Who gets priority?

Question

When upgrading on Air Canada, how do they choose who gets priority? Does a Super Elite on a cheap fare get ahead of an Elite on a full fare ticket, or vise versa? What about when flying on aeroplan reward tickets? Does the fare or the status count more?

Answer 1

Typically, higher elite level trumps fare class for upgrade wait lists.  It seems that Air Canada likely uses the following order to determine upgrade priority:

1. Status

2. Fare class

3. Time upgrade requested

Of course, in order to use most upgrade certificates (except SSWU), you need to have booked a fully refundable economy fare, which I would generally not consider "cheap."  If you're using an SSWU (hopefully for international - NOT domestic - travel), then it would certainly go by status, ie, Super Elite would trump Elite.  

Reward tickets are not upgradeable.

My other suggestion is to check out Flyertalk's Air Canada Aeroplan forum.  Many folks knowledgeable of the ins and outs of AC's FF program.  Good luck.