Carry-on Baggage

If you purchased your Economy Basic ticket before January 3, 2025, you are permitted to bring one (1) personal item and one (1) standard carry-on bag on board.

If you purchased your Economy Basic ticket on or after January 3, 2025, you are only permitted one (1) personal item on board.

If you’re travelling with an Economy Basic fare on an international itinerary, you may bring one (1) personal item and one (1) standard carry-on bag for your entire trip.

You can still bring your personal item and your standard carry-on bag on board even if your international itinerary includes a connecting flight in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean.

To check if you’re travelling Economy Basic, you can find your fare type during booking, in confirmation emails such as your itinerary receipt, and on your boarding pass.

When you’re travelling on an Economy Basic fare, you can bring one (1) personal item with you on board.

If you're travelling with more bags, you can pay your fee when you check in online or on our mobile app. Then simply print your bag tags at a kiosk when you get to the airport and drop off your bags at our check-in counter or at a self-serve bag drop-off location.

For Economy Basic fares, you still have the choice to check in online, via the Air Canada mobile app, an airport kiosk, or in person at the check-in counter.

If you’re checking in online, in the app, or at a kiosk:

• You’ll need to provide a credit card to receive your boarding pass.
• This will pre-authorize a CA/US $65-$78 (tax inclusive) gate handling fee.
• The pre-authorized fee will only be charged if you bring a carry-on to the gate and don’t check/pay for it before security.
• If you arrive at the gate with an additional bag, it will be checked for the pre-authorized fee.
• If you don’t bring an additional bag to the gate, your card won’t be charged, and the pre-authorization will be removed from your account in 5 to 7 business days.

If you’re checking in with an agent at our check-in counter:

• No credit card pre-authorization is required.
• An agent will review your baggage allowance, confirm what you can bring on board, and let you know which bags you need to check, if any.
• If you need to check any bags, you can pay any applicable baggage fees via credit card, debit, prepaid credit card, Visa Debit, or Air Canada Gift Card. Cash is not accepted.
• If you’re only bringing a personal item, you won’t be charged any additional baggage fees.
• Our agents will complete your check-in and issue your boarding pass.

If you’re checking online, via the Air Canada mobile app, or at an airport kiosk, you’ll need to add your credit card for a pre-authorization of $65 +tax to receive your boarding pass. This pre-authorization is only charged to your card if you bring extra bags past security that need to be checked at the gate. By pre-authorizing your card for gate handling fees, we can streamline the boarding process and reduce flight delays. If you don’t bring additional bags to the gate, the pre-authorization will be removed from your account within 5-7 business days.

You’ll need to check in at the airport counter. An agent will verify your baggage allowance and process payment for any checked items using accepted methods, such as debit or prepaid card. Cash is not accepted. We recommend arriving early to allow extra time for in-person check-in and payment.

Yes, you can pay for checked baggage online or at the airport. Please remember to drop any checked bags before security to avoid paying a higher fee to check them at the gate.

On full flights, we may ask customers travelling on fares that include a standard carry-on bag to check their bags voluntarily to save overhead bin space. Since Economy Basic fares do not include carry-on baggage, checked bag fees still apply.

If you’re travelling with a mobility aid or medical device any special rules and exemptions still apply:

• You can continue to bring required medical devices on board in addition to your personal item, free of charge, and they do not need to be checked at the gate unless they do not fit under the seat in front of you or you haven’t purchased an extra seat for your devices.
• We do not charge any fees to check mobility aids, whether you check your device before security or at the gate.
• Please remember to bring any required medications with you on board.
• For more information, please contact Air Canada Accessibility Services 48 hours before your trip.

If you’re travelling with children and are bringing a diaper bag or collapsible stroller, any special rules and exemptions still apply:

• You can continue to bring an additional bag, such as a diaper bag.
• Large heavy strollers still need to be checked at a baggage counter, free of charge.
• Small collapsible strollers can still be checked free of charge at the gate.
• If you’ve purchased a seat for your child and you’re travelling with a car seat or other child restraint device, approved devices are still permitted as carry-on. You can also continue to check a car seat or booster seat free of charge.
• If your child is travelling unaccompanied, they can continue to bring both a personal article and a carry-on bag.

Yes, you can still travel with your small pet in the cabin on Economy Basic fares.

Please see our Travelling with your pet page for more information and fee details.

Yes, there are cases where you may be exempt from the policy and can either bring a carry-on bag on board or check it, free of charge.

Aeroplan Elite Status Members

All the Aeroplan Elite benefits you enjoy today will continue to apply. In addition, Elite members travelling on a Basic fare will still be able to bring on board one (1) personal article and one (1) standard carry-on bag.

Aeroplan Core Credit Cardholders

The Aeroplan Core Credit Cardholder benefits you enjoy today continue to apply. You may use your Free First Checked Bag benefit to check your standard carry-on item in the airport lobby, free of charge.

Until November 30, 2026, you may also bring one (1) standard carry-on bag and one (1) personal item on board when travelling on a Basic fare.

