Canada
Full service airline, Toronto Pearson hub Air Canada baggage allowance
Air Canada is Canada's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, serving destinations across North America and worldwide.
| Allowance | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | No weight limit55 x 40 x 23 cm | No weight limit55 x 40 x 23 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 158 cm | 32 kgUp to 158 cm |
Cabin baggage
What you keep with you on board. The carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, the personal item goes under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bag
- Size
- 55 x 40 x 23 cm
- Weight
- No weight limit
- Pieces
- One bag
One standard carry-on article allowed.
Personal item
- Size
- 43 x 33 x 16 cm
- Weight
- No weight limit
- Examples
- One personal item that fits under the seat.
Liquids: containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one transparent resealable 1 litre bag. Baby food, medication and sealed duty free purchases are exempt.
Power banks and batteries
Lithium batteries travel in the cabin, never in the hold. Since 2025 most carriers also ban using or charging a power bank during the flight.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank up to 100 WhAbout 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V | Allowed | Not allowed | One per passenger, under the seat, not in the overhead bin. Do not use or charge it on board. |
| Power bank 100 to 160 Wh | Approval needed | Not allowed | Maximum two, with airline approval before the flight. |
| Power bank over 160 Wh | Not allowed | Not allowed | Cannot travel on Air Canada in any form. |
| Spare laptop and camera batteries | Allowed | Not allowed | Terminals taped or in original packaging, up to 100 Wh each. |
| Devices with built-in batteriesLaptops, phones, cameras, tablets | Allowed | Switched off | Better in the cabin. If checked, fully switched off and protected from accidental activation. |
| E-cigarettes and vapes | Allowed | Not allowed | Cabin only, never used on board. |
Checked baggage
Air Canada publishes a per-cabin allowance for bags in the hold. The per-bag weight cap and the total allowance vary by fare family.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Basic | From CAD $35-$75 | From CAD $50-$100 | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Economy Standard/Flex | Included | From CAD $50-$100 | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business Class | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy Basic: Basic fares: No checked bags included, personal item only
Economy Standard/Flex: Standard/Flex: 1 checked bag included
Business Class: 2 bags at 32kg each included Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Air Canada baggage page before you pack.
Excess baggage fees
What a bag costs when it is over the size or weight of a standard checked bag, which is 23 kg and 158 cm.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight bag | 23 to 32 kg | Above 32 kg the bag is refused outright, not charged |
| Oversized bag | 158 to 292 cm | Above 292 cm total, or 203 cm in length, it is refused |
| Both overweight and oversized | Charged once | Air Canada does not stack the two fees |
Paying the extra bag fee waives the overweight and oversized charges. Bring an extra, heavy or outsized bag to the airport at least 120 minutes before departure.
Estimate your excess fee
Your allowance
Estimate in Canadian dollars based on published rate ranges. The exact fee depends on your route, currency and booking date. Confirm on aircanada.com before you pay.
Before you pack
Six habits that keep you out of the excess baggage queue.
- Weigh bags at homeA luggage scale costs less than a single overweight bag fee, and it settles the argument at home rather than at the counter.
- Prepay extra weight onlineBuying through aircanada.com is 10 to 20 percent cheaper than paying at the counter.
- Wear the heavy itemsBoots, coats and jackets on your body do not count toward any limit.
- Use compression bagsVacuum bags cut clothing volume by up to 75 percent, which helps with the 158 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Check your loyalty statusFrequent flyer tiers often add extra weight or an extra bag on top of the fare allowance.
Aeroplan status extras
Frequent flyer status adds to the fare allowance. The extra applies to the member only, on Air Canada operated flights.
Aeroplan Elite Status: Additional baggage benefits
Sports equipment, instruments and infants
Special items travel with conditions. Every one of them needs advance reservation, and acceptance at the airport is not guaranteed without it.
| Item | Conditions | Fee estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Each item counts as one checked bag toward your fare's maximum, up to 292 cm and 32 kg | Counts as a checked bag |
| Musical instruments | In the cabin if it fits the bin or under the seat, counting as your personal or standard article; otherwise buy a seat for it | Included in allowance |
| Infant baggage | Stroller and car seat checked free | Free |
Book special items online before travel. Airport prices are higher than the same allowance bought online, and hold space is first come, first served.
Check-in and bag drop deadlines
Counted back from scheduled departure. Miss the bag drop cut-off and the bag does not fly, even if you do.
Air Canada sets its check-in and bag drop deadlines by airport rather than publishing one timeline. Check the times on your booking, and allow longer if you have bags to drop.
If your bag does not arrive
Delayed and damaged bags follow a strict clock. Most claims fail because the report was made after leaving the airport.
Report before you leave the hall
Go to the Air Canada baggage services desk in the arrivals baggage hall. You get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a 10 character reference. Without it there is no claim.
Track with the PIR reference
Use the reference and your surname on the Air Canada baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Track a bagKeep receipts, mind the deadlines
Essentials bought while the bag is missing can be claimed. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed bag expenses within 21 days of delivery, under the Montreal Convention.
How Air Canada compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
Turkey
Singapore
Japan
Taiwan