Air Canada Baggage Policy 2026: Carry-On Size, Fees, Pets

The carry-on limit is 23 x 40 x 55 cm (9 x 15.5 x 21.5 in), and Air Canada measures it with wheels and handles included. Most fares get one carry-on plus one personal item. The big exception is Economy Basic, which gets only the personal item on flights within North America and to the Caribbean.

Travelling with a lap infant adds one more item, such as a diaper bag.

A personal item can measure up to 33 x 43 x 16 cm (13 x 17 x 6 in) and must fit under the seat in front of you. It's free on every fare, Economy Basic included. Air Canada also lets you bring a small purse up to 25 x 30 x 14 cm (10 x 12 x 5.5 in); a larger purse counts as your carry-on.

No weight limit applies to Air Canada carry-ons. The only condition is that you can put the bag in the overhead bin without help. Size is what agents check, so a bag over 23 x 40 x 55 cm is the one that gets tagged for the hold.

Economy Basic on North American routes includes 1 personal item and no carry-on, and its first checked bag costs CA/US$45. Standard adds the carry-on but pays the same bag fees. Flex and Comfort include 1 free checked bag, and Latitude includes 2. Premium Economy typically includes 2 bags at 23 kg (50 lb), and Business 2 bags at 32 kg (70 lb). On long-haul routes, Basic keeps the full carry-on allowance.

Comfort's second bag costs less than Flex's: $50 to $60 against $60 to $72 with tax.

Within Canada and to the U.S., Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, the first checked bag costs CA/US$45 and the second CA/US$60 on Economy Basic and Standard. Those prices apply to fares bought on or after April 13, 2026. With 0% to 20% tax, Air Canada shows them as $45 to $54 and $60 to $72. Further bags cost $100 to $120 each on Canada and U.S. flights.

Air Canada prices bags in Canadian dollars on Canadian sites and U.S. dollars on its U.S. site, with the same figures.

Economy Standard and Flex include 1 free checked bag to Europe, Asia and the South Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America, with the second at CA/US$120. Economy Basic pays CA/US$90 for the first bag and CA/US$120 for the second on fares bought from May 14, 2026. Additional bags on international routes cost $225 to $270.

Each checked bag can weigh up to 23 kg (50 lb) and measure up to 158 cm (62 in) in length, width and height combined, wheels and handles included. Bags from 23 to 32 kg (50 to 70 lb) are accepted for an overweight fee. Anything over 32 kg (70 lb) or 292 cm (115 in) has to go through Air Canada Cargo.

Within Canada, an overweight or oversized bag costs $100 to $120, and a bag that is both pays that fee once. The overweight band runs from 23 to 32 kg (50 to 70 lb). Air Canada doesn't add an overweight or oversize fee to a bag already charged as an additional bag. We did not confirm the overweight fee on long-haul routes.

Four groups get extra free bags: - Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K, 50K and 35K members get 3 bags at 32 kg (70 lb) each. - Aeroplan 25K and Star Alliance Gold members get 1 bag on top of the fare allowance. - Active, retired and reserve Canadian and U.S. military get up to 3 bags at 32 kg (70 lb). - CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business cardholders and up to 8 others on the booking get a free first bag up to 23 kg.

The military benefit covers retired and reserve members, not only active duty.

Yes, one cat or small dog can fly in the cabin for CA/US $50 to $60 one way within Canada and to the U.S., or $100 to $120 on international routes. Since June 1, 2025, the carrier must be soft-sided, and on most aircraft it can measure 40 x 43 x 20 cm (16 x 17 x 8 in). Pets in the baggage compartment cost $105 to $126 or $270 to $324, with pet and kennel up to 45 kg (100 lb).

The pet carrier comes on top of your normal carry-on, and Economy Basic travellers keep the carrier plus 1 personal item.

The gate handling fee is CA/US $65 to $78, tax included, for an Economy Basic passenger who shows up with a carry-on on a North American flight. Air Canada asks for a credit card to pre-authorize it. Checking the bag at the counter costs less: CA/US$45 for the first bag.