Aeroplan Premium Credit Cardholders

All the Aeroplan Premium Credit Cardholder benefits you enjoy today continue to apply. You can continue to use your 1st Free Checked Bag benefit, and you may also continue to bring one (1) standard carry-on bag and one (1) personal item on board.

This also applies to any companions travelling with you on the same booking.

Star Alliance Gold members

All Star Alliance Gold benefits continue to apply, and you may also continue to bring one (1) standard carry-on bag and one (1) personal item on board.

Status Pass holders who board with Zone 2

The changes to Economy Basic fares do not apply. If you aren’t sure any of these exceptions apply to you, please reach out.

You may bring your 'smart bag' onto the plane with you, provided it meets carry-on baggage  size restrictions.

On smaller aircraft where carry-on bags must be placed in the cargo hold, you will need to remove the battery and bring the battery into the cabin with you.

The following Anker power banks pose a fire hazard and are prohibited on board:

• Anker Power Bank A1647
• Anker Zolo Power Bank A1681
• Anker Zolo Power Bank A1689

For more information on this recall and for safe handling advice, visit the Government of Canada website.

Electronic devices allowed on board with restricted use

• Wireless handheld devices (Smart phones, cellphones, including cellphones with MP3 player or build-in camera, iPads, tablets, VRs, etc.)
• Personal entertainment devices (MP3, iPods, portable games, radio receivers, video cameras)
• Bluetooth headsets.
• Satellite receivers (e.g. hand-held global positioning systems)
• Laptops:
  • Cannot be stowed in seat back pockets, as these are not designed to sustain the weight of a laptop and may be damaged over time.
• Electric shavers
• "Noise busters" (electronic noise cancelling devices)

You may be asked to turn on your electronic device at the security check.

Electronic devices which cannot be used on board at any time

The use of the following electronic devices is strictly prohibited on board:

• Radio transmitters or radio-controlled equipment/toys
• Printers, computer peripheral devices or laser pointers

These items must be properly and adequately packed in your checked baggage.

For more on electronics, go to our Restricted and Prohibited Items page, or to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) website.

Medication

Always carry your prescription medication with you on board in your carry-on bag. This is especially important if you’re taking medication for heart disease, diabetes, or seizures.

If you have a severe allergy, you should carry one or more epinephrine auto-injectors such as an EpiPen^® (as you would under any other circumstance).

For flights departing from France, passengers with disabilities or medical conditions may be asked by the screening officer at security checkpoints to present a medical certificate or prescriptions to facilitate the screening process.

Insulin

Insulin does not generally require refrigeration, but if you’d like to keep your medication cold, please bring a small cooler, as the cabin crew is not able to look after medication on board. If available, extra ice may be provided as needed.

Medical or mobility devices

The following items are always allowed, in addition to your carry-on allowance:

• Mobility aids (e.g. braces, cane, crutches, walker, communication device*) or other special need items
• Tools of any size which are required by a passenger with special needs who is travelling with a mobility aid
• Battery-powered medical equipment (such as CPAP and sleep apnea devices) and Personal Oxygen Concentrators
• Medication in its original, labelled container
• Syringes or hypodermic needles for personal medical use (e.g. Epipen), provided the needle guards are intact, and that they are accompanied by the prescription medication with a printed label identifying the medication name and the issuing medical office or pharmacy.
  
• Container carrying life sustaining items

_{*Device that helps a passenger communicate (e.g. augmentative and alternate communication (AAC) device).}

Medical cannabis

If you’re travelling with medical cannabis (marijuana), always allow additional time for security screening. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) officers will require that you present medical documentation and will call local authorities to verify the validity of the documents. Carrying properly packaged medical cannabis is permitted for travel within Canada only.  Flying outside of Canada with medical cannabis is illegal and prohibited by airport authorities.

For more information on travelling with medical cannabis and other medical items, visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) or Government of Canada websites.

Cannabis for recreational use
It is illegal to travel across the border and internationally with it in your possession. The Canadian Border and Services Agency recommends that you don’t bring it in, don’t take it out

If you are refused entry into a country because you have cannabis in your possession, you alone will be responsible for the consequences, including for payment of your return trip home.

In the case of a domestic flight, please be advised that unforeseen situations may and do arise that require a domestic flight to divert to a U.S. airport, where arriving in possession of cannabis is not legal.

While specific restrictions apply to the transport of some items, other items cannot be brought onto the plane at all. We’ve provided a partial list on our Restricted and Prohibited Items page.

For a complete list, always refer to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) website.

When travelling with cremated remains, the container the remains are kept in must allow for clear x-ray imaging at security. 

To avoid delays at the airport, please see the chart below for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) material guidelines: 

Find out more on how to travel with cremated remains.  

Wedding dresses can be carried on board and stored in the overhead bin provided the garment bag does not exceed maximum carry-on limits. Note that items in the overhead bin can shift during the flight, possibly causing delicate pieces to be wrinkled, crushed or torn.