These airlines now charge you for carry-on bags
You could end up paying $55 to bring your laptop bag, backpack or cabin bag on board.
By David Flynn, December 6 2024
We’ve lost count of the number of airlines offering cut-price Economy Basic or Economy Lite tickets that don’t include checked luggage.
But now those fares are getting even more ‘basic’, by removing cabin bags from the equation.
That’s right: we’re not talking about checked bags that must be stowed in the plane’s cargo hold and collected on arrival from the luggage carousel.
The war on bags – or maybe it’s more of a war on passengers – now extends to those smaller bags you’d bring on board and plonk into the overhead bin.
United Airlines was first out of the gate with its Basic Economy fares, which permits passengers only one ‘personal item’ small enough to fit under the seat in front (bye bye, legroom).
You want to bring along a laptop bag, backpack or a wheeled cabin bag and enjoy the privilege of stowing it in the overhead bin? That’ll cost USD$35 (AUD$55) per bag.
Now Air Canada is adopting the same no-frills approach.
From January 2025, passengers travelling on Air Canada’s Economy Basic fare within Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean will be restricted to a single small personal item such as a purse or belt bag, satchel or laptop bag (and it’d better be a small laptop).
Larger items such as backpacks, weekenders and ‘rollaboard’ cabin bags – which until now have been included in each Economy Basic fare – will be charged at CAD$35 (AUD$39) for the first item and CAD$50 (AUD$55) for every additional item.
Passengers will have their ticket and carry-on baggage allowance verified at the departure gate, and anybody trying to sneak an extra bag on board will be slugged for CAD$65 (AUD$72) per bag at the gate.
Air Canada notes that mobility aids, medical devices and child strollers remain exempt from carry-on charges for all passengers.
As is generally the case with unbundled business class fares, frequent flyer status – such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan Elite or Star Alliance Gold – overrides the restrictions and keeps the complimentary second cabin bag entitlement even on an Economy Basic fare.
Also read: The hidden costs of discounted business class
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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
The downhill slide continues.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1225
This week, 3AW Rumour File had a rumour that JQ are going down this route next year.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Nov 2019
Total posts 88
About bloody time these execs that travel with over three bags in the cabin just to avoid waiting at carousel, as if there time is that valuable. Usually mid level accountants or lawyers who display their Platinum bag tags 😊
08 May 2020
Total posts 90
How many layers of clothing can you wear before you get charged per Garment. ??
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 254
It doesn't surprise me that United kicked this off, but it's disappointing to see Air Canada joining in. And doesn't surprise me to hear the rumour that Jetstar will do the same. And imagine this 'one small item, only under the seat' rule on a long international flight. A painful flying experience and a shameful money grab.
03 May 2013
Total posts 684
If you've ever flown either carrier you well know they operate no better than a low cost carrier anyway. Nothing surprising here.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 123
Re AC: I disagree.
21 Sep 2022
Total posts 7
Re AC: I agree with you outthere1000.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Mar 2015
Total posts 14
Will Add air Canada To my no fly list !
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 421
Or you could still fly Air Canada but just not buy an Economy Basic ticket?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2014
Total posts 25
Bring it on: start charging like a wounded bull.
Travelling in Canada I have experienced my paid for hold luggage being off.loaded to accomodate carryon luggage that was unable to be accommodated in the overhead bins.
Watched from the terminal boarding passengers stack their carry on bags onto a cart at the aircraft stairs to be stowed in the hold as my hold paid bags were removed from the aircraft to make room for these carry on bags. Not Happy Jan ( in this case WestJet)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
Not totally surprising. What I have seen in the US as carry-on has been obscene and needed to be reined in a bit.
In reality this story is a bit of a headline grabber. Just don’t take the Economy Basic fare when you have to travel on a low cost carrier (or any US/Canadian airline) and it’s never going to be a problem.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 96
A quick nod to booking.com's flight search which shows the cabin and checked bag allowance next to each flight option in the list. (Reply if you know of any other sites that do this.)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 129
Does this happen with all airlines via B.com? Or is it just with those that have branded faring in the GDS?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2017
Total posts 164
Race to the bottom. Cheapskates. Sooner or later there’ll be nothing left to shave off.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2018
Total posts 27
Somewhat overlooked is the flight crew cabin baggage. I travelled next to a cabin stew on AA in USA who was returning from holidays - in uniform but not working - had FIVE items in cabin to save her having to wait five minutes at the carousel.
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