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Airline Summary

• Excellent 6,158
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" Research the aircraft that will be used on your flights and operating hours for the airline at your arrival point. "

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Air Canada is Canada’s flagship carrier and largest airline in terms of passengers flown and fleet size. It flies to over 200 destinations around the world and is one of the founding members of the Star Alliance. Check out the latest Air Canada news, deals and reviews below.

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• Deal alert: Points and miles travel deals for April 2024
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Table of Contents

What to expect flying Air Canada economy class

Air canada economy vs. premium economy, ways to get good value on air canada, air canada's economy class, recapped.

Air Canada's Aeroplan , its frequent flyer program, updated its award charts in September 2022. The resulting changes are a mixed bag. Some North American routes might increase in cost up to 10%, but economy awards aren't going up. Plus, short-haul award flights between North America and South America are decreasing by up to 33% because of a new distance band.

If you’re looking to book economy flights on Air Canada, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your booking.

Air Canada introduced basic economy back in 2018, but unlike other airlines, the difference between basic and standard economy amenities isn’t very drastic. Air Canada charges for checked bags and advanced seat selection in both bundles.

Other, more expensive options include Flex, Comfort and Latitude, which offer free bags, better amenities and discounts.

Award bookings

Booking an Air Canada economy class award ticket puts you into standard economy, although you have an option to pay more points for booking into Flex, Comfort or Latitude.

Air Canada seats in economy are inconsistent across the fleet. Seat sizes and pitch (distance between the seats) vary, not only between narrow-body aircraft (A320 and B337) and wide-body (A330 and B787), but also within the same group of aircraft.

While you’re more likely to enjoy more comfortable seats on wide-body jets, a few Air Canada Rouge narrow-body A320 aircraft have spectacular 34-inch pitch, versus the 31-inch on A330. On the other end of the spectrum, there are seats with a dreadful 29-inch pitch.

As to the onboard service, Air Canada has received a number of accolades from airline rating company Skytrax , including Best Airline in North America (eight times in 10 years), Best Airline Staff in Canada and Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in North America.

Other features of Air Canada’s economy class

Other features for both basic and standard economy include:

Bag allowance: Carry-on only.

Boarding: No priority boarding.

Food: Available for purchase (free with a Latitude ticket).

Paying to upgrade from economy class to Air Canada premium economy might be an interesting proposition for longer flights. So, what is the difference between Air Canada economy versus premium economy?

In short, premium economy passengers receive perks in the airport and on the plane. They receive expedited check-in and priority baggage services, early boarding and larger, more comfortable seats — which also have more legroom. Premium economy passengers board in Zone 2 of 6, whereas economy flyers typically board in Zones 4, 5 or 6.

The general Air Canada economy class experience varies by destination.

International economy flyers get complimentary wines, spirits and meals and a personal touch screen entertainment center. A pillow and blanket are also offered for free.

North America and Caribbean economy flyers, meanwhile, only get a personal touch screen entertainment center. No snacks or sleeping comforts are provided for free.

Book with points on short hauls, especially when cash fares are high

Use Air Canada points on short but often expensive routes up to 500 miles. Unlike some airlines using fully dynamic pricing, Air Canada still has caps on maximum pricing, so paying 6,000 to 10,000 points for a flight that could otherwise cost hundreds of dollars is a good deal.

Here are some example flight routes in the 500-mile band:

Seattle or Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver.

New York to Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal.

Also keep in mind that some short, domestic Air Canada flights can be expensive; consider using your Aeroplan points when you’re traveling within Canada, too.

» Learn more: Sweet spots of the new Aeroplan program

Book your Air Canada flight with United miles

If you have United MileagePlus miles, booking an Air Canada economy flight with United miles (United and Air Canada are Star Alliance partners), may cost you less than booking directly on Air Canada.

For a November flight between Miami and Vancouver, it would cost only 14,000 United miles as compared to the 17,500-25,000 required for the 2,800+ mile flight using Air Canada’s Aeroplan points.

» Learn more: Great ways to earn United MileagePlus Miles

It’s not always this way, so make sure you check the rates for your desired flight on both the Air Canada and United website.

Consider the Aeroplan® Credit Card , if you're a regular traveler

If you fly Air Canada regularly, the Aeroplan® Credit Card can easily return enough value to make the $95 annual fee a relative bargain. The free checked bag benefit alone can cover the cost with one or two round trips a year. The card earns:

3 points per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Air Canada.

3 points per dollar spent on groceries.

