Air Canada has announced revisions to its Basic and Comfort economy fare terms, effective in early 2025. These adjustments aim to align the airline’s fare offerings with those of other Canadian carriers while providing clearer distinctions between its fare categories.

Changes to Basic Fare

For travelers booking Basic fares on or after January 3, 2025, changes include:

• Baggage Policy:
  • Passengers can still bring one small personal item, such as a purse or laptop bag, into the cabin.
  • Larger items, such as roller-board suitcases, duffel bags, or large backpacks, must be checked at the standard fees of $35 for the first bag and $50 for the second.
  • Items brought to the boarding gate that exceed the carry-on size allowance will incur a higher fee of $65 per item for gate-checking.
  • Exemptions apply to mobility aids, medical devices, and child strollers.

Elite travelers, including Aeroplan premium credit cardholders, Status members, and Star Alliance Gold members, will continue to receive one carry-on bag allowance, in addition to their other perks.

• Seat Assignment:
  • Complimentary seat assignment at check-in will remain available for Basic fare travelers who do not pre-select seats.
  • Beginning January 21, 2025, passengers wishing to change their auto-assigned seat will incur a fee, determined by the seat’s location within the cabin.
  • Policies for families and passengers needing assistance, such as ensuring they are seated together, remain unchanged.

Updates to Comfort Fare

For travelers purchasing Comfort economy fares starting January 3, 2025, the checked baggage allowance will increase:

• Customers will now be permitted to check two complimentary bags on all routes worldwide, up from the current allowance of one bag.

Analysis

I’m not thrilled about the changes to the basic fare category. Air Canada is indeed standardizing their policies as fellow Canadian airline WestJet also doesn’t allow carry ons on their basic fares. In the United States fellow Star Alliance airline United doesn’t allow carry ons either on the basic economy fare. Which is strange as Delta & American allow carryons when traveling on a basic economy ticket.

Last year when I was traveling on Air Canada I wanted to select seats and ensure I had window seats on all my flights. I chose to go with the basic fare as when I did the cost analysis it was cheaper to pay for seats rather than going for the regular economy fare. If I decide to fly Air Canada again it changes the equation since I’ll have to pay to check in a bag.