To use or not eUps; how to know if upgrade likely?
 

New to the FF game (went from zero status in in years to E75K now soon to hit SE.

I read most of the 101, but trying to find where to find loads. How do you guess if it's worth using eUps or not? (Or you always use them as they are returned if not upgraded?)

I have a YUL-GVA flight Sunday, return Friday. Then leaving Sunday for GRU returning 2 weeks later on Friday

I can't spend $ as it is business travel, so sometimes only PY is available for waitlist. Not sure how that works either as last flight I could waitlist for J without copay

If anyone can point a thread or do a crash course in eUps strategy that would be appreciated.

I would waitlist for J using eups on both those flights, the lack of co-pay with SE100K is a huge benefit. The lie-flat seat really is amazing for getting some sleep on a TATL (or intercontinental) flight.

You will likely be upgraded at the gate as you have pretty high status!

Not yet SE100K, sitting at 82k now so it will be another month or so before that.
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since all 70 credits I have left expire in Feb 2020 I guess better use them otherwise I'll have to give them

Just a FYI - bidding, LMU, and eUpgrades are upgrade instruments.

Bidding does not involve or require eUpgrade credits.

(Your thread title is: To bid or not to bid for eUps )

Sorry I misread that! If you have to copay $500 I would not do it. Save the credits for domestic J on flights between YYZ-YVR (or similar).

Changing title for clarity

Edit: changing when I edit, but not showing up on page? :(

It needs mod intervention.

@theBeachBoy

I read your OP - please provide exact calendar dates and exact flight numbers so that there is no ambiguity... then we can start strategizing.

I have 70 credits until Feb 2020.

AC834 Sept 8 YUL-GVA
J waitlist 21 credits & copay $500
PY waitlist 11 credits

AC835 Sept 13 GVA-YUL
Need to wait D-6 to see on eUp website

AC90 Sept 15 YYZ-GRU
AC91 Sept 28 GRU-YYZ
Both need to wait D-6

Does the copay sometimes gets removed as flight is closer to departure?

What are your base fares?
Please provide all details.

I'll lay out the fare availability here first as a post:


AC 834 0 YUL GVA 333 Daily J7 C7 D7 Z6 P2 R0 O5 E5 N3 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 G9 S9 T9 L0 A0 K0
09/08/19 8:50 PM 09/09/19 10:05 AM 70% / 41m
Chances to J are ok but since it is R0 you will most likely be waiting for the upgrade at the gate. Chances to O are similar.

AC 835 0 GVA YUL 333 Daily J9 C9 D9 Z7 P2 R6 O3 E3 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 G9 S9 T9 L0 A0 K0
09/13/19 12:55 PM 09/13/19 3:00 PM 51% / 35m
Chances to J seem ok for now since it is J9 R6. O is slim as it is down to O3 now.

AC 90 0 YYZ GRU 789 Daily J2 C1 D0 Z0 P0 R0 O5 E0 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q8 V6 W0 G0 S0 T0 L0 A0 K0
09/15/19 11:45 PM 09/16/19 10:40 AM 81% / 38m


AC 91 0 GRU YYZ 789 Daily J8 C8 D7 Z6 P2 R0 O9 E8 N5 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 G7 S3 T0 L0 A0 K0
09/28/19 7:50 PM 09/29/19 5:00 AM 86% / 32m

@theBeachBoy

copay is tied to status and base fare - it is never "removed" unless you upfare to a fare that does not require a copay for eUpgrading.

Please provide your fare class/category.

Thanks for being patient as I make rookie FT mistakes. I can't find a single letter fare class J Y etc. From eticket:

Fare for GVA is
​ outbound VHX4RCE/8N15 return VKW4RCE/8N15

Fare for GRU is outbound H0LWB/8N15 return Q7LWB/8N15

Last flight (last Friday) I had no copay to waitlist for J (missed by one person) my class was Y0WBO/8N27

To answer one of your questions, the eUps are returned if your upgrade doesn't clear. So you should request an upgrade on any flight you want an upgrade on.

J and Y are the generic terms for the cabins (and O for PY)... and also represent the highest fare class for the cabin.

For example, the flight you missed an upgrade by one for was a Y fare (indicating full fare coach) meaning no copay.

The rest are V, H, and Q fares, which are middle-of-the-road coach fares, all in the "Y" cabin, hence being in "Y".

Please see above posts for your chances.