Some Air Canada customers will now have to pay extra if they want to change their seat.
According to the airline, starting Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the new Basic fare will still include complimentary seat assignment at check-in for passengers who haven’t paid a fee to choose their seats in advance.
“All Basic customers who wish to change their seat from the one automatically assigned at check-in will be required to pay for that change,” reads a notice from Air Canada.
If you’re flying with your family or someone who requires an assistant, the carrier says it remains committed to seating you together as per its current policy, which also prioritizes seating travelling companions together.
This new fee was met with a barrage of complaints from Canadians when it was initially planned to be implemented last April.
The airline told us it had “paused the implementation for operational reasons to ensure a smooth rollout for our customers and employees and we will communicate the next steps further at the appropriate time.”
The announcement from April 18 introduced the new seating assignment process for Standard and Basic Fares.
“Effective April 24, when customers begin the check-in process, a seat will automatically be assigned free of charge,” read the notice.
It went on to specify that this will only apply to Air Canada customers who haven’t purchased a seat before check-in.
“We understand that customers may have a preferred spot. If they wish to change their automatically assigned seat, they can easily do so for a fee,” reads the notice. “This option gives them the freedom to select the seat that best suits their needs.”
This isn’t the only update the carrier has introduced in the first few weeks of 2025.
As of January 3, Air Canada passengers booking flights within North America or to destinations like Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean must pay extra for carry-on.
The airline announced on December 4 that passengers who pay for basic economy fares will have to pay for a carry-on, a move it says is “in line with industry standard.”
The new fees kick in if you book a basic economy fare ticket on or after Friday, January 3, 2025. You’ll still be able to bring one personal item like a purse or computer bag.
However, you’ll need to pay extra for carry-on suitcases, duffel bags, or large backpacks. Not only that, but those items will have to be checked in before security.
