Air Canada is adding a first checked bag fee, too

Right on the heels of Canadian competitor WestJet, Air Canada has announced they, too, will be imposing a first checked bag fee for many travelers.

In a press release issued Thursday, Air Canada revealed their new baggage fee program:

Starting September 18, 2014, customers purchasing Air Canada’s lowest Economy Class Tango fare for travel on or after November 2, 2014 on domestic flights within Canada and to and from the Caribbean and Mexico will now be charged $25 for a first checked bag, in line with the baggage allowance policies of other North American carriers.

The airline says the new baggage fee structure will impact about one in five of their passengers.

Air Canada has been charging passengers traveling between the U.S. and Canada for their first checked bag since 2011.

Much like the new program at WestJet, Air Canada is essentially pushing customers towards their pricier fares, since the first checked bag fee does not apply to tickets purchased using their Flex and Latitude fares. The fee also does not apply to Altitude Prestige, Elite and Super Elite members, Star Alliance Silver and Gold members, customers purchasing Air Canada Vacations packages, Business Class customers, military personnel (with id), and infant items like a car seat or stroller.

This move catches up much of the Canadian air travel market with their counterparts on the other side of the border, who have had baggage fees for several years.

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