3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services).

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent in a month (up to a maximum of 1,500 points per month).

Other benefits include:

Sign-up offer: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. .

First checked bag free on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight other passengers on the same reservation. This benefit applies regardless of what class of economy you travel in.

Automatic 25K status in the first year, which gives you perks like priority check-in, priority boarding and upgrades.

Earn a one-level status boost to 35K Status or higher when you spend $50,000 or more on your card in one year.

Reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS .

Preferred pricing , which may allow you to redeem fewer points for award flights (depending on itinerary).

Pack only a carry-on, and bring your own snacks

Checking a bag will cost you around $24 ($30 CAD) unless you book a more expensive Flex, Comfort or Latitude ticket (or you pay with the Aeroplan® Credit Card . If you can do with just a carry-on, that’ll save you nearly $50 ($60 CAD) per round trip.

The Air Canada Bistro meal box costs over $8 ($10.49 CAD). Taking your snack on board can not only save you more than $16 ($21 CAD) per round trip, but can also give you control of what you want to eat.

» Learn more: Checked baggage vs. carry-on: What you need to know

Air Canada economy seats may not be consistent across the fleet, but that also means you can be in for a nice surprise, since some aircraft offer very generous legroom. Plus, you can expect solid service from Air Canada, which Skytrax named Best Airline in North America.

Unfortunately, the new award chart has made the cost of your award ticket generally more expensive; however, you can still get good value by redeeming your points on short flights or booking Air Canada flights with United miles. You can also save some money by not checking a bag and by packing your own food.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

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The Best of Europe Sale

Save $400 per couple* on all tour packages until june 2..

• Applicable to: Europe tour packages
• 1 st checked bag free 1 & more. Learn about our Vacation Promise .
• Get extra Aeroplan® points per member when you book a tour package to Spain, Ireland or Venice 2 . Learn about our new way to earn .

Book between: April 22, 2024 and June 2, 2024 Travel between: April 23, 2024 and December 31, 2024

*Valid on new bookings of tour packages to Europe. Offer valid between April 22, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. ET until June 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Offer: Save $400 per couple. Reduction of $400 per couple is shown as $200 off per person and applicable to the 1st and 2nd guest only. Discount is applicable on the base price of the package and does not apply to surcharges, charges, taxes, fees and gratuities. Travel must take place within the following period: April 23, 2024 and December 31, 2024. A minimum 7-night stay is required. Not applicable to one-way flights. Reduction is applicable to adults only (18+). Not applicable to groups. Cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion, unless otherwise specified.

1 Our Vacation Promise is applicable to new bookings of vacation, Flight & Cruise, Flight & Hotel, pre-bundled packages or tour packages booked in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, Canada, Europe, and the United States, made from September 7, 2021 and onwards. All components are subject to change without notice and can be modified at any time. Theme park tickets, private transfers, attractions, activities, car rental, and Allianz Global Assistance insurance are excluded from all aspects of Air Canada Vacations' Vacation Promise and are subject to the standard terms and conditions. Free 1st checked bag is applicable to all destinations when booking a package. Limited to one checked bag per person. For baggage rules and restrictions, please visit the Air Canada Baggage Information Guide . For full terms and conditions about Our Vacation Promise, click here .

2 Applicable to new bookings on select tour packages. Aeroplan Members ages 2 to 12 will receive 50% of the extra points granted to members ages 13 and up. Children under the age of 2 are not eligible for the extra points. For complete terms and conditions, click here .

Subject to availability at time of booking. Terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Prices on our website reflect applicable reductions and are valid if you purchase services in a same session. If you log off our website, prices may be different the next time you log on. Final prices will be displayed before confirming your payment. A supplement may apply for passengers travelling alone.

®Air Canada Vacations is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license by Touram Limited Partnership.

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New Air Canada seat selection fee paused following backlash

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Air Canada has paused changes to its seat selection policies following backlash from Canadian travellers.

Currently, travellers have to pay to pre-select seats before check-in on an Air Canada flight but can select seats for free during check-in. 

On April 19, Canada's largest airline announced a policy change to seating assignments that would automatically assign travellers a seat at check-in for free. But customers wanting to change their seats would have to pay a fee (see slide two).

Air Canada said the proposed change included "transparent pricing" and customers could skip the option and keep their assigned seat. 

The new seat assignment fee was slated to commence April 24 but the airline told V.I.A. that it has "paused implementation" for "operational reasons."

