Traveller reference · AC
Air Canada
Star Alliance · IATA AC · Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, with US preclearance
Travelaidnow is an independent travel agency and is not Air Canada, nor affiliated with or endorsed by it.
This page is a general reference written by our team. Baggage allowances, fees and policies are set by the airline and change without notice, so confirm anything that affects your trip with Air Canada directly before you travel.
Official site: aircanada.comAir Canada connects through Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and its network makes it a common alternative for US travellers heading to Europe or Asia, particularly from northern US cities where a Canadian hub is closer than a domestic one.
The distinctive operational feature is US preclearance. On flights to the United States from major Canadian airports you clear US immigration and customs before boarding, arriving as a domestic passenger. It saves time on arrival but means being at the departure airport considerably earlier.
Air Canada at a glance
- IATA code
- AC
- ICAO code
- ACA
- Based in
- Canada
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- Type
- Full-service
- Frequent flyer
- Aeroplan
Cabins
- Economy
- Premium Economy
- Business / Signature Class
Main bases
- YYZ
- YVR
- YUL
How Air Canada baggage works
Allowance follows cabin, fare tier and Aeroplan status. The entry-level Basic fare is the restricted tier and its limits extend beyond baggage.
Transatlantic and transpacific tickets generally use a piece system with a per-bag weight ceiling.
Confirm the allowance against your booking on aircanada.com, particularly where a Star Alliance partner or a regional operator flies part of the itinerary.
Check-in
Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure.
For US-bound flights from Canada, preclearance means arriving well before the standard cutoff. The queue for US immigration is inside the departure process rather than on arrival, and at peak times it is substantial.
Boarding
Boarding is by numbered zone according to cabin and status, with Basic fares last.
Regional aircraft on shorter routes gate-check full-size carry-ons as standard.
Before you fly Air Canada
Preclearance changes your airport timing
Flying to the US from Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal means clearing US immigration before departure. Add substantial time at the departure airport, and expect to arrive at a domestic gate in the US.
Basic fares are restrictive
As with the US carriers' basic tiers, the limits cover seat selection and changes as well as baggage. Check the tier on the confirmation.
Aeroplan is a strong Star Alliance programme
If you fly United, Lufthansa or other Star Alliance carriers occasionally, Aeroplan is worth understanding as a place to credit those flights.
Planning a trip rather than researching a carrier?
Our route and airport guides cover the journey itself — when demand peaks, which airports work, and how long the connection really takes.
FAQ
Air Canada — common questions
General guidance only. Air Canada sets these policies and can change them, so confirm anything that affects your trip at aircanada.com.
What is US preclearance and how does it work?
At major Canadian airports, passengers on US-bound flights clear United States immigration and customs before boarding rather than on arrival. You then land in the US as a domestic passenger and can walk straight out or to a domestic connection. The benefit is a much faster arrival; the cost is needing to be at the departure airport considerably earlier than for an ordinary international flight.
What is Air Canada Signature Class?
Signature Class is the airline's international business-class product on long-haul routes, with lie-flat seating and dedicated ground services. It is distinct from business class on shorter North American flights, which is a different and simpler product despite sitting at the front of the aircraft.
Is Air Canada a good option for US travellers going to Europe?
It often is, particularly from northern US cities where Toronto or Montreal is a closer hub than a domestic gateway. The trade-off is an international connection in Canada in each direction, and on the return you clear US immigration at the Canadian airport rather than on arrival home.