Air Canada: your traveler's guide to fares, rights and the fine print

Everything for an Air Canada trip in one place, the Basic-to-Latitude Economy ladder and what each fare really includes, baggage, pets, children flying alone, and the things that actually catch people out, the Basic fare's personal-item-only rule, seasonal pet embargoes, and the cash compensation Canada's APPR can owe you for a delay. Plus how to reach Air Canada directly or get help from a live BargainAirTicket agent, 24/7 in English and Spanish.

BargainAirTicket is an independent travel agency. We are not Air Canada and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Air Canada. This guide is for information only. You can manage your booking yourself at aircanada.com at no cost. If you'd rather we handle it, our agents assist for a service fee, quoted before you're charged.

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Change or cancelDates, cancellations, name fixes RefundsAm I owed money back? BaggageAllowance & extra bags Seats & upgradesChoose or upgrade Travel with a petIn-cabin, weight, restrictions Delays & rebookingRefunds, cancellations, your rights ConnectionsLayovers, immigration, bag recheck Unaccompanied minorsChild flying alone, ages, rules Special assistanceWheelchair, oxygen, service dogs

About Air Canada

A quick profile of the carrier.

Air Canada is Canada's flag carrier and its largest airline, flying across Canada, to the United States and to destinations worldwide, usually connecting through Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL) or Vancouver (YVR). It is a member of the Star Alliance global network, 26 airlines that let you earn and redeem across partners, and it runs the Aeroplan loyalty program. Two things make Air Canada different from a US carrier and are worth knowing before you book: your delay and cancellation rights come from Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), which can owe you cash a US airline never would, and on connections through its Canadian gateways you clear US customs in Canada through preclearance and arrive in the US like a domestic passenger. The catch to watch is the Basic fare, which is far more restricted than it looks.

Type

Flag carrier

Gateways

Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver

Loyalty

Aeroplan

Alliance

Star Alliance

Hubs & route network

Where the airline is based and where it flies.

Air Canada connects most trips through its main Canadian gateways. These are where you are most likely to change planes, and where US preclearance happens:

YYZ

Toronto Pearson

Main gateway

YUL

Montréal-Trudeau

Gateway

YVR

Vancouver

Gateway

YYC

Calgary

Preclearance

LHR

London Heathrow

Europe

LGA

New York

US transborder

Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR) are Air Canada's principal connecting airports, with Calgary (YYC) a fourth US-preclearance gateway. Air Canada does not label these as "hubs" on its own site, but they are where most itineraries change planes. On a single Air Canada ticket your bags are through-checked to your final Air Canada flight through these airports.

Air Canada route network

Schematic of the airline's main hubs and popular routes we book, not to scale. For the full current network, see aircanada.com.

Popular routes we book

Call for phone-only fares.

Toronto → London YYZ-LHRCall for fare Toronto → Vancouver YYZ-YVRCall for fare Montreal → Paris YUL-CDGCall for fare Vancouver → Los Angeles YVR-LAXCall for fare

Fares & cabins, what's included

Air Canada's Economy fare ladder from the lowest up, then Premium Economy and Business. What each fare includes is the whole story, so read it before you pick, the cheapest one is the most restricted.

Basic

The lowest, most restricted Economy fare. No changes and no refund at all, no same-day standby, and a personal item only on flights within Canada, to and from the US and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Seats and checked bags cost extra and you board last. Best only when price is all that matters and you travel very light.

Standard

Changes are allowed for a change fee, you get a personal item plus a standard carry-on bag, and seat selection and checked bags still cost extra. Not refundable.

Flex

No change fee, you pay only any fare difference. The first checked bag and seat selection are included, and same-day standby is available on select routes. Still non-refundable, the flexible-but-not-refundable middle.

Comfort

Refundable, with changes included, two checked bags and seat selection included, and earlier boarding. A comfortable step up without paying for Business.

Latitude

The top Economy fare: fully refundable, everything included, changes, same-day standby, seat selection and two checked bags, plus a meal on board and the cheapest lounge add-on.

Premium Economy & Business

Above Economy, wider seats and more service. Business is fully flexible on most fares. An agent can price these against a high Economy fare so you see the real difference.

Not sure which fare fits your trip and budget? An agent can compare them for you on the call.

Not sure which fare or route is best?

Tell an agent your dates and we'll find the right option, plus phone-only fares across 500+ airlines.

