Air Canada baggage question

[coastgirl]

So...I was just looking at our reservation for July, and I see the baggage rules. We have a domestic leg and an international leg. It says 1st bag is free domestic, but $25 international. But seriously you wouldn't have to pay for each leg, would you? I am wondering if we'll get charged on the way down, seeing as we start with a domestic flight... On the way back the international leg is first, so maybe we'd pay coming home but not going down?? Hope springs eternal!

 

[sherilaine]

I actually really dislike AC with this respect as by flying to the U.S. for a family of 4 that means $100 per leg onto our costs - so we booked Westjet - first bag free no matter what.

I think they will find a way to charge you!

 

[networktek]

im not a huge fan of AC as well. we have always got hit with the baggage no matter which leg of our trip we were on. your best bet would be to call them and ask them to clarify it for you.

 

[coastgirl]

I actually really dislike AC with this respect as by flying to the U.S. for a family of 4 that means $100 per leg onto our costs - so we booked Westjet - first bag free no matter what.

I think they will find a way to charge you!

Yes, I figure that is so! As I said, hope springs eternal. We are travelling on Air Miles and AC had the better availability, and Westjet had higher associated fees through AM. I prefer West Jet, but it kind of evens out.

 

[coastgirl]

im not a huge fan of AC as well. we have always got hit with the baggage no matter which leg of our trip we were on. your best bet would be to call them and ask them to clarify it for you.

Yeah, I probably will just cross my fingers and hope for the best rather than, you know, drawing attention to the discrepency. Fortunately we are travelling in August, so no need to carry anything but warm weather clothes, which don't take up too much space! We have a villa so I can do laundry. (Hurray. Not. But better than packing extra for everyone, as I am also doing most of the packing.)

I knew AC had baggage fees when we booked, but the Westjet fees seemed to add in the extra. I actually wondered at the time if they just were finding another way to charge the equivilent to AM customers. Actually the "first free on domestic" for AC is better than I remember, so I figured I would be paying anyway. Does any carrier really charge per bag per connection? I wouldn't choose extra connections, seems unfair to penalize me extra for having a sucky routing.

 

[Disney Daniel]

Okay, as I am understanding this you are Canadian city-Canadian city-Orlando and the reverse on the way back. Is this correct?

If so, you will be charged $25 going down and $25 coming back. You will pay this fee upon check-in.

 

[minnie mum]

I believe the PP is correct. It really doesn't matter how many connections you have. You have booked a Canada-US trip. So you will pay for a checked bag each way. $50 per person return.

 

[Disfanx4]

Actually it's $25 on the way there and $26 on the way back, never got an answer as to why when ask

 

[switch15foot]

side track ... seeing that some have posted about westjet, wondering how strick they are with regards to carry on size?

My bag is 22x13x10 (45inch total); Westjet states carry-on max size is 21x9x15 ; which also works out to 45inch total.

 

[bankr63]

side track ... seeing that some have posted about westjet, wondering how strick they are with regards to carry on size?

My bag is 22x13x10 (45inch total); Westjet states carry-on max size is 21x9x15 ; which also works out to 45inch total.

Not that big a sidetrack. Coastgirl, why not just go carryon? Our family of 4 travelled down for March break carryon only (mostly because of short connection times). We got all our cool weather clothes into our bags no problem. This is particularly easy if you plan to do a bit of laundry down there. Even my DD (16!) managed to pack into a carryon - but that was an epic struggle.

We did pack a large "stuffable" duffel inside one the trip down and checked it on the way back. This allowed extra room on the return trip for souveniers and gifts. You could even consider a combo for a family - one LARGE (but not over sized or weight) bag and everyone else has carryon.

And SwitchFoot, in my experience, unless the bag LOOKS oversized you are okay. Last trip down they made announcements that all carryons must be correct size, but I didn't see them check once. Two of our bags were just slightly oversize like yours and made it no problem. Others had even larger carryons. They do have frames at the gate that the bags need to fit in, so they can enforce the actual dimensions rather than the total sum bag dimension used for checked bags. They just rarely seem to do it; but probably would if someone was way oversize. If they do check and you fail, they are most likely to ask you to gate check the bag.

 

[LauraJean]

I'm trying to get the 5 of us down with 3 checked plus 1 carryon each. I hate that I have to pay to book where we will sit then pay to check a bag. I don't have a choice I have to fly AC. West jet stops flying oct. 24th where I am

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Okay, as I am understanding this you are Canadian city-Canadian city-Orlando and the reverse on the way back. Is this correct?

If so, you will be charged $25 going down and $25 coming back. You will pay this fee upon check-in.

You pay at your home airport when you check in.

Actually it's $25 on the way there and $26 on the way back, never got an answer as to why when ask

I think it's because you pay in USD down there. But I could be wrong.

 

[Gigi22]

I just booked tickets from Canadian city to Canadian city to Florida on AC. We are each being charged $25 CAD + taxes per direction for our first checked bag, so a total of $100 for checking two bags, return.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

You pay at your home airport when you check in.

And at MCO or wherever on your way home.

 

[AJ1983]

I just booked tickets from Canadian city to Canadian city to Florida on AC. We are each being charged $25 CAD + taxes per direction for our first checked bag, so a total of $100 for checking two bags, return.

I would call them and ask about it. We flew St. JOhn's-Toronto-Orlando on the way down, and Orlando-Montreal-St.JOhn's on the way home..paid $100.00 total and we each checked a bag. PP's are correct that the $25 fee only applies to the flight that takes you international.

 

[LauraJean]

I would call them and ask about it. We flew St. JOhn's-Toronto-Orlando on the way down, and Orlando-Montreal-St.JOhn's on the way home..paid $100.00 total and we each checked a bag. PP's are correct that the $25 fee only applies to the flight that takes you international.

I'm in NL also. On a side note how are you finding flight prices? We go again in Oct. I found $293 for our flights down but still watching our returns. $456 is best I'm seeing.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I'm in NL also. On a side note how are you finding flight prices? We go again in Oct. I found $293 for our flights down but still watching our returns. $456 is best I'm seeing.

If it makes you feel any better, the flights from Charlottetown are awful too!

 

[LauraJean]

If it makes you feel any better, the flights from Charlottetown are awful too!

Gross isn't it!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Gross isn't it!

Yes! Last year, for July, we paid under $500. This year, we have been watching flights for August and chickened out. We paid over $700. Yuck. They might go down, but they might NOT.

 

[LauraJean]

Yes! Last year, for July, we paid under $500. This year, we have been watching flights for August and chickened out. We paid over $700. Yuck. They might go down, but they might NOT.

$700 per person round trip is the max I want to pay for the 5 of us. So far I booked flights down at $293. Good flight NL to Toronto then on to Orlando.