Upgrades for Air Canada Frequent Flyers are Awesome!

Upgrades for Air Canada frequent flyers is a blessing. I was reading articles by our counterparts across the border about American Airlines, United and the general state of upgrades. TLDR; forget about upgrades. They are rare, even for their top frequent flyers. Fortunately for those north of the border, this is the complete opposite with Air Canada. Even the lowest status members can get upgrades with the right strategy. And, no, the strategy does not involve flying on a Saturday evening between two random cities in Canada.

What’s different?

Upgrades are not unlimited

The biggest difference is that upgrades on Air Canada are not unlimited. All frequent flyers, including myself, get a limited number of E-Upgrade credits, that we have to selectively use to upgrade our flights. What that means is, not everyone is bidding for an upgrade on every flight.

Yes, there are occasions where the upgrade list can be exhaustive, however, there is still a case to be made for some people to conserve their E-Upgrade credit for when they need it the most.

Upgrades have a price

This is similar to the above, there is always a price to pay for the upgrade. The “price” of an upgrade,  in the form of E-Upgrade credits, differs based on booked class of service, type of purchased fare, total distance traveled and the destination. If you purchase a lower category fare, the cost of your upgrade will be significantly more expensive, in terms of credit and cash supplement. If you purchase a higher category fare, your upgrade would be much cheaper.

In fact, many fares on Air Canada, have a cash supplement to request for the upgrade. Unless, of course, you purchase some of the more flexible fare options.

Upgrades can be applied to international flights

American Airlines has System Wide Upgrades. Delta has Global Upgrade Certificates. United has PointsPlus. All three systems are only awarded to their top or second-to-top tier statuses. Air Canada awards E-Upgrade credits to all elite status holders. They can choose to upgrade a shorter domestic flight between Vancouver and Calgary or a longer international flight from Toronto to Sydney (though the upgrade success on that route is very small).

Upgrades are based on fare category rather than status

In the USA, the upgrade priority is primarily driven by elite status. A top tier Diamond member will always be above a lowly silver member. In Canada, upgrade priority is driven by fare paid. That means, a 25K (lowest elite tier member) with a refundable Economy class ticket, will have a higher chance of an upgrade to Business Class than a top tier elite member purchasing the cheapest non-basic Economy Class fare.

Upgrades can be confirmed months in advance

This is somewhat similar to other airlines across the border. If you purchase a full fare ticket, either on points or on cash, your upgrade can clear months in advance prior to your flight. You can also determine guaranteed upgrade availability online through ExpertFlyer to determine which flights have availability. There is a chance, some secret upgrade space opens up that is not advertised as well.

Conclusion

In comparison to the folks down South, we have it super easy. Upgrades for Air Canada frequent flyers have a much higher chance of success than any other airline in North America. My upgrade success as a mid-tier elite on Air Canada is relatively good. It is even better knowing I pick my flights on convenience rather than the ability to obtain an upgrade. It is very rare I fly in Economy Class during my frequent travels between Vancouver and Toronto. For the most part, I am in Business or Premium Economy Class, because the upgrade priority is a lot more complex than our neighbor’s down south.

The biggest lesson? When there is complexity, there is also opportunity to work the system in your favor.