Air Canada Online Checkin Question

[alc571]

Does anyone know if they open up the online checkin exactly 24 hours in advance? For example, if my flight leaves at 6am will it open up at 6am the day before or do the let you checkin at midnight the day before?

I've been hearing horror stories about families being separated on the plane, or not being able to get on at all due to overbooking, so I want to get online ASAP to check in.

 

[gilsan]

It is 24 hours before. So 6 am.

However I have found that when I am connecting I can't do the check in until my second flight is open. AC is usually good at keeping families together, but if you are concerned pay the fee and pick your seats now. It maybe worth the cost vs stressing over it until your flight. Even if it just you and your child.

We just booked 2 seats through aeroplan and one seat with cash. I was going to put the cash seat near the other 2, but was surprised to see AC is now charging for seat selection. I decided against it for $56. My husband and daughter's seats through aeroplan are together so if I can't sit with them it won't be the end of the world.

 

[alc571]

Ok. Thanks! I know they say 24-hours, but didn't know if maybe there was an unwritten glitch that allowed you to do it at midnight the day before. Looks like I'll be up early! At least it's a direct flight, so I only have to wait for the one time.

I thought about paying to pre-select but the cost is insane. And I'd rather spend the money elsewhere on the trip. We need three seats, so we did consider paying to select one seat, and picking the middle seat of a threesome - figuring it might "reserve" a row until I log in...lol

 

[networktek]

if you want everyone to sit together best thing is to pay for the seat assignment we tried that one year and all of our seats were all over the airplane they will try and keep your party together but does not always work

 

[LauraJean]

You think when you booked seats they would just book your party together. If I pay they will though. I'm paying $4400 for 5 of us. That should be enough to book us together.

 

[LauraJean]

Hubby thought we would check in 24 hours before but we have a 2,9 and 12 year old-can't risk not being together

 

[alc571]

You think when you booked seats they would just book your party together. If I pay they will though. I'm paying $4400 for 5 of us. That should be enough to book us together.

I should say so! lol. We only paid $1200 for the three of us, and that was enough. I don't want to shell out another $200 just for seats. It's rediculous! I'll just checkin online ASAP the day before and hope we get at least two seats together for our son and one of us.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I always pay the fee to pick my seat even traveling solo. That way I know I will get the seat I want. The only time didn't was when I flew WestJet out to LA and changed planes in calgary the first flight at check in I got the seat i wanted the other flight the only one available was the second row of the plane. I actually like to be somewhere I can see the wing as I like watching it during takeoff and landing.

 

[C&B Young]

I don't trust Air Canada one bit, especially after our last (and final) experience with them. I'd pay the advance seat selection fee, don't assume they'll sit you together. And even after you book the seats, check regularly to make sure they don't reassign them!

 

[alc571]

We haven't flown AC since 1998 because they were overpriced. I was excited to fly them, until I started hearing all the horror stories.

They can reassign your seat after you checkin and print your boarding pass???

 

[gilsan]

They shouldn't move your seats after you have checked in.

They did however move us on our last flight to a better set of seats away from the very back of the plane. We had purchased our seats with Aeroplan points so I believe that is why they moved us. It was the only time I have ever had it happen. We were also checking bags and that was when they moved us, if you don't stop at the counter and go directly to the gate the odds of that happening go way down.

I prefer AC to WJ. They have better in flight entertainment, and in my experience the crew is much more friendly. I have had some really surley crews with WJ. The flights that WJ offers from Halifax to Orlando are awful. Most of them include an overnight layover in Toronto or a second layover in NYC

We have flown a lot with AC in the last few years and have been delayed a number of time due to plane issues. They do make an effort to give you some compensation. When we were flying home from Rome we were delayed in Montreal for a number of hours. They gave us a food voucher that covered a decent lunch and gave free drinks and snacks (that you would normally pay for). Sucked to be stuck but they made an effort to make up for the delay.

Honestly if they get me to my destination safely and on time or close to on time I am happy.

 

[coastgirl]

We just booked 2 seats through aeroplan and one seat with cash. I was going to put the cash seat near the other 2, but was surprised to see AC is now charging for seat selection. I decided against it for $56. My husband and daughter's seats through aeroplan are together so if I can't sit with them it won't be the end of the world.

Haven't flown AC in forever (will be using them in August but have already been assigned seats though Air miles), but had to say--Gilsan, we have often had to book 3 and 1 (two kids) and I consider it a perk to be seated separately from the kids on the plane! Dh and I take turns if that's the way it works out. Of course occasionally you get an annoying seat mate or an armrest hog, but at least no one is saying "Mom, where are the snacks? I can't find my book. Can you reach the teeny Lego piece I just dropped..."

 

[gilsan]

Haven't flown AC in forever (will be using them in August but have already been assigned seats though Air miles), but had to say--Gilsan, we have often had to book 3 and 1 (two kids) and I consider it a perk to be seated separately from the kids on the plane! Dh and I take turns if that's the way it works out. Of course occasionally you get an annoying seat mate or an armrest hog, but at least no one is saying "Mom, where are the snacks? I can't find my book. Can you reach the teeny Lego piece I just dropped..."

That is what I thought too, I will be able to read on the flight

 

[alc571]

Have to say, I might not mind being separated from DS and DH to get some sleep..but I have a feeling Mommy will have to sit with DS and DH will be the one sleeping. lol

 

[LauraJean]

I should say so! lol. We only paid $1200 for the three of us, and that was enough. I don't want to shell out another $200 just for seats. It's rediculous! I'll just checkin online ASAP the day before and hope we get at least two seats together for our son and one of us.

I'm in Newfoundland. Ac knows how to make ya spend! West jet only flies until oct 24th here in the colder months. They aren't much better and we would have to over night in Toronto each way..

 

[alc571]

Well...gave in and paid the $163 for our seats. I was looking at the available seats and there were only three rows left on our return flight where we could sit together. Oh well...just a drop in the bucket, I suppose.

 

[Cheerio]

I don't pay ahead of time for seat selection but do pick two seats together when I check in online.

 

[alc571]

I don't pay ahead of time for seat selection but do pick two seats together when I check in online.

If it was just DH and I, I would have done that. But, I'm a nervous flyer and DS7 obviously can't sit alone, so I wanted three seats together.

 

[tgropp]

We got 7 seats out of Toronto using airmiles and they let me pick my seat assignment without paying any money. I just thought that it was free when you booked your tickets. We always fly Delta out of Detroit so flying A/C is new to me. We will see what happens when we go in December

 

[alc571]

We got 7 seats out of Toronto using airmiles and they let me pick my seat assignment without paying any money. I just thought that it was free when you booked your tickets. We always fly Delta out of Detroit so flying A/C is new to me. We will see what happens when we go in December

Yes. If you book with a TA, the TA often absorbs the fee and if you book with airmiles/aeroplan they let you pick seats. This is why I think there was very few seats left.