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If you’ve been to an airport before, you already know that it can be a hectic and confusing place, with multiple checkpoints and long lines that need to be conquered before you can take off on your next adventure.
Given that the airport experience can be a hassle on the best of days, you certainly want to try your best to avoid adding any extra struggles or expenses, like baggage fees.
With this in mind, lets go over Air Canada’s baggage dimensions to keep your travels as stress-free as possible.
When planning for your Air Canada flight, it’s important to note how much luggage your purchased fare allows, and what Air Canada’s baggage dimensions are to make sure that you’re following the rules.
Since bringing too many bags or a bag that exceeds the size and weight limits can cause you to have to pay extra fees at the airport, it’s in your best interest to understand what is and isn’t allowed.
When travelling with Air Canada on any fare except for the Economy Basic option, you’re given a carry-on allowance of one personal item and one carry-on bag.
Both of these items must fit within Air Canada’s baggage dimensions so that they can be stored appropriately during the flight in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you.
It’s important that you make sure your bags are sized correctly, as oversized items will likely need to be checked-in at the airport at your own expense.
To make sure you’re within the size limits, let’s go over Air Canada’s baggage dimensions for carry-on luggage and personal items.
Air Canada’s carry-on baggage dimensions are:
The maximum baggage dimensions for your personal item are:
Keep in mind that the above dimensions include the bag’s wheels, handle, and any other part that sticks out.
There is no weight restrictions for your carry-on bag or personal item; however, you do need to be able to put them in the overhead bin without assistance.
For all Air Canada flights, your checked bags should not exceed the following measurements:
If your luggage is found to be overweight or oversized, you will be charged an excess baggage fee of $100+ per bag, and the items must not exceed to following:
If your bags are bigger or heavier than the above, you’ll need to contact Air Canada Cargo in order to make arrangements to ship them as they cannot be checked as regular luggage on your flight.
Different airlines and itineraries can have different baggage dimension limitations, so make sure to double-check your allowance every time you travel. Check our guide to airline carry-on dimensions in Canada to learn more.
Air Canada’s carry-on allowance of one personal item and one carry-on bag is the same for every fare type on every flight except for a handful of Economy Basic fares.
If you purchased an Economy Basic fare on or after January 3, 2025, you are only allowed 1 personal item on board and no carry-on luggage when travelling:
If you bring any additional bag, you will need have it checked in at the airport, and this can cost $75 or more per item.
Given this, you’ll want to carefully consider whether you’re able to travel with only a single personal item before you select Air Canada’s Economy Basic Fare.
If you want to bring a checked bag or two on your Air Canada flight, you’ll either need to book an eligible fare that offers a free checked bag, or you’ll need to pay $35 to $120 per bag. You can see the full breakdown of which fare type gives you a free checked bag and which doesn’t on Air Canada’s website.
For those of you who’d prefer to not pay for your checked bags, another option is to get a co-branded Aeroplan credit card that offers free checked bags on Air Canada flights as one of its many travel perks.
Cards like the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card not only give you a free first checked bag on all your Air Canada flights, but they also offer this to upwards of 8 companions on the same reservation.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card not only gives you and up to 8 companions a free checked bag on all Air Canada flights, but it also comes with the following and more:
TD Bank also offers two other Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card and the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card.
With the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you get a free first checked bag with Air Canada and the following notable travel perks:
Alternatively, you could choose one of CIBC’s three other Aeroplan credit cards, including the no-annual-fee CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card.
If you really want to enjoy some impressive travel perks alongside your free checked bag with Air Canada, consider the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, which offers the following and more:
And if this card isn’t quite right, American Express also offers two other Aeroplan cards, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card and the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card.
When travelling with Air Canada (and pretty much any other airline), it’s important to be aware of the baggage dimension rules so that you can minimize any airport stress.
To ensure smooth travels, it can also be helpful to plan ahead, choose your suitcases wisely, and carry a solid travel credit card or two so that you can take advantage of their perks.
With an Economy Basic Fare, you are only allowed 1 personal item when travelling:
Any additional luggage will need to be checked-in for a fee at the airport.
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