Air Canada is Cracking Down on Carry On Luggage and it’s Going to Be Awful

You’ll soon have to think twice about your carry-on on Air Canada flights.

Beginning on Monday, May 25th at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, you can expect to see airline staff stationed at both check-in and security checkpoints to make sure that carry-on bags meet size requirements.

So, basically, you won’t be able to get away with over-stuffing those shopping bags, duffle bags, and backpacks to avoid baggage fees anymore.

The new measures are designed to both reduce wait times at security and to help to avoid flight delays caused by larger bags being checked at the gate.

Bags that meet Air Canada’s carry-on dimensions will receive a red tag. Carry-on bags that exceed the regulations will need to be checked and “standard fees will apply,” according to the airline.
If a passenger reaches security and needs to check a bag that exceeds size limits, they will receive a special card to get back to a check-in agent and on to the departure gate as quickly as possible.

But that still sounds like a hassle – it’s way better to figure it out ahead of time.

According to Air Canada, a personal item can include a backpack, briefcase, or laptop measuring up to 16x33x43 centimetres, and a standard item such as a suitcase measuring up to 23x40x55 centimetres including wheels and handles.

Transport Canada allows passengers to carry on two unchecked items.

Following suit of other airlines, Air Canada began charging a $25 checked-bag fee last fall on its lowest-class domestic flights and on flights to and from the Caribbean and Mexico. The airline has charged for a traveller’s first checked bag on U.S.-Canada trans-border routes since 2011.

Air Canada says that the tagging program will expand rapidly to other airports across the country throughout June.

You can find out more details on Air Canada’s carry-on rules here.

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