
2. #2 gets it (if they can get around the issue in 1.)
3. #1 gets it
Apr 12, 2023, 10:44 am
#234
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,551
Pleasantly surprised today on YYZ-LAS. I was second on the upg list and the flight checked in full. I boarded in Zone 1, was seated for about 15 mins and the plane was halhway thru boarding when I got a text that my upgrade cleared. Asked the FA to check with the GA and after boarding was almost complete, got a new BP and moved up to J. I guess there were misconnects. No idea if No 1 on the list also got upgraded.
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
So despite me boarding, I guess the list was still active ?
Apr 30, 2023, 8:26 pm
#235
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,741
I was sitting near the gate for AC 222 tonight waiting for a different flight and the GA made an announcement prior to boarding that of anyone was on the upgrade list they would be taken off the list if they boarded rather than wait. I had not ever heard an actual announcement to that effect. It’s probably been reported before on this thread, but I don’t have time to go through the many posts to check…
Apr 30, 2023, 9:47 pm
#236
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,232
I was sitting near the gate for AC 222 tonight waiting for a different flight and the GA made an announcement prior to boarding that of anyone was on the upgrade list they would be taken off the list if they boarded rather than wait. I had not ever heard an actual announcement to that effect. It’s probably been reported before on this thread, but I don’t have time to go through the many posts to check…
Jun 5, 2023, 2:24 pm
#237
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,188
1 for 2 today. My 777 flight was cancelled so instead I now have two segments on 321, both 100% booked. Not wanting to check my roll aboard, I boarded earlyish. The near the end of boarding on the first flight, at T-10min, I got a notification that my upgrade cleared and a FA came to get me. The second flight closed doors with an open seat in J but no such luck two flights in a row. At least it’s just YYZ-YUL, and I have an extra legroom ext seat.
Jul 16, 2023, 6:04 am
#238
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,203
YBYL is also also useful when you wanna board last so that, as you board, you can scope for rows in economy that have an empty adjacent seats just sit there to have more apace around you, even if it's not your assigned seat.
Since you're boarding last, it's very unlikely that seat or its adjacent seats will be claimed.
Since you're boarding last, it's very unlikely that seat or its adjacent seats will be claimed.
Jul 16, 2023, 9:37 am
#239
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,553
YBYL is also also useful when you wanna board last so that, as you board, you can scope for rows in economy that have an empty adjacent seats just sit there to have more apace around you, even if it's not your assigned seat.
Since you're boarding last, it's very unlikely that seat or its adjacent seats will be claimed.
Since you're boarding last, it's very unlikely that seat or its adjacent seats will be claimed.