How Air Canada seats and upgrades work
Preferred Seats, seat fees and eUpgrades in plain language. Your fare and status decide almost everything.
Air Canada's roomier, better-located seats are called Preferred Seats. They come free with Latitude and Comfort fares, and free for Aeroplan Elite members on select routes. On Basic and Standard fares a standard seat-selection fee applies if you want to pick a specific seat, Preferred or not.
Preferred Seats are not purchasable with Aeroplan points. If you are not on a Latitude or Comfort fare and not travelling as an eligible Elite member, the only way into one is paying the seat fee, not redeeming miles. It surprises people who assume points cover everything.
On a Basic fare, if you do not pay to choose, a seat is simply assigned at check-in, which for a family can mean sitting apart. If sitting together matters, that is a reason to price up from Basic rather than gamble on the assignment. We can check seat maps with you before you book.
Air Canada's upgrade currency is called eUpgrade. Aeroplan Elite members earn eUpgrade credits each year, from 5 up to 30 depending on their tier, and spend them to move into Business or Premium Economy on eligible fares. If you do not hold Elite status you do not earn these credits.
eUpgrade requests clear on a schedule tied to status. Super Elite can request an upgrade anytime, and each step down the ladder opens later, down to a base Aeroplan Member who can request from 7 days before departure. A confirmed upgrade also depends on space, so higher status clears first.
Whether a good seat is already included or worth paying for depends entirely on your fare and route. Tell us the trip and we will show what Preferred Seats cost against simply booking Comfort, which sometimes includes the very seat you were about to pay for.
What a seat costs depends on your fare, your route and your Aeroplan status. We never publish seat amounts because yours is specific to your ticket, an agent quotes the figure, and our service fee, before anything is charged. You can always choose seats yourself at aircanada.com.
Air Canada seats and upgrades at a glance
What is included, what costs a fee, and what only status can get you.
Sometimes the seat you were about to pay for is already in the next fare up. On Basic you may pay a seat-selection fee, pay for a bag, and still board last. Comfort includes a Preferred Seat, two checked bags and earlier boarding, so once you add up the Basic extras the higher fare can cost about the same. Tell us your route and we will compare them side by side before you pay for anything a la carte.
Frequently asked
What are Air Canada Preferred Seats?+
Can I use Aeroplan points to pick a Preferred Seat?+
How do Air Canada upgrades work?+
I don't have status. Can I still get a better seat?+
Do you charge to choose seats for me?+
Contact options
Reach Air Canada directly, or let us handle it.
Contact Air Canada directly
The airline's own official channels, free.