Air Canada to start charging for carry-ons on cheapest tickets

Canada's last bastion of free carry-on is flying away.

Today, Air Canada announced that effective Jan. 3 passengers who purchase the cheapest ticket (called 'economy basic fare') will no longer be allowed a carry-on bag or suitcase to stow in the overhead bin on a complimentary basis.

So, if you're on that basic fare and you do want to bring along a carry-on it will cost you an additional $35, due at the time you book and pay for your ticket.

Try to sneak a carry-on on board with a basic fare and you'll be stopped and have to pay a premium fee of $65.

Airlines such as Flair, Porter and Sunwing have been charging for carry-ons for some time.

WestJet started charging for carry-ons for those booking the airline's 'ultra basic' fare in June.

WestJet got a lot of flak at the time.

Ironically, at the time, Air Canada made a play of reminding flyers that it allowed a free carry-on for all passengers and even started to offer free snacks, beer and wine on flights within North America until the end of this year.

Now, both of those perks are expiring with the dawn of a new year.

Air Canada made the statement about the carry-on changes and charges on its website under new information titled: Adjustments to basic and comfort fares coming in January 2025.

It wasn't long before news outlets read the small print and started running stories about free carry-ons being banned for flyers with a basic ticket, some giving Air Canada the similar sort of grief that was directed at WestJet when it did the same thing back in June.

Air Canada's rule changes applies to all flights within Canada, to and from the US, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and to and from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

If you bought the cheapest ticket, but are an Aeroplan Elite Status or Star Alliance Gold member or a Aeroplan Premium credit card holder then you'll still be able to bring a carry-on for free.

If you purchased an economy basic fare flight, the only luggage you can bring on the plane for free is a personal item.

That personal item is something like a purse, computer bag or backpack that is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.

Passengers on an economy basic fare ticket who are connecting onwards to an international destination outside of the US, Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean will continue to be allowed, for free, one standard carry-on for the overhead bin and one personal item.

Another Air Canada change, coming into effect, Jan. 21 is that those travelling on a basic fare will have to pay an extra fee if they want to change their seat from the one automatically assigned to them at the time of check-in.

Air Canada's announcement didn't say what that charge would be.

When the new basic fare seat assignment rules come into effect, Air Canada will continue to assign seats together for customers travelling on the same booking.

The changes aren't all cutbacks or extra fees.

Air Canada also announced that mobility airs, medical devices and childrens' collapsible strollers and car seats are exempt from the new carry-on rules.

Starting Jan. 3, passengers who book a 'comfort fare' (Air Canada has eight fare tiers: basic, standard, flex, comfort, latitude, premium economy, business lowest and business flexible) will be allowed to check two bags complimentary, instead of one.