Airline’s New Policy Sparks Outrage for Travelers
Air Canada’s New Carry-On Fees Spark Controversy and Concerns
Air Canada has announced that beginning Jan. 3, 2024, passengers purchasing basic-economy tickets will face new fees for carry-on luggage. Under this policy, travelers will incur a charge of $25 for their first piece of carry-on luggage and $36 for a second piece. Additionally, those who do not pay these fees during the booking process or online check-in will face a substantial surcharge of $46 at the airport.
The policy reportedly “align[s] the airline’s fare structure with similar fare offerings by other Canadian carriers,” the Miami Herald reported.
Lol @AirCanada a full service airline now charging for carry on bags is insane. guess we'll call them a fake budget airline now.
Who's ready for Cdn oligopoly and monopoly structured industries to die? Politics. Red tape. Why isn't there more competition? Getting exhausting.— Kaitlyn Lee, CPA, CA, REALTOR® (@kaitlynleeRE) December 5, 2024
This policy applies to flights operating within the Americas and reflects an ongoing trend among airlines aiming to bolster revenues by introducing additional fees for both checked and carry-on baggage. Air Canada has stated that this pricing strategy is intended to align its fee structure with those of similar airlines in Canada.
Criticism from government officials has surfaced in response to the announcement. Canadian Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand condemned the fee structure, characterizing it as targeting vulnerable customers. She stated that such practices are “not acceptable” and called for greater accountability from airlines.
“Let’s just say I’m not very happy today with what I’ve heard from Air Canada,” Anand stated in a recent interview. “I think they need to take a look at the persons that they are targeting with these excess fees. It is not acceptable.”
In tandem with the carry-on fee implementation, Air Canada will also start charging low-fare passengers for automatic seat assignments during check-in—a move previously met with dissatisfaction from travelers.
The trend of imposing additional charges for baggage is reminiscent of policies adopted by budget airlines like Frontier, highlighting a shift in the airline industry towards more dynamic pricing models in a bid to increase profitability.
“These are shoplifters. These are people that are stealing,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle told Reuters. “It’s not equitable to everyone who follows the rules.”
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