Air Canada Baggage and Carry-on

What is the carry-on allowance?

On Air Canada flights, the free carry-on allowance for each passenger is one standard article plus one personal article. A passenger traveling with an infant on lap is allowed to carry on board the aircraft one additional standard article for the infant’s belongings.

What is Air Canada policy on checked baggage allowance?

Passengers traveling with Air Canada and Air Canada rouge or on Air Canada Express flights operated by Air Georgian, Exploits Valley Air, Jazz or Sky Regional may be entitled to a free checked baggage allowance that depends on destination, the fare purchased, and frequent flyer status. When the number, weight, and/or overall dimensions of your checked baggage exceed the limits of your free checked baggage allowance, Air Canada will apply additional checked baggage charges. You can use Air Canada Checked Baggage Calculator to find your baggage allowance and any applicable charges.

Baggage fees may apply from the 1st checked bag for Economy fares:

On all routes (domestic and international), passengers traveling in Premium Economy Class may check two bags up to 23 kg (50 lbs) and 158 cm (62 in) free of charge.

On all routes, passengers traveling in Business Class and Premium Rouge, as well as passengers traveling in any class to/from Brazil, may check two bags up to 32 kg (70 lbs) and 158 cm (62 in) free of charge.

Regardless of fare purchased, Air Canada Aeroplan and Star Alliance members enjoy a guaranteed minimum checked baggage allowance:

• Star Alliance Gold – 1 bag up to 23 kg.
• Aeroplan Elite 25K – 2 bags up to 23 kg each.
• Aeroplan Elite 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite – 3 bags up to 32 kg each.

What baggage policies apply in the case of codeshare flights?

When traveling on a codeshare flight or a flight with another airline, the baggage policy of the airline operating the first flight in your itinerary may apply. If your itinerary includes one or more flights operated by different airlines, each carrier may apply different rules on carry-on and checked baggage.

When your travel involves connecting flights to other carriers, you should enquire at the airport check-in counter whether you may check your bags to your final destination or just to the connection point. If your baggage cannot be through-checked, you must claim your baggage at the connection point and recheck it with another airline for your onward connection. In this case, your baggage allowance may be subject to the rules of the airlines with which you check your baggage.

When your itinerary includes an origin or ultimate destination in the U.S., baggage allowance and fee rules applicable will be determined by the selecting carrier (the carrier whose designator code is identified on the first flight segment of your interline ticket), which may opt to apply its own baggage rules or the Most Significant Carrier rule. Where Air Canada is the selecting carrier, Air Canada baggage rules will apply.

For all other itineraries, the Most Significant Carrier rule applies. When booking online at aircanada.com, the carrier whose baggage rules will apply will be identified on your itinerary receipt.

Carry-on

Whatever your destination is, Air Canada allows you to carry on board:

• One carry-on bag like a suitcase, roller bag (wheels and handles included in the size), backpack, etc. that does not exceed the maximum size of 23 x 40 x 55 cm (9″ x 15.5″ x 21.5″).
• One personal article like a briefcase, laptop computer, sport racket (e.g. tennis, squash, badminton), diaper bag, camera case, duty-free purchases, cartons, musical instrument or another similar item with the maximum size of 16 x 33 x 43 cm (6″ x 13″ x 17″).

You must ensure that your carry-on bags are inside the maximum allowed size and fit in the double-size verification device at check-in or boarding time. There is no maximum weight limit for carry-on baggage that must only be light enough so that you can store it in the overhead bin unassisted.

In addition to your carry-on allowance, special needs items are allowed at all times:

• Mobility aid (e.g. braces, crutches, cane, walker, communication device) or other special need items.
• Container carrying medication (original, labeled container) or life-sustaining items.
• Battery-powered medical equipment (such as sleep apnea devices and CPAP) and Personal Oxygen Concentrators.
• Syringes/hypodermic needles for personal medical use.
• Cremated remains stored in an urn, or a cardboard or wooden box with a tight-fitting lid to ensure no spillage that can be security screened.

In addition to the carry-on allowance and besides the special needs items, Air Canada allows you to carry on board some articles such as:

• Your coat or another outer garment.
• A small purse measuring no more than 25 x 30 x 14 cm (10″ x 12″ x 5.5″).
• One standard carry-on bag for infant items, when traveling with an infant on lap.
• One stroller – collapsed diameter not to exceed 25.5 cm (10″) and length not to exceed 92 cm (36″).
• A child restraint device if a seat has been purchased for the child/infant.
• Snacks or food (wrapped or in a container) to eat on board.

Checked Baggage

When traveling with checked baggage, you must have checked in, obtained your boarding pass and deposited all checked baggage at the Baggage Drop-off counter before the check-in deadline for your flight. Although you can use Online or Mobile Check-in as early as 24 hours before your flight, baggage may only be deposited at the Baggage Drop-off counter at the earliest:

• 4 hours before departure for flights departing from Canada or the U.S.
• 3 hours before departure for flights departing from all other locations.

When checking additional, overweight, or oversized bags you should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.

Baggage Tags

You must ensure that your checked bags are properly identified. Because external baggage tags can sometimes be damaged or detached, it is recommended that you place a tag with similar information inside your bag to facilitate identification. You can download, print and place inside your bag a baggage ID template that Air Canada has created for your convenience. This baggage ID placed inside is not intended to replace the external baggage name tags that should always be used.

