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?
Jul 17, 2023 | 9:19 am
#241
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: Marriott LTP
Posts: 1,927
Another indication of YBYL. My upgrade cleared weeks ago (Latitude fare), and the day of departure the upgrade wait-list was 20 passengers long... but the seat adjacent to me was empty during the flight anyway...
Jul 17, 2023 | 9:57 am
#242
Join Date: May 2023
Location: YUL find me in Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE, Bonvoy Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 711
I ask because I've observed this on the last few international flights I've been on. In the most recent case, the Flight Director told me it was reserved for a deadheading pilot, though the seat never ended up being used.
In every instance, the app showed that the total number of J seats was 19 or 29 when the plane can actually seat 20 or 30. So it was intentional all along, and not a last-minute snub.
Jul 17, 2023 | 10:46 am
#243
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: Marriott LTP
Posts: 1,927
Was it the only empty seat? And was it one of the windowless seats?
I ask because I've observed this on the last few international flights I've been on. In the most recent case, the Flight Director told me it was reserved for a deadheading pilot, though the seat never ended up being used.
In every instance, the app showed that the total number of J seats was 19 or 29 when the plane can actually seat 20 or 30. So it was intentional all along, and not a last-minute snub.
I ask because I've observed this on the last few international flights I've been on. In the most recent case, the Flight Director told me it was reserved for a deadheading pilot, though the seat never ended up being used.
In every instance, the app showed that the total number of J seats was 19 or 29 when the plane can actually seat 20 or 30. So it was intentional all along, and not a last-minute snub.
Jul 17, 2023 | 11:51 am
#244
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SK Gold, Bonvoy Plat LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 47,219
If you're top of the list, don't board unless you are talking to the agent looking at the boarding screen, and it says 0 pax left to board in J.
Agents can board from computers that do not have that screen up, and I was recently told that it can only be up on one boarding terminal.
Agents can board from computers that do not have that screen up, and I was recently told that it can only be up on one boarding terminal.
Aug 15, 2023 | 2:23 pm
#246
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Platinum, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,140
Just got a text while seated in Y and seat reassigned to PY, 10 minutes before scheduled departure and a 30 minutes after I boarded. At gate was told there was no chance of upgrade, so I boarded as I was concerned about overhead space.
Aug 15, 2023 | 3:26 pm
#247
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*SE
Posts: 2,487
That's great, wish they were a bit more consistent about doing it that way!
Oct 14, 2023 | 2:20 pm
#248
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: YCD
Programs: AC 75K, Marriott Platinum Elite, HIlton Honors Gold
Posts: 579
On our flight last night from YYZ - YVR, I was in a Preferred Economy seat (my wife took my eUp'd seat)...boarded as part of Zone 1 with her, and there was a lady who boarded behind me and was one row back of me.
As soon as she sat down, she flagged a flight attendant and said she "just got the notification that she was eUp'd into business" (I have no idea if she really "just" got it, or never saw it) and wanted to move up...it took about 60 seconds but they let her move up and the seat behind me stayed empty.
The flight was J0 on ExpertFlyer and the app said everyone had checked in, so I'm assuming someone didn't make a connecting flight...thankfully for her, she boarded and didn't lose.
As soon as she sat down, she flagged a flight attendant and said she "just got the notification that she was eUp'd into business" (I have no idea if she really "just" got it, or never saw it) and wanted to move up...it took about 60 seconds but they let her move up and the seat behind me stayed empty.
The flight was J0 on ExpertFlyer and the app said everyone had checked in, so I'm assuming someone didn't make a connecting flight...thankfully for her, she boarded and didn't lose.
Oct 14, 2023 | 2:36 pm
#249
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Air Canada - Super Elite, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 865
I would think she just got it, not that she didnt see it from earlier. If the eUp had already cleared before boarding her BP would have come up with a seating issue on the scanner I think?
Oct 14, 2023 | 9:59 pm
#251
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 550
I was just #1 on a J0 flight last week. Spoke with the gate agent just before the list ran. She confirmed that once you board your name is removed and normally you wont be sought in the cabin. She wrote down the order of the upgrade list before they ran it and she assured me shed have someone come move me up if someone didnt board.
I think this is still very much agent specific rather than a wholesale SOP change for AC. Sometimes you get a good one but (mostly) you just get the bare minimum.
I think this is still very much agent specific rather than a wholesale SOP change for AC. Sometimes you get a good one but (mostly) you just get the bare minimum.
Oct 15, 2023 | 3:25 am
#252
Join Date: May 2023
Location: YUL find me in Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE, Bonvoy Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 711
Gate agent in YYC the other day (domestic) made a pre-boarding announcement about 5 minutes before boarding began, that amounted to YBYL.
I don't recall the exact wording but it was something to the effect of "We will be processing the upgrade list about seven minutes after boarding begins. If you are waiting for an upgrade, do not board the plane. If you do, your upgrade will be cancelled."
I know others have mentioned hearing this one on occasion before, but it's the first time I've heard it myself. (Then again I'm usually trying to time my arrival in the Zone 1 line with the boarding time so I miss these things a lot)
I don't recall the exact wording but it was something to the effect of "We will be processing the upgrade list about seven minutes after boarding begins. If you are waiting for an upgrade, do not board the plane. If you do, your upgrade will be cancelled."
I know others have mentioned hearing this one on occasion before, but it's the first time I've heard it myself. (Then again I'm usually trying to time my arrival in the Zone 1 line with the boarding time so I miss these things a lot)
Oct 15, 2023 | 6:05 am
#253
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YXU
Programs: AC SE100K, National E/E, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, MB, Avis PC
Posts: 1,262
Gate agent in YYC the other day (domestic) made a pre-boarding announcement about 5 minutes before boarding began, that amounted to YBYL.
I don't recall the exact wording but it was something to the effect of "We will be processing the upgrade list about seven minutes after boarding begins. If you are waiting for an upgrade, do not board the plane. If you do, your upgrade will be cancelled."
I know others have mentioned hearing this one on occasion before, but it's the first time I've heard it myself. (Then again I'm usually trying to time my arrival in the Zone 1 line with the boarding time so I miss these things a lot)
I don't recall the exact wording but it was something to the effect of "We will be processing the upgrade list about seven minutes after boarding begins. If you are waiting for an upgrade, do not board the plane. If you do, your upgrade will be cancelled."
I know others have mentioned hearing this one on occasion before, but it's the first time I've heard it myself. (Then again I'm usually trying to time my arrival in the Zone 1 line with the boarding time so I miss these things a lot)
Oct 17, 2023 | 9:49 pm
#254
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,614
Today one of my flight started boarding way before the eupgrade processing. I waited until my eupgrade cleared before making to the gate. It was now boarding Zone 3. I used the Zone 1 line where a concierge was waiting for me to make sure I did not board before clearance. It was quite a nice touch.
Oct 18, 2023 | 6:31 am
#255
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: Aeroplan 50k, Bonvoy Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 183
Recent flight YUL-NRT, we were 2 & 3 on the list to PY and lower for J, both cabins showing booked and checked in full. Made the decision to board for bin space, an FA did come find us and offered one seat in PY, we elected not to split up for what would probably be a PY middle seat. As a datapoint flight was oversold and they were offering VDB, so that could be the reason, but no YBYL in this case/