Flights from Vancouver on Canadian carriers may cost more than they used to, depending on what airline you fly with and if you need to bring a carry-on bag.
Air Canada and WestJet - the country's two largest airlines - have taken a nod from Canada's ultra-low-cost carrier, Flair Airlines, by implementing a mandatory fee for seat selection and doing away with carry-on bags in their cheapest fare classes.
But Canadian travellers and advocates haven't stayed quiet about the changes.
Air Passenger Rights founder and president Gabor Lukacs recently addressed Canadian airline transparency before The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities at the House of Commons.
The advocate notes purchasing flights was "simple" in the past because the cost of a traveller's baggage - both onboard and checked - was included in the ticket price, as well as any other costs associated with the flight.
Lukacs points out that Section 86 of the Canada Transport Act requires the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to "make regulations to enable passengers to readily determine the total amount to be paid for the air services they buy." However, airlines are now adding what he considers "junk fees" for seat selection, checked luggage, and carry-on bags.
"Junk fees are deceptive marketing tactics that hinder readily determining how much passengers will end up paying," he explains.
For example, Flair customers may be shocked to learn that bookings they make via an agent on the call centre cost an additional $26 to $30 per passenger, per reservation. This fee isn't charged for travellers booking tickets online.
Lukacs claims Flair has taken advantage of passengers for years by not including services essential to their transportation and the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has been "turning a blind eye."
"Flair has been abusing passengers by charging a fee even for printing boarding passes at the airport. In my view, that is not permitted under the law, because having a boarding pass is not an 'optional service,'" he tells V.I.A.
The advocate says all Canadian airlines are guilty of hiding costs or misleading passengers. Without transparency, customers cannot quickly assess the total cost of their total trip cost.
"This is not simply a matter of somewhere on the website showing the price - it is a matter of showing the total right away and being able to search immediately for prices with all the services the passenger intends to use," he explains.
Have a look at what travellers should expect when purchasing tickets in the lowest fare class from each of Canada's four largest airlines.
Flair Airlines
Flair positioned itself as an ultra-low-cost carrier since its inception in 2005 but didn't start operating flights out of YVR until 2017 when it first connected Vancouver with Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and Edmonton International Airport (YEG).
Jaw-dropping deals included fares starting at under $20 and travellers quickly started purchasing trips. However, the airline did not offer seat selection or carry-on bags to its lowest-fare ticket holders.
Flair continues to charge customers for carry-on bags but prices are lower when booked online and before check-in. A piece of carry-on luggage booked online is $29-$86 (depending on the route) and $49-$97 during check-in.
Customers must also pay for checked baggage on all routes. A personal item is free for each passenger on every route.
During peak travel times, Flair increases the cost of bags. For instance, during the recent winter holiday season, from Dec. 15, 2024, to Jan. 8, 2025, bags cost $5 more.
Seat selection starts at $16 to $54 (depending on the route) for options at the back of the plane. Flair assigns seats to customers who do not pay the extra fee.
WestJet
WestJet caused an uproar last spring among Canadian travellers who have long valued the airline's customer service and inclusive offerings for passengers across all fare classes.
In May 2024, the Calgary-based airline announced it was doing away with carry-on bags and free seat selection in the 24-hour check-in window for travellers in its new, lowest-fare class, UltraBasic.
WestJet spokesperson Julia Kaiser told V.I.A. in a previous interview that the airline updated its Basic fare class "to better serve Canadians' evolving travel needs including options to address overhead bin space."
The thinking behind the model was to allow budget-conscious travellers the option to pay a stripped-down, basic fare while more comfort-minded passengers could opt to pay to purchase extras.
UltraBasic customers flying to Europe or Asia or who purchased an Extended Comfort package may bring a carry-on aboard their WestJet flights.
However, many customers expressed frustration with the airline following the announcement, with many noting that ticket prices didn't appear to drop, meaning they paid the same fare with fewer inclusions.
Unlike Flair, customers who book in WestJet's lowest fare class may not purchase a carry-on bag. Customers arriving at the gate with a carry-on bag booked in the UltraBasic fare class must check it and pay the associated fee.
Travellers who book UltraBasic tickets and plan to check bags should also consider how much more they will pay for checked baggage. The cost of checking bags is considerably higher than other fare classes. For example, for trips purchased online to and from Canada and the U.S., the first checked bag in UltraBasic costs $45 to $54 while Econo ticket holders pay $35 to $42. Travellers in EconoFlex do not pay for the first checked bag.
UltraBasic travellers can purchase a seat during the check-in for an additional fee. The costs vary broadly, from $5 to several hundred depending on the route and location. The are issued a prompt about seat selection after they enter their traveller information.
Air Canada
On Dec. 4, 2024, Canada's flag carrier followed WestJet in removing free carry-on baggage and complimentary seat selection during the 24-hour check-in in its Economy Basic fare class.
The airline had previously announced removing the complimentary seat selection in April, prompting outrage from Canadian travellers. An Air Canada spokesperson told V.I.A. in a previous interview that it paused implementing the change for "operational reasons."
A spokesperson told V.I.A. that Air Canada carry-on changes are commensurate with "practices already in place" with the carrier's top Canadian competitors. The new baggage rule came into effect on Jan. 3, 2025.
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Related: 'Flat out greedy': Customers outraged by Air Canada's new carry-on bag, seat selection policies
Travellers in Economy cannot purchase a carry-on bag but may pay to change their assigned seat.
Canada's travelling public had a similar response to WestJet's announcement, with many individuals noting that Air Canada's prices didn't decrease in the lowest fare class despite having fewer inclusions.
Unlike on WestJet, however, checked baggage doesn't cost more in Air Canada's Economy Basic class than in Economy Standard. Checked baggage for flights in Canada or to the U.S. booked in either fare class cost between $35 and $42.
Costs vary for seat selection during Air Canada's 24-hour check-in window for Economy Basic customers depending on the route and aircraft. The seat window will be displayed after they enter their traveller information. Preferred seats booked before this time range from $20 to $199.
Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines started offering flights between Vancouver and Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on Feb. 7, 2023, marking the first time in the carrier's 16-year history to offer flights outside Eastern Canada.
Travellers often prefer the airline for its two-seat configuration, in-flight entertainment, and offering complimentary beer, wine, and snacks on all of its flights.
Despite its lofty onboard inclusions, tickets booked in the airline's Basic fare class do not include a piece of carry-on luggage. In line with most of Canada's other major airlines, it continues to offer one in all other fare classes, including Standard, Flexible, Freedom, Navigate and Ultimate.
A checked bag costs between $40 and $51.75 in the Basic or Standard classes.
Travellers booked in Porter's lowest fare classes (Basic and Standard) are assigned a seat and must pay a fee to select a different one. Seat selection starts at $12 for PorterClassic for regular seats and $30 for a PorterClassic Stretch seat.
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