Air Canada Baggage Rules: Carry-On, Personal Item and Checked Bag Fees

Where these numbers come from

Air Canada prices baggage by route and fare. For flights within Canada, to and from the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, its news page lists checked bag fees that took effect on April 13, 2026. The first bag is CA/US$45 on Economy Basic and Standard and free on Flex. The second bag is CA/US$60 on all three. These amounts exclude any taxes that apply to your itinerary.

The carry-on rule catches people out. Fares bought on or after January 3, 2025 under Economy Basic on these routes allow only a personal item of 33 x 43 x 16 centimeters (about 13 x 17 x 6 inches). A standard carry-on of 23 x 40 x 55 centimeters (about 9 x 15.5 x 21.5 inches) must then be checked, and the airline cites a fee of CA/US$65 to $78 for that at the airport. Standard and higher fares keep the carry-on. No weight limit is published, but you must lift it unaided.

Here is a worked example. Two travelers fly Toronto to New York and back on Economy Basic with one checked bag each and a personal item only. The cost is US$45 x 2 people x 2 directions = US$180. If one of them adds a second bag, that is another US$60 x 2 directions = US$120, for US$300. One bag at 55 pounds adds an overweight charge of about US$100 each way on top.

Weight and size limits are 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and 62 linear inches (158 centimeters) for economy bags. The published overweight or oversize fee was $100 to $120 CAD or $100 USD on the airline's 2024 fee table; we did not find a newer table, so treat about US$100 as an estimate. A separate additional-bag fee of about $100 replaces the overweight fee on a bag past your allowance.

Long-haul routes cost more. From May 14, 2026, Economy Basic to Europe, Asia and other long-haul destinations is CA/US$90 for the first bag and CA/US$120 for the second, while Standard and Flex include the first bag. Compare a cross-border trip with WestJet using the bag cost calculator, and check a specific bag with the bag-fit checker.

Star Alliance Gold members are entitled to two carry-on bags when flying Star Alliance carriers, and some fares or cards waive checked fees. Air Canada quotes fees in both Canadian and US dollars for US-facing pages, so no conversion was needed on this page.

Sources

• Air Canada: baggage fee changes
• Air Canada: carry-on baggage
• Air Canada: baggage fees and optional services
• Air Canada: checked baggage

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.