Air Canada begins charging some travellers for checked baggage

Air Canada has started charging economy-fare travellers for checked baggage.

As of Sunday checked luggage will cost some Air Canada passengers more money.

Just days after a similar change in policy by WestJet, economy fare passengers travelling on Tango flights within Canada or to the Caribbean or Mexico will have to pay extra for checked luggage.

The first two bags will cost $25 each while those on flex fares will be able to check one bag free of charge but will pay $25 for a second bag.

A spokesperson for WestJet told CTV News the change was about choice for travellers.

“We are moving towards more of an a-la-carte system where people are only paying for those services that they need or they want,” Robert Palmer explained.

However, an industry analyst said the company would see a good profit as a result of the new fee.

“We estimate that in the first year of implementation this first bag fee will generate between $70 and $80 million for WestJet.” Robert Kokonis told CTV News.

Air Canada declined to comment to CTV News Sunday.

Many travellers said they were not impressed with having to pay more.

“It is very expensive to travel anyway so I wasn’t happy,” Leda Wagner said.

“I like to have lots of stuff when I travel so I have to take a checked bag. I can’t go carry on.”

Sara Wipperman agreed.

“I think that it should be included in your ticket price,” she said, adding it seemed to be a money grab.

“I liked it the way it was before.”

The airlines said the change should affect about one in five customers.

Air Canada has had the policy in place for flights to and from the U.S. since 2011.

With files from Nicole Weisberg