Air Canada noted that it sells several branded fares at various prices, including its Basic, Latitude and Business Class, and each has its advantages. 

"The ability to select your seat ahead of your flight is one such attribute (an extra bag, refundability are examples of other such attributes)," it said in an emailed statement. 

"For our branded fares that do not permit free seat selection, customers have the option to choose a seat prior to check-in and pay a seat selection fee, or wait for us to assign a seat at time of check-in for no fee."

While the airline has paused the new changes, it added that they are "consistent with our branded fares" and are similar to the policies of other carriers in Canada. 

Customers with children will not have to pay the fee to sit together, regardless of fare class. 

Air Canada will communicate further when it plans to implement the policy.

Travellers respond to Air Canada's proposed seat payment changes

Multiple people took to social media to share their frustration over the proposed changes. 

Traveller Steven Clark shared the changes in a post on X, noting that the airline can "now split your party at their discretion to force you to spend money to ensure your party sits together," adding that its current policy was "a safe gamble at 24 hours [that] you could find seats together."

JW Kite mentioned how "Delta has been doing this for a few years for those who book an Economy (lowest) fare."

Alishya Weiland  wrote, "That's quite annoying!"

Another frustrated flyer mentioned, "Westjet does this too and it’s disgusting…just another cash grab!" 

Air Canada launches program to prevent lost baggage

Air Canada recently launched a new program to  prevent travellers and their bags  from getting separated during their journey. 

A new feature in the Air Canada mobile app allows customers to track the progress of their baggage in real-time at "key points" while they travel. Travellers can see their bags move from the check-in at the airport to the plane and then through connections before arriving at their final destination. 

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Air Canada pauses new seat fee policy after barrage of complaints from Canadians

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with a new statement and additional from Air Canada reflecting their decision to pause the seat fee. 

After receiving a barrage of complaints from customers, Air Canada has walked back its decision to charge passengers with standard or basic fares to change their automatically assigned seats during check-in.

In an updated statement to Daily Hive on Friday, the airline said it had “paused the implementation for operational reasons to ensure a smooth rollout for our customers and employees and we will communicate the next steps further at the appropriate time.”

Air Canada introduced the change this week

On Wednesday, a Facebook user shared notice of a new seating assignment policy in a Canadian air passenger rights group.

The announcement from April 18 introduced the new seating assignment process for Standard and Basic Fares.

“Effective April 24, when customers begin the check-in process, a seat will automatically be assigned free of charge,” read the notice.

It goes on to specify that this will only apply to Air Canada customers who haven’t purchased a seat before check-in.

“We understand that customers may have a preferred spot. If they wish to change their automatically assigned seat, they can easily do so for a fee,” reads the notice. “This option gives them the freedom to select the seat that best suits their needs.”

In a statement to Daily Hive on Thursday, Air Canada said it offers a “variety” of branded fares at different price points, which all have different “attributes that customers can choose to pay for or not, depending on the branded fare they buy.”

“The ability to select your seat ahead of your flight is one such attribute (an extra bag and refundability are examples of other such attributes),” said the airline.

It added that for its branded fares that don’t allow free seat selections, customers “always had the option to choose a seat prior to check-in and pay a seat selection fee, or wait for us to assign a seat at time of check-in for no fee.”

“What has changed, and is consistent with our branded fares, is that after seats are assigned at check-in for no fee, customers who now wish to change to a different seat from the one we assigned them will have to pay the same fee they would have paid prior to check-in. This is the practice at other airlines, including some in Canada,” stated Air Canada.

Canadians sounded off about fee

Customers took to social media to express their dismay with what some of them referred to as a “money grab fee.”

So Air Canada can now split your party at their discretion to force you to spend money to ensure your party sits together. (Previously it was a safe gamble at 24 hours you could find seats together) pic.twitter.com/rTvxfVqqGy — Steven Clark (@TheFwordNB) April 25, 2024

@CBCNews @CTVNews have you reported on this money grab fee yet from @AirCanada ? pic.twitter.com/XuF2SiiExi — LongJohn (@goaliegirl6060) April 25, 2024

I don’t know why everyone is mad at @AirCanada for introducing another junk fee. They have been trending towards the bottom end of the discount airline market since their last bailout. Their service, food, on time rating, cleanliness, and generally quality is horrible. — Kritical Defiance (@KriticalDave) April 25, 2024

Others responded to the post in the Air Passenger Rights advocacy Facebook group, sharing their disappointment, and Gabor Lukas, the group’s president, noted that it was “lame indeed.”