Call +1 (833) 667-2918

Baggage, the essentials

General guidance. Your exact allowance is set by your fare and route, so the fare and the bag decision go together, especially on Basic.

Basic can be a personal item only:

On Basic fares bought for travel within Canada, to and from the US (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico) and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, you get a personal item only, no standard carry-on. If a bag has to be gate-checked there is a pre-authorized fee, so people who assumed a carry-on get caught at the gate.

Carry-on from Standard up:

From Standard upward you get a personal item plus a standard carry-on bag. Air Canada publishes carry-on and personal-item dimensions and does not put a weight limit on the carry-on, but it must fit the sizer.

Checked bags depend on the fare:

A standard checked bag is up to 23 kg and 158 cm total. Flex includes the first checked bag, Comfort and Latitude include two, and on Basic and Standard checked bags are paid. Adding a bag before the airport is cheaper than at the counter.

Overweight and oversize go to Cargo:

Anything beyond 32 kg or the published size limits cannot go as normal checked baggage and must be sent through Air Canada Cargo. There is no flat counter fee for that, so plan ahead for sports gear or heavy items.

We can confirm your exact allowance and pre-pay bags for you, just call.

Check-in & boarding

How to be ready on the day.

Online check-in on aircanada.com and the Air Canada app opens 24 hours before departure and is the easiest way in. Because your carry-on and checked-bag allowance depend on your fare, sorting the fare first makes check-in simple. If your trip connects through Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Calgary on the way to the US, you will clear US customs and immigration in Canada through preclearance, so leave enough time and arrive at the airport early for that step.

Air Canada does not publish its own passport and visa tables. It notes that some countries require your passport to be valid for three to six months beyond your return, that many countries grant entry only with a return or onward ticket, and it points you to the destination's rules, an eTA for visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada, ESTA for Visa Waiver travellers to the US. For a child, the paperwork depends on the route and who they travel with, so confirm the exact documents early.

Aeroplan loyalty program

The airline's frequent-flyer program.

Aeroplan is Air Canada's own loyalty program, and as a Star Alliance member Air Canada lets you earn and redeem across dozens of partner airlines worldwide. Higher Aeroplan Elite status earns eUpgrade credits you can use toward Business or Premium Economy, plus priority check-in and boarding and extra baggage on eligible fares. Note that the cheapest Basic fare earns Aeroplan points but does not earn the Status Qualifying Credits that move you up the tiers. If you have an Aeroplan number, give it to us when booking and we will add it to your reservation.

Air Canada: frequently asked

Quick answers, call us for anything specific to your booking.

Does Air Canada have a 24-hour free cancellation?+

Yes. Air Canada states that if you cancel within 24 hours of purchase you get a refund to your original payment method. On its change-and-cancel page this is not tied to booking a certain number of days before departure, but rules change, so confirm your exact ticket with us or at aircanada.com. After 24 hours what you can do depends on your fare, Basic allows neither a change nor a refund, while Comfort and Latitude are refundable.

Does the Basic fare include a carry-on bag?+

Usually not. On Basic fares within Canada, to and from the US and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, you get a personal item only, no standard carry-on. If a bag ends up gate-checked there is a pre-authorized fee. If you're carrying more than a small bag, price Standard or higher rather than paying at the gate, and we can compare them for you.

Can my child fly alone on Air Canada?+

Air Canada's unaccompanied-minor service runs on nonstop flights only, never on connections or codeshares. A child under 8 cannot fly alone at all; ages 8 to 11 must use the paid service; ages 12 to 17 may use it by choice. It must be booked by phone or a travel agent, not online, so call us and we'll set it up on an eligible nonstop.

My Air Canada flight was delayed, am I owed anything?+

Possibly, and this is where Air Canada differs from a US airline. Under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations, a long delay within the airline's control that is not safety-related can owe you cash compensation on a tiered scale, plus food and rebooking. Weather and safety delays are excluded. This is separate from US DOT rules, which require no delay compensation. Tell us what happened and we'll help you claim it through the right channel.

Can I fly with my pet to Hawaii on Air Canada?+

No. Air Canada does not carry pets to Hawaii at all, in the cabin or the baggage compartment. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are also banned, and there are summer, winter and a peak December-to-January embargo on pets in the baggage compartment. Pet spots are limited per flight too, so tell us your route and dates and we'll confirm what's possible before you book.