Checked Baggage

You can pay any applicable baggage fees when you check in for your flight:

• online,
• on your mobile device,
• at the airport using one of our self-service check-in kiosks
• at an Air Canada check-in counter

Note: For transactions conducted outside Canada, baggage fees will be charged in the local currency of the country in which the transaction occurs.

If your baggage is delayed, damaged or lost, Air Canada will refund the fees you paid to check it in.

Cash Payments Not Accepted at Some Airports

Please note that cash payments are not accepted at:

• Air Canada airport counters in the United States
• Air Canada counters located at the following Canadian airports:
  • Calgary (YYC)
  • Edmonton (YEG)
  • Fort McMurray (YMM)
  • Halifax (YHZ)
  • Montréal (YUL)
  • Ottawa (YOW)
  • Quebec City (YQB)
  • Saskatoon (YXE)
  • St. John’s (YYT)
  • Toronto Island (YTZ)
  • Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
  • Vancouver (YVR)
  • Victoria (YYJ)
  • Winnipeg (YWG)

Customers have the option of paying baggage and other fees with any major credit or debit card.

If your bags exceed the allowance allowed by your fare type (in number, size and/or weight), additional checked baggage charges will apply. Please refer to the table above for additional checked baggage charges that apply to your itinerary.

• Please arrive at the airport at least 120 minutes before departure if checking additional bags, or overweight or oversized pieces.
• You will need to contact Air Canada Cargo* if you're travelling with bags that exceed:
  • 32 kg (70 lb) in weight,
  • 292 cm (115 in) in linear dimensions, and/or
  • 203 cm (80 in) in length.

* Shipments from or via the U.S.

Because passengers are considered unknown shippers for cargo purposes, Air Canada Cargo can ship only cats and dogs from or via the U.S. For any other type of shipment, please contact another shipping company (e.g. UPS or FedEx).

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
Even if cannabis (marijuana) is legal in Canada, it remains 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.

Members of the Canadian and U.S. military benefit from an enhanced baggage allowance whenever they travel on a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge or Air Canada Express. Eligible active and retired members of the Canadian and U.S. military are entitled to up to three pieces of checked baggage, each weighing up to 32 kg (70 lb) each.

If you are an eligible customer, please proceed as follows to benefit from this enhanced baggage allowance:

• When prompted at check-in (online, on your mobile or at an airport kiosk), indicate that you are travelling without checked bags.
• At the airport, see an Air Canada agent to have your bags tagged and checked free of charge, upon presentation of military identification.

After completing their check-in, eligible customers are invited to see an airport agent to have their baggage fee waived, upon presentation of military identification. Learn more

Please note that the baggage allowance for military personnel does not apply to itineraries which include connecting flights with other airlines (including Star Alliance member airlines). Regular baggage allowance and fees will apply.

• Always place the following items in your carry-on bag:
  • laptop computer*,
  • car and house keys
  • medication
  • cash
  • high value items such as cameras, jewellery and electronic devices
• Attach identification tags to the outside of your bags and place this handy Baggage ID card inside them.
  • Make sure to always include your destination as well as home address and contact information.
• Do not wrap bungee cords, ties or straps around your bags.
• Make sure to remove old airline tags from all your bags.

Baggage Screening and Locked or Smart Bags

For your security, all checked bags must be screened and cleared for travel. In some cases, bags may have to be opened and searched. If you choose to lock your bag, it is recommended to use a lock that can be opened by airport security agencies, (e.g., Travel Sentry Approved or Safe Skies lock). You may use other means of locking your bags; however, it is with the understanding that the screening process may result in damage to the lock or to the bag itself and may cause baggage delays.

If you plan on checking a ‘smart bag’, you will first need to remove the battery and bring the battery into the cabin with you. We will not be able to accept your bag as checked baggage if the battery cannot be removed.