Air Canada carry-on size and personal item rules
- North America
- Full-service
- Star Alliance
- Verified 28 September 2026
Air Canada (AC) allows one cabin bag of 23 × 40 × 55 cm (9.1 × 15.7 × 21.7 in) on its All fares except Economy Basic fare, plus a personal item of 33 × 43 × 16 cm (13 × 16.9 × 6.3 in). Air Canada counts wheels and handles in this size. Verified on 28 September 2026 from the official Air Canada baggage page.
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Air Canada carry-on allowance by fare
| Fare | Route / class | Personal item | Cabin bag | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares except Economy Basic(standard) | All routes · All classes | 33×43×16 cm | 23×40×55 cm | Not published |
| Economy Basic | All routes · Economy | 33×43×16 cm | Not included | Not published |
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What to know about Air Canada carry-on rules
- Air Canada (Canada) flies mostly out of YYZ, YUL and YVR; United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, France and Germany are among its key markets.
- Among the 8 verified airlines from North America, Air Canada has the 2nd largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is American Airlines (22×14×9 in).
- In volume terms the Air Canada cabin bag reaches about 50.6 L; 12 of the 60 airlines with published sides allow a bigger box.
- With a total size of 118 cm (46.5 in), the Air Canada cabin bag is larger than 62% of the 66 verified airlines that include a measured cabin bag in their standard fare (rank 11 of 66, largest first).
- Air Canada's cabin bag totals 118 cm (46.5 in), 1.2 cm (0.5 in) more than the average of the 8 verified airlines from North America (116.8 cm (46 in)).
- Air Canada is 2nd of 17 Star Alliance members by total cabin bag size (TAP Air Portugal is the most generous, United Airlines the strictest).
- On Air Canada, a standard US carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) is 0.9 cm (0.3 in) too big on the length (limit: 23×40×55 cm).
- A typical European cabin case of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) fits exactly at the limit on the length when measured against Air Canada's 23×40×55 cm.
- Air Canada publishes 2 different allowances: 1 of the 2 include a cabin bag; Economy Basic has no cabin bag at all.
- Air Canada publishes no weight limit for the cabin bag on the standard fare; its official rules give only the 23×40×55 cm size.
- Air Canada's official text counts wheels and handles in the 23×40×55 cm cabin bag and personal item limits.
- Exceptions noted on the official Air Canada page: “Air Canada Economy Basic fare tickets purchased on or after January 3, 2025, no longer include carry-on baggage for select destinations.”
- Compared with Air Canada's 118 cm (46.5 in): at YYZ, WestJet allows 3.7 cm (1.5 in) less in total (114.3 cm (45 in)).
Air Canada personal item: what fits under the seat
- On Economy Basic, the personal item is the only free bag Air Canada allows in the cabin, so it has to hold everything you take on board.
- Filled as a box, Air Canada's 33×43×16 cm personal item holds about 22.7 litres, above the median of 18 L across the 56 airlines that publish three personal item sides.
- Against the 8 airlines from North America that publish a personal item size (average 95.1 cm in total), Air Canada allows 92 cm, more than 43% of them.
- Air Canada's official text says wheels and handles count in the personal item size.
- By volume, the 33×43×16 cm personal item on Air Canada is 45% of the 23×40×55 cm cabin bag: about 22.7 L against 50.6 L.
- A soft 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) under-seat bag is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the depth against Air Canada's 33×43×16 cm personal item limit.
- With 92 cm in total, the Air Canada personal item is bigger than 46 and smaller than 10 of the 57 verified airlines that publish a personal item size.
- Other personal item limits at the same airport: Air Transat at YUL (43×13×31 cm) and WestJet at YYZ (16×6×13 in), against 33×43×16 cm on Air Canada.
- Among 14 Star Alliance airlines with a published personal item size, Air Canada allows the largest (33×43×16 cm); South African Airways allows the smallest (30×40×10 cm).
Air Canada carry-on questions
- Does the Economy Basic fare of Air Canada include a cabin bag?
- No. Air Canada's Economy Basic fare has no cabin bag, only a personal item.
- Does Air Canada have a weight limit for carry-on bags?
- Air Canada does not publish a cabin bag weight limit for the standard fare; only the size rule appears on its official page.
- Will a 22 × 14 × 9 in carry-on fit Air Canada's limit?
- No: against Air Canada's 23×40×55 cm limit, a hard 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) case is 0.9 cm (0.3 in) too big on the length.
- How big can a personal item be on Air Canada?
- Air Canada allows a personal item of 33 × 43 × 16 cm (13 × 16.9 × 6.3 in) on the standard fare, stowed under the seat in front.
- Do wheels and handles count in Air Canada's carry-on size?
- Yes. Air Canada's official page says the 23×40×55 cm limit includes wheels and handles.
Airlines related to Air Canada
- WestJet carry-on size — also flies from YYZ
- Air Transat carry-on size — also flies from YUL
- United Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Air India carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- EVA Air carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Official sources
- https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/carry-on.html — checked on 28 September 2026