Business Platinum Card from American Express
130,000 MR points
How to Maximize Air Canada eUpgrades for Americans
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Business Platinum Card from American Express
- Earn 90,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
- Plus, earn 40,000 MR points upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
- And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
- Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
- Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
- Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
- Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
- Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
- Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
- Annual fee: $799
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I see this just posted but has been around for years.
I booked YVR-BNE next January in Latitude with e-upgrade to business wait listed. If the e-upgrade does not clear will they automatically upgrade to Premium Economy if available? Unfortunately the e-upgrades expire two or three days after the flight schedule.
Yes. If you’re waitlisted for an eUpgrade to business class, you’re also placed on the waitlist for premium economy.
Hey, I am trying to book Economy Latitude YYZ > DXB on points and then upgrade to business using eUpgrades. For some reason I ALWAYS see “You’ll be waitlisted”. For every other route I eligible for upgrade. Any idea why that is? Is it just Dubai that is the issue?
You’ll want to look for “R” space (Expertflyer is best). When you search on aircanada.com, there should be a filter for eUpgrades and it should also show if space is available (with a green symbol) or if you’ll be waitlisted (with a yellow symbol). Long-haul R space definitely comes and goes.
Would it be possible to pair economy latitude flights + eupgrades with a business class partner flight? I’m trying to fly from Muscat to Vancouver with one other person but there is only one seat available in business class on the air canada portion from London to Vancouver. Could I ask over the phone for them to book the London to Vancouver leg in latitude economy and the Muscat to London portion in business?
I think you’ll run into some issues asking them to combine fares on a single booking. It’s worth a shot, but I don’t think it’s doable.
Hi TJ, I originally redeemed Aeroplan points for latitude fare from Toronto to Rome, with transfer in Montreal. I used eUpgrade and upgraded the Montreal-Rome segment to business class. I am wondering if this upgraded segment would grant me access to the Maple Leaf lounge in Montreal? And would it grant me access to the lounge in Toronto, since it’s the economy leg of a mixed cabin (of an eUpgraded ticket, to further complicate things)? Thanks
You’ll get lounge access for sure in Montreal but likely not in Toronto, unless you can confirm the upgrade prior to your flight.
Hi Jaymon! It would be 4 days prior to departure.
Can Eupgrades be shared in an Aeroplan family sharing plan?
Unfortunately, no. The member must be travelling on the same booking and can upgrade 1 other traveller on the same booking and an additional person at the airport on the day of travel.
Let’s say I booked Latitude + eUpgrade. If I later cancelled my flight, will eUpgrade credits be fully refunded too?
Yes!
I recently did the Aeroplan status match and was successful in getting Aeroplan 50k status. I opted for the eUpgrades as one of my benefits and I received a total of 40 eUpgrades. 20 of them expire on 1/15/22 and the other 20 on 1/15/2023. I have not decided if I am going to do a flight run to retain my 50k status for 2022 or not. If I don’t fly on AC to extend my status will I loose the 20 eUpgrades that expire in 2023? Thanks
Once you have earned eUpgrades, I don’t think they will be taken away if you don’t requalify. They’ll expire on the date listed in your eUpgrade account.
The value of e-upgrades is very limited- in most cases they are marked – you will be waited listed. Code for Buy your ticket but there will be no upgrade…That includes in most flights I have looked at latitude tickets. Never waste the hours talking to Aeroplan or Air Canada – even when the upgrade was available and confirmed by both Aeroplan and Air Canada – someone who controlled the flight refused to confirm my upgrade. After hours and hours I did finally get an upgrade that was a good deal. There are too many loop holes and complications and no one can fix it even if you and Air Canada and Aeroplan all agree you are entitled.
Choosing a flight where you know you are going to be waitlisted right away is the wrong approach in getting an upgrade. Look for flights where you will not be waitlisted from the start and go from there.
Thanks for explaining how this works! Is there a reason to opt for flex reward then? I’m not sure what the trade off is if latitude allows you to be cleared instantly vs. flex which may required time to be cleared?
Flex rewards tend to be cheaper in points. So, if you’re ok with possibly not being upgraded and want to save some points, Flex fares are an option. But if you want to travel in a higher class of service, Latitude + eUpgrades is the way to go.
Trying to understand how to read the clearance windows; it says ‘x’ number of days for all class except for latitude. For example, Aeroplan 25k flex has it as 4 days. Does that mean 4 days before departure or 4 days after booking? Thanks!
https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/loyalty/eUpgrade_requirements_EN.pdf