Air Canada Offers Holiday Travel Tips
The busy holiday travel season is around the corner with a peak expected between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5. In an effort to make the travel experience as smooth as possible, Air Canada has recommended the following six essential tips:
- Save time. Check-in 24 hours in advance.
Check-in online at aircanada.com, mobile.aircanada.ca or via the Air Canada app (be sure to download the app for iOS or Android). You can also select/change your seat, select the number of checked baggage and pay any baggage fees in advance.
Be sure to provide your contact information (e-mail or mobile number) when checking-in (mobile/kiosk/web). Travellers should also include their travel agent’s contact information.
Travelling with kids under six? Visit aircanada.com/familytraveltips.
- Is your flight on time? Confirm online 24/7 at aircanada.com/flightnotification or via the Air Canada app.
Travellers can stay informed of flight status for all Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights by signing up for Flight Notifications or calling the toll-free Air Canada flight status line at 1-888-422-7533; TTY (Hearing Impaired): 1-800-361-8071.
- Arrive early. Here’s when: aircanada.com/deadlines.
Arrive early at the airport to be at the gate on time and avoid congestion that may occur during peak periods. If you are travelling to the US, it’s advised to arrive three hours prior to departure to clear customs as well.
- Review baggage rules. Here’s what to carry-on and check-in.
Check size and weight allowances when packing at aircanada.com/carryon as carry-on baggage will be screened and tagged. Information on checked baggage allowance is available at: www.aircanada.com/checked.
Consider bringing a bag that will fit under the seat in front of you as space in the overhead bins is limited. Air Canada also strongly recommends checking any bags that do not fit into sizers to make the boarding process more efficient and prevent delays.
Bring all valuables, including electronics, documentation, medication, car keys, money and jewellery in carry-on bags.
Bag Tags – Place identification inside bags as well as on the outside, as external baggage name tags sometimes become detached.
Gifts – when travelling with gifts in your carry-on, remember to keep them unwrapped to facilitate security inspection.
- Check your documentation. Avoid unnecessary surprises before your vacation takes off. Ensure that all your travel documents are valid at: aircanada.com/traveldocumentation.
Travel within Canada: Customers must present a valid government-issued photo identification that includes date of birth and gender for all passengers 18 years of age and older.
Travel from Canada to an international destination: A valid passport, signed, with an expiration that meets the requirement of the destination country in required. Some countries require passports to be valid for at least six months or more before allowing a traveller to enter the country.
Visas may be needed to enter the country of destination and/or when connecting via certain countries. Check IATA Travel Centre search tool for country-specific passport, visa and health entry requirements.
Parents travelling with children: If passports are required, all children must have their own passport. Remember that parents/legal guardians must not sign their child’s Canadian passport, as doing so invalidates it.
- Seamless travel to the US.
Air Canada customers flying to the US (from or via Canada) will clear US Customs at Canadian airports before their flight. The airline’s operations at all three primary Canadian hubs, Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR) are all under one roof with no terminal transfers, meaning connections are easy, comfortable and seamless.
For those travelling from the US through Air Canada’s hubs and onwards to any international destination, the seamless connection process and quick passport check means passengers don’t have to wait in customs lines, pick up bags or transfer terminals. Simply walk to the next departure gate.
