Air Transat Eliminates Complimentary Carry-On Baggage for Low-Fare Tickets
Air Transat has announced that carry-on bags will no longer be allowed for its low-fare customers on most flights, showing how discount carrier tactics are becoming more mainstream.
Starting Tuesday, passengers booked in the airline’s Eco Budget and Eco Promo fare classes will need to check their luggage for a fee ranging from $35 to $50 on flights within North and South America.
In addition, Air Transat is discontinuing its policy of allowing one free checked suitcase for its Eco Standard fare class.
These changes do not affect trips to Europe, Peru, and North Africa, as well as all-inclusive packages.
All passengers, regardless of fare class, can still bring a small personal item like a purse or laptop bag on board for free.
The airline stated through an email that these changes enable them to offer more competitive fares and are in line with industry standards.
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Air Transat’s decision to implement these changes reflects the industry trend adopted by major competitors, where fees are charged for services that were previously included in the ticket price, such as checked bags, snacks, and seat selection.
In December, Canadian airline executives faced scrutiny from lawmakers over carry-on bag fees, with CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet emphasizing the need to revamp the country’s aviation system to make travel more affordable.
