Air Canada has significantly changed its basic economy offering, announcing that its lowest-priced tickets will no longer include a free carry-on bag.
Starting on January 3, 2025, passengers purchasing the revised Basic fare for North American and Sun routes will only be allowed one small personal item, such as a purse or laptop bag. Any additional luggage will need to be checked in before security.
You can access Air Canada here.
No Free Carry-Ons for Basic Economy
Under the new policy, passengers with a Basic fare will no longer be able to bring a carry-on bag into the cabin, such as a small roller bag or duffel bag.
Carry-on items must be checked in before proceeding through security. The first checked bag costs $35, and the second costs $50. If a passenger attempts to bring an ineligible carry-on item to the gate, they will be required to check it for a higher fee of $65.
These new rules will not affect members with Star Alliance Gold status or certain Aeroplan premium credit card holders, who will still be entitled to one free carry-on bag.
Additional Changes to Basic Fare
Air Canada is also modifying its basic fare structure to limit the ability to change seats. Starting January 21, 2025, passengers traveling on the Basic fare will no longer be able to select or change their seat at no extra charge. Instead, passengers will have to pay a fee to change their seat, which will vary depending on the seat chosen.
Air Canada’s Press Release:
Air Canada to Adjust its Basic and Comfort Fares Beginning January 3, 2025
Revised Basic fare will require carry-on baggage to be checked for North America and Sun travel, in line with industry standard
Comfort fare to include second checked bag for travel worldwide
Seat assignment at check-in for Basic remains complimentary, but changes will incur a fee as of January 21, 2025
MONTREAL, Dec. 4, 2024 /CNW/ – Air Canada today said it is revising some of the terms of its Basic and Comfort economy fare tickets. These changes align the airline’s fare structure with similar fare offerings by other Canadian carriers and better distinguish its fare brands.
Basic Fare Baggage
For its lowest-priced, Basic fare for North America and Sun routes, customers selecting this fare class and travelling on tickets purchased on or after January 3, 2025, will still be able to bring on board one small personal item, such as a purse or computer bag. But larger items, such as roller-board or duffel bags, or large backpacks, will have to be checked pre-security and standard fees of $35 for a first bag and $50 for a second bag will apply. Customers arriving at the boarding gate with ineligible carry-on items will be required to check this baggage for a $65 fee for each item.
Mobility aids, medical devices, and child strollers are exempt from carry-on charges for all customers. As well, 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.
Basic Fare Seating
The revised Basic fare will still include complimentary seat assignment at check-in for customers who have not paid a fee to select their seats in advance. However, beginning January 21, 2025, customers travelling on the revised Basic fare who wish to change their seat from the one automatically generated at check-in will be required to pay for that change — with the fee determined by the new seat chosen.
For families or those requiring an assistant, Air Canada remains committed to seating these customers together as per its current policy, which also prioritizes seating travelling companions together. Status and credit card member benefits will also continue to apply.
Comfort Fare Changes
The carrier also announced today it is increasing the checked baggage allowance for customers travelling worldwide on its Comfort economy fare. Under the new structure, Comfort fare customers who purchase their tickets from January 3, 2025, onwards will be entitled to check two complimentary bags, where currently the fare permits only one checked bag.
For more information, please see Air Canada baggage for details on allowances and also
Air Canada Airfare Options to learn about Air Canada’s branded fares and their attributes.
Conclusion
The current lowest fares, including these carry-on bags, will essentially become “basic” fares in 2025, and passengers without status or certain credit cards will need to pay an extra fee or two in case they also want to change the preassigned seat.
Air Canada will only allow you to bring a small item on board without a fee, and it must fit under the seat. You need to pay the fee to check in any larger items and then hope the bag(s) make the flight.
Other airlines have previously introduced fees like these, and they are universally hated by the traveling public, which was visible in the reactions to this announcement yesterday in Canada.
Air Canada really needs to decide whether it wants to be a full-service network carrier or a Canadian version of Frontier/Spirit.
This is nothing but an increase in fares, as who can only travel with a purse or laptop bag?
