New Baggage Allowances: Travel Costs Just Went Up
Posted May 7, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under News
If you purchase a ticket from Air Canada on or after May 15, 2008 for travel on or after July 15, 2008, you should know about the new baggage allowance rules in place.
If you are travelling Tango, Tango Plus, or on a reward ticket through Aeroplan or Air Miles, you are permitted only ONE bag. A second bag can be checked for $25 per flight.
So, if you’re planning a round trip (which most of us do) that second ‘extra’ bag is going to cost you an ‘extra’ $50 bucks.
Maximum allowable weight on your single bag is 50 pounds or 23 kilograms.
It’s already bad enough having to wait at the check-in line behind people who don’t know the 50 pound rule, and end up riffling through their bags to see what can be dumped into their carry-on bags so they won’t have to pay the extra.
Now, imagine how the check-in line waits will get longer as uninformed travelers show up with their usual 2 bags. First, they’ll whine or argue with the agent about the new rules, then decide to take the 2nd bag as carry-on.
By result, the security waits will get even longer as more bags need to be scanned and perhaps searched.
Of course, the gate agents will never notice that the carry-on rules are being broken.
They never do.
I just hope that Air Canada plans to re-inforce the overhead bins in anticipation of all that extra weight.
Of course, a better option than waiting for that to happen is to pack lighter. Not only will it save you money, you’ll enjoy your trip more when you don’t lug a heavy suitcase around or pull a muscle pulling that bag.
For starters, check out this ultra-light 22″ Hovercraft Rolling Upright from Eagle Creek which weighs only 7.25 pounds (3.34 kg) empty.
Made of 210D Mini Diamond Helix Nylon, 500D Tough Weave, 915D HP Cordura®, the dimensions are 14 x 22 x 10 / 36 x 56 x 25cm. Capacity empty is 2925 cu in / 48 L and 3400 cu in / 56 L when expanded.
The next thing to do is get an airline rewards card that give you access to the Executive or First Class check-in queues. Those passengers are allowed up to 4 bags, and doubtful that they’ll cause delays if and when they’re assessed extra baggage charges.
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2 Responses to “New Baggage Allowances: Travel Costs Just Went Up”
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Lucky for me I went to Alaska early enough that I could still check two bags. I had to buy a second bag from a thrift store just to bring home all my new treasures!! I think this luggage crunch will be felt in the tourist shops since it won’t be so easy to do that now. The trickle down is going to hit everyone. Bummer.
By the way… Alaska was AMAZING!!! 
With smiles,
~Nikki
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