Also for your convenience, Air Canada offers the self-tagging option to print and attach your own baggage tags at the Self-Service Kiosk. The new self-tagging option offered by Air Canada is available at the Self-Service Kiosks in the following airports: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto – Pearson, Québec, St. John’s, Boston Newark, New York – LaGuardia, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and London – Heathrow.

If you have already checked in, identify yourself at the Self-Service kiosk (enter the booking reference number or scan the barcode you received following your Web or Mobile Check-in), choose Reprint, and print your baggage tags, receipt, and boarding pass. If you haven’t already checked in, follow instructions on the Self-Service Kiosk touch screen to check in, enter your baggage information, pay additional baggage charges, and print your baggage tags. Then, affix the baggage tags to your bags and proceed to the Baggage Drop-off counter to deposit your checked baggage.

Oversized and Overweight Baggage

Air Canada applies additional checked baggage charges if you exceed the number, weight, and/or size of bags imposed by your free checked baggage allowance. All additional bags are subject to space availability.

Bags weighing 23 to 32 kg (50 to 70 lbs) are accepted as overweight baggage. For some passengers, overweight bags are included in the free baggage allowance at no additional charge.

Bags measuring 158 to 292 cm (63 to 115 in) are accepted as oversized baggage.

Air Canada will not accept bags exceeding the following limits:

• 32 kg (70 lbs) in weight.
• 203 cm (80 in) in length.
• 292 cm (115 in) in linear dimensions.

Additional Checked Baggage Charges

You can pay additional checked baggage charges online, on your mobile and at the airport, using a Self-Service Check-in Kiosk or at the Air Canada check-in counter. Baggage fees are charged in the local currency of the country in which the transaction occurs. The prices displayed do not include any applicable taxes.

Depending on your itinerary, Air Canada applies the following additional checked baggage charges:

• Flights within Canada and between Canada and the US (except Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands):
  • $ 100 CAD for each additional bag.
  • $ 100 CAD for an overweight and/or oversized bag.
• All other flights (except to/from Brazil):
  • $ 225 CAD/USD for each additional bag.
  • $ 100 CAD/USD for an overweight and/or oversized bag.
• Flights between Canada and Brazil – $ 120 CAD/USD for each additional/oversized bag.

Charges for overweight, oversized, or extra baggage are not cumulative. If a bag is both overweight and oversized, the fee is charged only once. No overweight or oversize charges apply to additional bags for which the $100 or $ 225 fee (plus taxes) is paid.

Sporting Equipment

Air Canada accepts most sporting equipment (e.g., archery equipment, bicycles, golf, hockey, lacrosse, and scuba diving equipment, skis, snowboards, surfboards, wakeboards, etc.) as checked baggage. Sporting equipment will be included in the free baggage allowance, and additional checked baggage charges will apply (exception – additional checked baggage charges may be waived for some sporting equipment such as oversized baggage charge for golf equipment, hockey equipment, skis, snowboards, and surfboards, paddleboards, kiteboards, wakeboards, and wave skis; overweight and oversized baggage charges for bicycles).

In addition to any applicable additional checked baggage charges, Air Canada charges a handling fee of $50 CAD (before taxes) for the carriage of bicycles and $100 CAD (before taxes) for the carriage of paddleboards, kiteboards, wakeboards, and wave skis.

The following sports items are not accepted as checked baggage: bobsleighs, canoes, hang gliders, luges, and windsurfing equipment.

Baggage Service

Lost and Found

Lost and Found service is offered on a courtesy basis, but Air Canada is not liable for any item lost or forgotten on an Air Canada plane or in another Air Canada area (e.g. check-in counter or departure lounge). In this case, you can:

• Complete online a Lost Item Form.
• If your item is found, Chargerback, Air Canada’s partner, will contact you, and your property will be returned to you.

Damaged Baggage

If, before leaving the airport, you notice that your baggage has been damaged, you should notify an Air Canada or Air Canada Express agent at the Baggage Service counter. If you have already left the airport, Air Canada strongly advises you to return to the airport with your damaged baggage, ticket, and baggage tags to report the damage.

Proof of damage, presented in the form of photographs of the baggage with the baggage tags on the baggage, photographs of the damage, tickets, and baggage tags, must be reported to Air Canada Baggage Claims at the latest within 7 days from receipt of the baggage. Failure to comply with this time limit releases Air Canada from any liability. Air Canada is not liable for damage considered to be normal wear or caused to baggage that is over packed, overweight, or unsuitably packed.

Delayed or Lost Baggage

If you cannot locate your checked baggage upon arrival, you need to notify a representative of the airline operating the last flight of your itinerary. If the last flight of your itinerary is an Air Canada flight or an Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz, you must notify an agent at the Air Canada or Jazz Baggage Service Counter. The agent will create a WorldTracer incident report, required in all communications regarding your delayed baggage and for checking the status of your delayed baggage online.

If your checked baggage is not located within 3 days, Air Canada Central Baggage Office will take over the search. At this time, you must file a claim by completing a Baggage Tracing Form within 21 days of your arrival and returning it along with all supporting documentation and a photocopy of signed photo identification to the Air Canada Baggage Claims office.

More information here >>