As airlines continue to impose additional fees, Air Canada has recently implemented stricter baggage policies.
Starting January 3rd, Air Canada will charge passengers on basic economy flights within North America a fee for their first carry-on bag – $25 – and a second carry-on bag: $36.
Passengers who don’t pre-register their checked bags will face a $46 fee at the airport. This policy extends to all carry-on bags, including larger backpacks.
Air Canada’s new fee structure mirrors that of low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier.
After the new policy was announced, the rule has already sparked criticism from both travelers and Canadian lawmakers alike.
Canadian Transport Minister Anita Anand has expressed concern over Air Canada’s new baggage fees.
She has called for a meeting with the CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet to discuss the matter.
Air Canada is the latest to introduce stricter baggage policies as airlines continue to impose additional fees
Starting January 3rd, Air Canada will charge passengers on basic economy flights within North America a fee for their first carry-on bag ($25 USD) and a second carry-on bag ($36 USD).
‘Let’s just say I’m not very happy today with what I’ve heard from Air Canada,’ Anand said in an interview on CTV’s Power Play.
‘I think they need to take a look at the persons that they are targeting with these excess fees. It is not acceptable.’
Anand is particularly worried about the impact of these fees on passengers, especially those traveling on basic economy fares.
In addition to the new baggage fees, Air Canada will also charge passengers on basic economy tickets for seat changes made after check-in opens starting January 21.
The airline has not announced how much the fee will cost.
The news of Air Canada’s new fee comes after a recent Senate subcommittee report revealed that Frontier and Spirit Airlines incentivize gate agents to enforce strict carry-on bag policies.
According to the report released last month, these airlines paid their agents $26 million in commissions between 2022 and 2023 for catching passengers with oversized bags.
Frontier workers can earn up to $10 for each bag a passenger is forced to check at the gate while Spirit employees can earn up to $5 for charging passengers for oversized carry-on bags.
Basic fares on Frontier and Spirit Airlines, which recently filed for bankruptcy, do not include carry-on bags.
Passengers who don’t pre-register their checked bags will face a $46 fee at the airport. This policy extends to all carry-on bags, including larger backpacks
In addition to the new baggage fees, Air Canada will also charge passengers on basic economy tickets for seat changes made after check-in opens starting January 21.
Canadian Transport Minister Anita Anand has expressed concern over Air Canada’s new baggage fees
Passengers are allowed to bring a small personal item, but larger bags may incur fees at the gate.
This practice has led to concerns about potential abuse, as agents may unfairly categorize items as too large to earn additional income.
