Air Canada Changes Seat Selection Policy at Check-In

It appears that Air Canada has made immoderate changes to the mode passengers booked connected circumstantial fares tin prime seats upon check-in. 

It seems that travellers who’ve booked an Economy (Basic) oregon Economy (Standard) fare tin no longer prime a Standard spot for escaped astatine check-in. Rather, Air Canada volition present automatically delegate a spot upon check-in, and passengers request to wage to alteration to a antithetic spot if they truthful desire.

There hasn’t been an authoritative announcement by Air Canada astir the change, but its website has been updated to bespeak the changes. We’ve reached retired to Air Canada for confirmation, and are awaiting a reply.

Air Canada Changes Seat Selection Policy astatine Check-In

It appears that Air Canada has introduced spot assignments astatine check-in for passengers travelling connected prime fares, alternatively than offering complimentary spot enactment astatine check-in.

This means that you’re nary longer capable to prime a Standard spot free-of-charge astatine check-in if you’re booked connected an Economy (Basic) oregon an Economy (Standard) fare. 

Instead, Air Canada volition automatically delegate you a spot astatine check-in, and if you’d similar to alteration to a antithetic one, you’ll person to wage a interest ranging from $14–90 (CAD), depending connected the way and fare.

This is an evident departure from the erstwhile policy, which allowed passengers travelling connected Economy (Basic) oregon Economy (Standard) fares the quality to prime immoderate disposable Standard spot for escaped upon check-in.

Air Canada has introduced spot assignments astatine check-in for passengers connected Economy (Basic) and Economy (Standard) fares

This caller spot duty argumentation affects passengers connected an Air Canada formation wrong Canada, to/from the United States, and connected prime planetary itineraries connected Economy (Basic) oregon Economy (Standard) fares. The afloat database of planetary destinations that connection complimentary Standard spot enactment for Economy (Standard) fares tin beryllium recovered on the Air Canada website.

Note that if you’ve booked a antithetic Air Canada system fare, including Economy (Flex), Economy (Comfort), and Economy (Latitude), you tin inactive prime a spot astatine nary cost. 

Likewise, if you person Aeroplan Elite Status, you tin select a Preferred spot astatine nary cost either astatine check-in oregon successful beforehand (depending connected your presumption and fare purchased), and Super Elites volition proceed to person entree to complimentary Standard and Preferred spot enactment connected each fares.

If you question arsenic a family, each airlines flying to oregon from Canada indispensable guarantee parents are seated adjacent to children aged 14 and under, arsenic per Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR).

Children aged 4 and nether indispensable beryllium seated adjacent to their genitor oregon guardian, children aged 5–11 indispensable beryllium successful the aforesaid enactment and separated by nary much than a seat, and children aged 12–13 indispensable beryllium nary much than 1 enactment away. 

Some Passengers Must Now Pay to Change Assigned Seats

Passengers without presumption who often question connected Economy (Basic) and Economy (Standard) fares connected Air Canada flights won’t beryllium blessed with this evident change, since it utilized to beryllium imaginable to prime immoderate disposable Standard spot astatine check-in for free.

Previously, the champion strategy was to cheque successful precisely 24 hours anterior to departure, astatine which constituent you could take from each disposable Standard seats successful the cabin, and the likelihood of getting a model oregon aisle spot oregon a spot person to the beforehand of the compartment was astatine its best.

Going forward, it appears that Air Canada volition automatically delegate you a spot astatine check-in, which could mean that you could get a model oregon aisle seat, but it could besides mean that you get the mediate spot successful the backmost row. If you’re travelling with idiosyncratic else, it’s imaginable that you could beryllium seated distant from each other, too.

If you’re not blessed with the seats you’re assigned, you’ll present person to wage to determination elsewhere.

Air Canada is present assigning seats astatine check-in to passengers connected Economy (Basic) and Economy (Standard) fares

It’s worthy noting that Air Canada isn’t the lone hose to delegate seats to passengers connected little fares and complaint for immoderate changes, arsenic it’s a signifier WestJet, Porter Airlines, and Flair Airlines person agelong had successful place. 

From the airline’s perspective, unbundled pricing is transparent done the booking process, successful that passengers tin take a little fare with less inclusions, wage for a higher fare that has complimentary spot selection, oregon wage for a antithetic spot astatine check-in if the 1 they’re assigned isn’t desired.

Charging for spot enactment is besides 1 of the galore ways airlines make ancillary revenue, which is becoming much and much communal these days arsenic airlines unbundle fares and let passengers to take options based connected what they need. 

Airlines make ancillary gross done galore avenues, including seating fees

From the passenger’s perspective, this argumentation alteration could effect successful yet different added outgo associated with flying, particularly if you privation to debar the anticipation of flying successful a mediate seat, being stuck successful the backmost row, oregon being separated from your question partner.

If seating is important to you, it’s worthy considering the quality betwixt Economy (Basic), Economy (Standard), and Economy (Flex) fares, since the second comes with 1 escaped checked container and complimentary beforehand spot selection, amongst different inclusions.

If you don’t bask these inclusions by different means, specified arsenic with a co-branded recognition card oregon status, the terms quality whitethorn beryllium favourable compared to paying for a spot and a container à la carte with Economy (Basic) oregon Economy (Standard) fares.

Otherwise, you tin look to utilizing fixed-value points currencies to offset immoderate further fees, oregon to the $150 question recognition disposable connected the National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard®, which tin beryllium utilized against spot enactment fees.

Conclusion

It appears that Air Canada has made immoderate changes to its spot duty argumentation for passengers travelling connected Economy (Basic) and Economy (Standard) fares. 

At check-in, passengers who publication these fares are assigned a Standard seat, and they’ll request to wage to alteration to a antithetic seat, if desired.

This argumentation brings Air Canada successful enactment with different Canadian carriers; however, the alteration isn’t affirmative quality for passengers who publication little fares.

We’ve reached retired to Air Canada for comment, and volition update this nonfiction erstwhile we perceive back.

The station Air Canada Changes Seat Selection Policy astatine Check-In appeared archetypal connected Prince of Travel by T.J. Dunn.