Tickets purchased next year for the airline’s lowest tier will allow you to bring only one personal item aboard
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?
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?
How is Air Canada selling this?
Are other airlines doing this?
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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