Air Canada to charge bag fees on flights to the US

[corster]

Quiet update to the Air Canada website this morning:
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/checked.html

Flights between Canada and the United States:

1st bag: $25 CAD*
(per direction)

*Tickets issued before September 7 or travel before October 11, 2011: Check a 1st bag free

2nd bag: $35 CAD**
(per direction)

**Tickets issued before June 1, 2011: Check a 2nd bag for only $30 CAD (per direction)

 

[disneymath]

Sigh ... yet another reason I'm glad we decided to cross the border and fly out of BUF for our New Years trip. ACs flights are so expensive already you would think that a free checked bag wouldn't be so much to ask.

I'm sure more people will go the carry on route to lessen the baggage fees ... I hope AC starts enforcing the carrying on baggage size limits. There were excessive amounts of "oversized" carryons on our flights to and from YVR/YYZ this past August. At first it was comical watching people with larger than allowed carryon luggage and huge overflowing backpacks try to find places for their stuff ... it soon got annoying because these people were taking up more than their share of space and other passengers had no room to store their stuff.

 

[fan1080]

Yet another reason not to fly AC.

In fact, I can't remember the last time I've flown AC. They've always been much more expensive than other airlines for the dates/times we've travelled anywhere.

 

[gilsan]

I am sure WestJet will have a baggage fee soon enough.

We usually just take carry ons and on Canadian airlines there is usually lots of cabin space for bags, but that will be changing with these bag fees

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Wow .. didn't see that coming. Earlier this week I bought YHZ to PHX for June 30 2012 to July 14 2012 for $310 each (yes, from Halifax and yes that does include taxes ... why can't I get one of these prices to Florida)

This flight is via continental .... so I was thinking that it was too bad that I can't get this through AC, since I would save $200 in bag fees for 4 people. Guess I'd better forget that.

Ted

 

[My 2 princesses]

To all who travel with carry on to avoid the fees - what do you do about shopping?? I can't come back from WDW without going to the outlet store.

And again.......glad to live close to the border. One more reason AC does not get my business.

I did not read the article but is this for overseas flights as well? By overseas I mean Oz/England etc?? Don't see anyone travelling with carry on on these long haul ones.

 

[tone.def]

They don't get my business anyway! This just gives me more reason to overlook them.

 

[SmilingGrump]

WestJet charges $20 for a second bag, first one is free. We've been quite unhappy with them too (though still greatly prefer WestJet over AC). WestJet's schedule out of Edmonton has gotten progressively worse over the last couple of years and their pricing has gotten higher. Sadly, we're back to flying the US cattle cars

 

[Camshell]

We just traveled to WDW in May with Horizon/Alaskan airlines and had to pay baggage fees. It's probably becoming the norm for all airlines. I just added it to my budget as another expense I needed to cover, including my additional bag for souvenirs for my return trip.

By the way we attempted to have as much luggage via carry-on (which we normally would have checked for convienence sake) to avoid a big luggage fee. Everyone else did too on our flight as the carry-on was quite full in the cabin.

 

[Disney Addicted]

More reasons to drive to Buffalo or Detroit and fly from there...

I was considering Air Canada for a flight to LAX next year as it would be so much more convenient flying a non-stop flight. (I cannot seem to find a non-stop flight from BUF to LAX). But that increases our cost another $170 - $205. And hey! Is that a flat-rate for a round-trip? Or would it be $25 for your 1st suitcase x both ways?

I still would rather not fly out of BUF for a connecting flight... I would be worried about lost luggage the whole time! I guess I should start looking at Detroit for a non-stop flight.

 

[candygirlIRE]

WestJet charges $20 for a second bag, first one is free.

Yep, this is why we are flying Westjet now instead of AC -- we would have to budget in a load more money just for bags!!! That's my DL frozen banana money!! LOL

Really sucks, but I am sure Westjet will change their policy soon enough and charge for ALL instead of just second and so on. We are at their mercy

 

[Nahanni]

Anyone know if infant car seats are charged checked baggage fees by any airline?

 

[Disney Addicted]

The article I read (below - Air Canada) says:

A posting on the company's website Friday informed passengers that it plans to begin charging $25 for the first checked bag — and for the first time infants travelling on an adult's lap will also incur the charges if a bag is checked on their behalf. They will, however, still be allowed one car seat and one stroller at no additional cost.

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/Air-Canada-searching-new-capress-1884765693.html?x=0

 

[HeatherLassell]

I never fly Air Canada. And I agree that Canadian prices for flights are RIDICULOUS compared to the US.

I will stick with West Jet. So far their website still claims first bag "complimentary" and second bag is $20.

 

[damo]

I honestly don't find any difference between any of the air carriers and will fly with whoever is most convenient/cheapest at the time. My criteria varies with the seasons.

I find West Jet more expensive and expect them to follow suit very shortly with the luggage fees.

 

[candygirlIRE]

As far as the baby/infants items go... if they are a lapsit then they are allowed no baggage allowance, however you can check TWO baby things free of charge, i.e. 1 stroller and 1 carseat, or 1 carseat and 1 playpen etc....

We will check in a carseat and the playpen in October and then likely pay a fee for the stroller (taking it to the gate), unless we have a super-duper nice westjet employee

(We do not like the playpens/cribs that the hotels provide normally, however we have not tried them with our current hotel...not sure if we want to risk it.)

 

[corster]

Well... if anyone is on the fence about booking an Air Canada flight to the US, you have until Wednesday to book it before you'll have to pay baggage fees.

WestJet says on Facebook they're not going to match it. I believe it, to be honest. They'll use it as a marketing advantage, in the short term anyways.

 

[Tower]

Booked flights with my Aeroplan miles but they are on United and US Airways out of Buffalo to avoid the already well inflated YYZ departure taxes. Air Canada will get none of my baggage fee money on this one.
Really enjoying living so close to Buffalo

 

[damo]

Well... if anyone is on the fence about booking an Air Canada flight to the US, you have until Wednesday to book it before you'll have to pay baggage fees.

WestJet says on Facebook they're not going to match it. I believe it, to be honest. They'll use it as a marketing advantage, in the short term anyways.

They can easily just put it in their flight price and not in their fees. I looked for 4 months for flights to Orlando and not once was West Jet cheaper than Air Canada....not even close.

 

[MedicGoofy]

How can anyone be surprised about them charging for luggage? They are just starting to do what most other airlines do now. I don't fly with them nor will I fly with them. Living where I do, it is 1/3 of the time to just drive to BUF. Where it's always been cheaper to fly.

Will they ever get better? No. And they don't care. Corporations continue to fly with them and don't care about the prices. My brother flies with them monthly. Several months ago he booked a last minute flight to Ottawa. Paid just over $600 for a ONE DAY flight.....returned the same day. Did the company care?? No. Business flight. Flies them all over Canada. He has to go for business. You see more suits on those flights than any other. It won't change. And they won't care that they have to pay for luggage either. It's no skin of my brothers companies back. They don't even blink when he hands them reciepts. Nor do most big companies. Where it hurts is people, like us, booking trips. Not anyone else.