“[It’s] another junk fee,” he stated.

A junk fee refers to surcharges or service fees customers have to pay on things like credit cards, concert tickets, airline tickets, hotel bookings, and bank charges.

“It’s like they want to make flying less and less attractive,” wrote a person in the comments.

“The airlines are nickel and diming passengers to death!” remarked a commenter.

“Another cash grab by a terrible over-priced and overrated airline,” reads another comment.

Some noted that other airlines also charge the fee.

“This seems to be very common in Europe. All our flights have been assigned this way,” noted one person. “We’ve been together and had seats that I wouldn’t need to change so it’s worked for us but hopefully, it doesn’t add too much stress to those who are concerned.”

“This is what most other airlines do on their basic fares. Sad that it’s happening to standard fares too though” noted a group member.

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Air Canada pilots declare emergency during transatlantic flight from Toronto

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A routine Air Canada flight from Toronto Pearson Airport to London, England, declared an emergency on Thursday at the tail end of its journey across the Atlantic Ocean. 

According to Aviation Source News , flight AC858 was travelling over the Atlantic Ocean near Northern Ireland when the emergency declaration was made. 

The aircraft reportedly had less than an hour of its journey remaining when the emergency call came in. The aviation news website notes that the emergency was serious enough to prompt the use of a Squawk Code 7700 , indicating a serious issue onboard the aircraft. 

The code can be inputted by the aircraft's pilots or instructed by air traffic control (ATC) and alerts the ground crew to prepare for the flight's arrival. 

Medical emergency @RadarBoxCom https://t.co/KmUVRYkEk0 — Flight Emergency (@FlightEmergency) April 18, 2024

Initially, it was unclear what the nature of the emergency was, but later,  Aviation Source News determined that it was a medical emergency. 

Pilots eventually changed the squawk code from 7700 to 5170, indicating that the emergency onboard was under control, and that the flight did not need to be diverted to a nearby airport. 

The flight landed safely at Heathrow Airport at 3:14 p.m. local time without further incident. 

Lukas Wunderlich /Shutterstock

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In-flight catering during the Gate Gourmet strike

Airlines have temporarily adjusted food service on some flights

Food and beverage services on some flights to and from Toronto Pearson are being affected by a strike at in-flight catering firm Gate Gourmet. As a result, food and drink choices on some flights are currently more limited than usual.

All restaurants and retail outlets in the terminals are operating as normal; Gate Gourmet is an airline caterer, not a Toronto Pearson caterer. The airport has no direct role in the dispute but it is working to help minimize disruption to passengers – for example, by working with the airlines to mitigate related gate delays.

Here’s what you need to know about temporary changes to on-board catering:

What is Gate Gourmet?

It’s a multinational company and a major supplier of food and beverages to the airline industry globally. It operates an in-flight meal preparation facility at Toronto Pearson that is currently experiencing a labour disruption. Toronto Pearson is one of seven Canadian airports and 135 locations where Gate Gourmet does business worldwide.

Which flights are affected?

Gate Gourmet supplies catering services to several airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet. While all airlines have taken steps to minimize disruption, some adjustments to onboard services have been unavoidable.

To find out if your flight’s catering is affected, contact your airline’s customer services team. Your airline may also email you a few days before departure to advise you of the in-flight catering options.

What can I expect on the plane?

Air Canada has said that food choices on its North American flights will be limited, but packaged snacks and water will be available on all services. Customers in premium cabins can expect a light meal and more limited beverage service than usual. There is minimal impact to international flights.

WestJet has said that flights operating on its Boeing 737 jets could experience inconsistent food and beverage service. It has advised passengers to pack snacks and beverages or purchase them in the terminal. Service on its other flights should operate as normal.

Can I take larger beverages through security while the labour dispute is on?

No. Canadian government regulations only permit liquids in bottles of 100ml or less in carry-on baggage. You can bring an empty bottle and fill it at drinking fountain beyond security or purchase water and other beverages in the departures area.

What are Gate Gourmet and the airlines doing to minimize the impact of the strike?

Gate Gourmet and the affected airlines have implemented contingency plans to reduce disruption. This includes adjusting food choices on board and stocking some flights at locations not affected by the strike.

Are restaurants in the airport affected?

No. All restaurants and retail outlets in the terminals are operating as normal.

