Beginning in January, Air Canada will implement a new policy that will require passengers in the basic economy class to pay an additional fee for carry-on luggage that exceeds the size of a small backpack or handbag. This policy will be applicable to flights within the Americas. Passengers who choose the budget-friendly fare will be charged $25 for their first piece of carry-on luggage, such as roller bags and oversized backpacks, and an additional $36 for a second piece.
If passengers do not pay the fee at the time of ticket booking or check-in, they will be charged a surcharge of $46 at the airport. This policy change is expected to impact budget travelers who will now have to pay extra for carry-on baggage, even when choosing the most affordable ticket option.
Air Canada has stated that the new policy, which will be effective from January 3, is intended to align the airline’s fare structure with similar offerings by other Canadian carriers. However, this move has drawn criticism from Canadian lawmakers. Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand expressed her dissatisfaction with the new policy in a recent interview, stating that the airline needs to reconsider who they are targeting with these excess fees, which she deemed unacceptable.
Moreover, starting January 21, the airline will also begin charging low-fare passengers for changing their automatically assigned seats at check-in. This policy had previously sparked a strong negative reaction from customers.
Air Canada’s new carry-on policies are similar to those of budget airlines that charge extra for carry-on baggage larger than the one free personal item. Frontier Airlines, for example, has been criticized for encouraging gate agents to catch customers trying to avoid paying carry-on baggage fees. Despite the criticism, Frontier’s CEO Barry Biffle defended the policy, likening those who evade the fees to shoplifters.