Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year, as discount carrier tactics increasingly enter the mainstream.

Starting Jan. 3, basic fare passengers on trips within North America and to sun destinations will have to check duffel bags, rolling suitcases and large backpacks for a fee 91裸聊视频� $35 for the first, $50 for the second.

A small personal item such as a purse or laptop bag will be allowed on board for free, as will strollers, mobility aids and medical devices.

The country91裸聊视频檚 largest airline also said that as of Jan. 21, lower-tier customers will have to pay if they want to change the seat assigned to them at check-in 91裸聊视频� a policy it had suspended just two days after implementation earlier this year amid backlash from travellers.

The moves mark a shift toward a budget airline-style offering from Canada91裸聊视频檚 flag carrier, which along with rivals has relied increasingly on ancillary fees for formerly bundled services that range from checked bags to on-board snacks and Wi-Fi access.

Air Canada says the changes align its fare structure with similar ticket options from other Canadian carriers and 91裸聊视频渂etter distinguish its fare brands.91裸聊视频�

In June, WestJet rolled out its 91裸聊视频淯ltraBasic91裸聊视频� fare. The ticket tier allows no more than a personal item on board 91裸聊视频� stored under the seat 91裸聊视频� and charges a fee for seat selection, including after check-in, whether online or in-person. Discount carrier Flair Airlines always charges for a carry-on, which costs between $29 and $74 depending on its size.

No-frills fares carry growing appeal for big airlines seeking to capture cost-conscious travellers as budgets tighten after inflation and interest rate hikes.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e competing with these low-cost carriers on various routes,91裸聊视频� said Richard Vanderlubbe, founder of Hamilton, Ont.-based travel agency Tripcentral.ca. 91裸聊视频淭his is what wins in the price-sensitive area of the market.91裸聊视频�

Criticism of bare-bones ticket offerings is 91裸聊视频渆asy,91裸聊视频� Vanderlubbe said, but the fare tiers 91裸聊视频� up to seven at Air Canada 91裸聊视频� give travellers choice. U.S. carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have similar categories, though American and Delta still allow basic economy travellers to bring a bag onto the plane at no cost.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a market solution to kind of an ugly problem,91裸聊视频� Vanderlubbe said. 91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e paying the lowest of the low, then who should get the middle seat at the back?91裸聊视频�

He added that customers need to be aware that what they see as the lowest fare on a price comparison search may not wind up being the cheapest option once the fees are tallied.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not transparent until you91裸聊视频檝e gotten a certain depth into the booking: 91裸聊视频極h, here91裸聊视频檚 the seat selection fee. Oh, here91裸聊视频檚 the baggage fee. Oh, here91裸聊视频檚 the carry-on fee.91裸聊视频� And watch out if you don91裸聊视频檛 check in online, there91裸聊视频檚 a massive penalty if you don91裸聊视频檛,91裸聊视频� Vanderlubbe said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of drip, drip, drip, drip. And it works,91裸聊视频� he said, calling the trend 91裸聊视频渢roublesome.91裸聊视频�

Transport Minister Anita Anand agreed.

91裸聊视频淚 was just made aware of a decision by Air Canada to introduce new carry-on baggage fees. I am extremely concerned. Canadians work hard and save up to travel. They rightly expect excellent service, not extra fees,91裸聊视频� she said Wednesday in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Some competitors sought to seize on Air Canada91裸聊视频檚 announcement to highlight their own offerings.

91裸聊视频淣ow the choice should be clear,91裸聊视频� Flair said in a post on X. 91裸聊视频淭he products are the same, one just costs way less.91裸聊视频�

That91裸聊视频檚 not always true. Some Toronto-Vancouver tickets in March start at $129 for Flair and $135 for Air Canada and WestJet. Other routes see a bigger difference, with Calgary-Toronto priced at $139 for Flair, $209 for Air Canada, $175 for WestJet and $198 for Porter.

Air Canada noted that basic fare passengers who arrive at the boarding gate with ineligible bags will be charged $65 per item to check them.

It also announced that customers on its 91裸聊视频渃omfort economy91裸聊视频� fare 91裸聊视频� the middle of the seven tiers 91裸聊视频� can check two bags for free starting Jan. 3, rather than one.

Air Canada took in nearly US$2 billion in so-called ancillary revenue in 2022, up by nearly 50 per cent from five years earlier, according to airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany.

The category91裸聊视频檚 share of total revenue for the company grew to more than 15 per cent from below 11 per cent in the same five-year period.