RangerNS

If I'm going to be commuting to ORD for the year, it'll be hard to not try the direct UA home. I think it's usually a 320~, and hard to imagine there are that many native UA status PAX. I guess I'd be high up on unpublished status? Meh.

I'll be more experiementive once I hit AQD... Which might be in a week.
​​​​

YHZ_Flyer

flyquiet

Wait, nobody is going to point out that AC has no "first"? I thought it was a Forum rule.

YHZ_Flyer

rankourabu

This is fairly common. I've had it happen 4 times in the last 2 years on short AC transborders.

You will not get an upgrade on ORD-YYZ (well maybe to E+ if you ask nicely). Its hard enough as a 1k. While it used to be easy, even for Gold, there is too much connecting OPM paid F traffic it seems nowadays. Not a chance there wont be at least 12 (or even 16 on a 737) paid F people and all (including lowest) freeloading UA elites before they get to AC folk.

Look at tonight's flight inbound to YYZ in the evening. 14 paid seats (or paid upgrades), 2 free upgrades - granted noone waitlisted.
Tomorrow morning, no empty seats, noone upgraded, 31 people on waitlist so far. In the afternoon, same story, no upgrades given out, booked full and 24 on waitlist.
Tomorrow evening, after work flyer traffic dies down - only 8/16 seats booked, but the waitlist will probably fill up at T-24.

trooper

Only if you are an AC *Gold. Preferred/preferential seating has NEVER been a published *Gold benefit. Ever. Some airlines will provide it to all *G...but that is THEIR decision.

Dirigible

I recently purchased an award fare in Economy using UA miles on AC metal. Though during booking on United.com I was not able to selected Preferred seats, after completing the booking I was able to pull it up on Aircanada.com and select Preferred seats at no additional charge.

I am 1k on United / Star Alliance Gold. I am wondering whether there are any benefits wrt boarding zone or baggage for the AC flight? Does the Preferred seat make a difference?

yowcat

A preferred seat will not make a difference.

Your United 1K Star Alliance Gold benefits should allow you

* a free bag depending on your itinerary (you can validate here: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...checked.html#/
* Board with Zone 2

edmond00

I think because you buying the latitude fare or that just a normal seat. As a UA 1K on AC flight should be the lounge that you can see on maple leaf club and priority check in boarding security (depends on city )immigration (depends on country) luggage and first free check bag and maybe the priority for lost baggage report at Toronto airport.

ISTFlyer

Hi there,
I'll book a *A TATL ticket ( most likely in Basic Economy ) and I have the option to fly United or Air Canada metal for the transatlantic leg.
As a partner *G, I know that United charges for seat selection even at check-in and unless I pay, I get an auto-assigned seat. So, my question is, does Air Canada charge for advanced seat selection for partner *G's when purchasing either Basic Economy or Regular Economy ( not the Flex package ), or at least do they allow complimentary seat selection at check-in.

Thanks for your responses in advance.

Roka

Do Star Alliance Gold get free standard seat selection on Air Canada? That’s what it appears to say on the SAG website including for AC, but it keeps saying I have to pay about $30 for YVR-EWR.

I can see I do have my UA FF# on the reservation.

canopus27

I don't believe that free seat selection is a *G benefit. When I look at the Star web site (https://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits-and-privileges) all it lists as *G benefits are

• Priority Airport Check-in
• Priority Baggage Handling
• Airport Lounge Access
• Priority Boarding
• Extra Baggage Allowance
• Gold Track Security
• Priority Reservations Waitlist (*)
• Priority Airport Stand-by (*)

(*) subject to individual member carrier’s policy and legal regulations.

I don't see seat selection listed, nor do I believe that it is included on AC (for a standard fare).

bocastephen

Sorry, no - *G benefits on Air Canada are limited to checked bag fee waivers, lounge access and group 2 boarding, that's it.

canadiancow

Well actually I think everything mentioned in the post above yours is offered by AC.

bocastephen

I didn't see it - I had my reply window open for awhile.

On the flipside, United offers free E+ seating for *G members regardless of airline, so it would be nice if Air Canada offered the same to other *G members, or at least United members given their new "cooperative agreement"