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Manager, Strategic Procurement - Global Travel - Crew Hotels & Ground Transportation - 35489

Location: DORVAL, QC, Canada Posting Start Date: Apr 26, 2024 Posting End Date: May 5, 2024

Job Description

Description

Being part of Air Canada is to become part of an iconic Canadian symbol, recently ranked the best Airline in North America. Let your career take flight by joining our diverse and vibrant team at the leading edge of passenger aviation.

Air Canada, ranked among the top five most attractive companies to work for in Canada, is seeking a Manager Strategic Procurement – Global Travel, Crew Hotels & Ground Transportation (GT), who will be based at our Montreal Headquarters.  

Strategic Procurement (SP) is comprised of several Category Management teams and a Centre of Excellence (COE) to support SP. The successful candidate will play a key role as a category manager for all aspects of hotel accommodations and ground transportation sourcing initiatives including crew, passengers, corporate travel, training and events. Given the breadth and varied nature of the activities within this portfolio, this opportunity will provide interaction with key stakeholders in many parts of the organization.  

This role requires someone who will be a key contributor in creating synergies and leverage spend with Hotels across all branches within Air Canada. The successful candidate will apply a passion for leadership and collaboration in order to obtain the best value for the airline and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers. 

Responsibilities:

The Manager, Strategic Procurement – Global Travel Hotels & GT will lead sourcing projects related to Air Canada’s key commercial and operational priorities.  The Global Travel Category includes procurement activities related to crew hotels, ground transportation providers, rates for corporate travel, hotels for irregular operations and hotels for crew training. This individual will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver strategic leadership, focused on value delivery, efficiency / cost savings, governance and control.  

In this role, responsibilities will include conducting supply market research, establishing sourcing strategies, leading a competitive bid process by conducting Request for Proposals, Information or Quotation, vendor selection, participate in site inspections of Hotels, conduct negotiations and contract execution on an ongoing basis. 

In greater detail, key areas of responsibility include the following: 

• Develop and maintain an understanding of the hospitality industry and supply market trends in various regions around the world to strengthen Air Canada’s negotiating positions. 
• Stay abreast of Air Canada’s Corporate strategic initiatives and priorities through close collaboration with the departments.  
• Analyse and monitor category spend and expiring contracts to uncover potential sourcing and consolidation opportunities.     
• Engage the COE team to conduct research and analysis. 
• Manage the relationships between multiple stakeholder groups, including our Express partners, to assist in the selection process of crew accommodation and ground transportation to meet Air Canada’s crew requirements and ensure cost effective quality accommodations. 
• Participate in site visits at hotel properties around the globe with union representatives, and our operations team from crew accommodations to evaluate lodging and transportation alternatives for our crew layovers. 
• Ensure that hotel quality issues and feedback from crew members are addressed in a timely and effective manner. 
• Cultivate an effective working relationship with all stakeholders including our various Hotel Chain representatives. 
• Work with cross functional teams to determine business requirements. 
• Prepare and issue RFPs, evaluate responses, prepare site inspection packages and conduct negotiations with various suppliers. 
• Lead contract negotiations and oversee contract drafting and execution including the vendor management of these suppliers. 
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts including the Crew Accommodations team, to obtain concurrence on contract terms.  
• Conduct regular business reviews with Air Canada’s Crew Accommodations team, our union groups and any 3rd party suppliers assigned to manage day of operations and/or Crew IROPS to ensure standards are met and all open issues are addressed.   
• Further develop SP’s relationships with internal customers over the course of procurement events.
• Effectively communicate and promote the successes of SP.  
• Actively engage in learning Air Canada’s business processes.
• Continually seek areas for improvement. 
• Conduct supplier performance management with our suppliers.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field of study (commerce, supply chain, engineering, hospitality) 
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), analytical, negotiation, and project management skills. 
• Ability to influence without formal authority. 
• A strong entrepreneurial spirit, a desire to innovate, intellectual curiosity and creative thinking. 
• Strong organizational skills and work ethic.
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and accommodate changing priorities. 
• High degree of professionalism and discretion is essential. 
• Flexibility with work hours and ability to travel.  
• Hotel Management and/or Crew Resources experience, an asset.
• Completion of (or working towards) a SCMP designation, ISM or other procurement designation is an asset.   
• Previous experience working with collective agreements an asset.

Conditions of Employment:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest, at the time any offer of employment is made and seeking any required work permits/visas or other authorizations which may be required is the sole responsibility of the candidates applying for this position.

Linguistic Requirements

Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees’ unique contributions to our company’s success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all to help us build a diverse workforce which reflects the diversity of our customers, and communities, in which we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.

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