The free carry-on bag, once considered a given for even the most basic airplane seat, has received another blow.
Air Canada has become the second major Canadian airline within the past year to make its cheapest ticket one without complimentary carry-on luggage on some flights.
The airline said Wednesday that passengers who purchase the lowest-priced basic economy fare for North American and sun routes on or after Jan. 3, 2025, will only be allowed to bring one personal item, with no carry-on included, and will have to pay to check any bags beyond the personal item.
Personal items include smaller bags such as purses or a computer bag that can be stowed under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on luggage refers to duffel bags and small roller bags that would normally be stored in compartments above the seats.
Those bags will now have to be checked before passengers go through security, at a fee of $35 for a first bag and $50 for a second. Any passenger who fails to check their bag before security and arrives at their gate with an ineligible carry-on will be required to check it — and to pay an elevated fee of $65. The change does not apply to those with Star Alliance Gold or certain other memberships.
The days of changing your seat for free during check-in will soon be over for Air Canada passengers with the basic fare as well. Beginning Jan. 21, 2025, those who are travelling on a basic fare will be unable to change their seat from the one generated automatically at check-in unless they pay a fee.
How expensive that fee will be depends on the new seat chosen, the airline said, without providing further detail.
It’s also unclear if the charges for seat swaps will apply to all routes, or if they also apply to flights that were purchased prior to the changes but will occur after Jan. 21.
The changes come months after WestJet added its controversial Ultrabasic ticket, which also doesn’t allow travellers to bring a carry-on or swap their seats without paying a fee.
The Ultrabasic was advertised as being cheaper than the basic fare. It’s unclear if Air Canada’s revised basic ticket will also come with a drop in price or not.
Air Canada said in a statement the changes “align the airline’s fare structure with similar fare offerings by other Canadian carriers.”
CBC News has reached out for comment.
Reactions split
Some travellers say it’s unfair to charge for a service that used to be included, while others say it could reduce inefficiencies.
Some passengers checking in at Toronto’s Pearson airport told CBC News they were surprised to hear of the changes.
“I don’t agree with that, ’cause you pay enough for the fare to begin with. Everybody has something they have to carry on,” said Anne Creighton, who was set to fly to Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday. She said it would affect her decision to fly Air Canada in the future.
“They should have to have a bag and a decent seat included in the price so that it’s easier to compare prices.”
Air Canada has become the second major Canadian airline within the past year to remove complimentary carry-on luggage from its cheapest tickets on some flights. The move had a mixed reception among travellers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
Another called the news “not great.”
“It’s pretty typical for carriers like Flair or ultra low-cost carriers. It’s surprising to hear that for Air Canada,” said Daniel Galts.
Other airlines that already charge for carry-on luggage include Porter, Flair and Sunwing, which was bought by WestJet in 2023.
But Fred Lazar, associate professor of economics at Schulich School of Business at York University says the move was “long overdue.”
“About half of my flights have been delayed because carry-ons have had to be off-loaded at the last minute,” he said.
The charges provide another benefit, he said — at least for the airline. By taking services away from the public and locking them behind a membership or a higher fee, Air Canada might get some more people signing up for memberships.
“The new rules provide an incentive for joining Aeroplan,” Lazar said.
Air Canada said “status members, Star Alliance Gold and Aeroplan premium credit cardholders will continue to be entitled to one carry-on bag, and their other benefits will also continue to apply.”
Carry-on essential for most passengers
Duncan Dee, former chief operating officer for Air Canada says offering a more stripped-down ticket, adds options for flyers who travel light.
“For the traveler who only carries on a small personal item, this is a boon for them because frankly, they’re no longer subsidizing the traveler who has a carry-on bag,” he said.
But very few people fly across the country with just a computer bag, says John Gradek, a faculty lecturer at McGill University in applied networks in aviation management.
He says regulators should consider applying some oversight for the “customer service side of air travel in Canada.”
More airlines now charge for services that used to be part of the ticket price, such as seat selection and customer assistance. The federal government has vowed to make these fees easier to spot, but greater transparency won’t end airline fees.
Last month, Spain fined five budget airlines for charging passengers extra fees for carry-on luggage, citing the violation of consumer rights.
Air Canada’s changes do not affect strollers, medical devices and mobility aids, which will not be counted as carry-on baggage and will still be permitted with no charges.
As its cheapest ticket loses perks, the airline is also adding some to its comfort fare. Passengers with these tickets travelling worldwide will be entitled to two complimentary checked bags started Jan 3, 2025, instead of just one.
