On Wednesday, Air Canada announced that it will no longer allow carry-on baggage on some of its flights for tickets purchased in the new year, as well as implementing (or rather re-implementing) a policy that charges lower-tier passengers to change the seat assigned to them at check-in. Here’s what it means.
What does the new baggage rule say?
Air Canada Economy Basic fare tickets — the airline’s lowest tier — purchased on or after Jan. 3 will no longer include carry-on baggage, meaning you can only bring one personal article (16 by 33 by 43 centimetres) such as a purse or laptop bag on flights within Canada or to the U.S., Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Other international destinations will still allow you to bring one personal article and one carry-on bag.
What happens to carry-on-sized bags?
They will have to be checked like larger items, at a fee of $35 for the first item and $50 for the second. And if you arrive at the gate with an ineligible bag, the fee goes to $65.
Is there any way around the new rule?
The new rule applies to tickets purchased Jan. 3 or later, so if you buy a ticket before then to fly later, you can still bring a carry-on. Also, Air Canada has also announced that its Economy Comfort tier (a higher tier than Economy Basic) now includes two free checked bags instead of one.
That said, a recent search of Air Canada’s website turned up a Toronto-to-Vancouver flight after the rules take affect. It was $135 for Economy Basic, rising to $322 for Economy Comfort, suggesting that even with fees, the lowest fare is still cheaper — in this instance, at least.
How does the seat rule work?
Beginning Jan. 21, Economy Basic customers who didn’t pay in advance to pick their seat will be assigned one at check-in, and will have to pay a fee if they wish to change this. (It was previously free to do so.) Note that this change begins Jan. 21 regardless of when the ticket was purchased. The airline says it will seat families and group bookings together.
Didn’t Air Canada try that one before?
It did! The policy was implemented last April and communicated to travel agents, but travellers who said they were caught off-guard by the change took to social media to complain, and the airline shelved the plan just two days later. Now it’s back, but with fair warning.
How is Air Canada selling this?
In a press release, the airline says “these changes align the airline’s fare structure with similar fare offerings by other Canadian carriers and better distinguish its fare brands.” It also notes that “seat assignment at check-in for Basic remains complimentary,” meaning there is no cost to be assigned a seat — only to choose one.
Are other airlines doing this?
Yes. In June, WestJet rolled out its new UltraBasic fare level, which allows passengers to bring aboard only one personal item, gives them a pre-assigned seat at the back of the aircraft, makes them board last and, the airline said, gives them “the same friendly service, onboard food and beverage offerings, and access to the WestJet Connect inflight entertainment and connectivity system as before.”
What’s the reaction been?
People are not happy, and by people we more than just the masses. Transport Minister Anita Anand took to social media to declare: “I was just made aware of a decision by Air Canada to introduce new carry-on baggage fees. I am extremely concerned. Canadians work hard and save up to travel. They rightly expect excellent service, not extra fees.”
Not surprisingly, rival airlines also took note.
“Now the choice should be clear,” Flair said in a post on X. “The products are the same, one just costs way less.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
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