Air Canada Offers Holiday Travel Tips

With the holiday season upon us, Air Canada is expecting higher volumes of customers through Jan. 15 and is recommending the six following tips to help make the travel experience a little smoother.

• Save time. 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).

Check-in, select/change your seat, select the number of checked baggage and pay any baggage fees in advance, within 24 hours of departure.

Be sure to share your contact information (e-mail or mobile number) when checking-in (mobile‎/kiosk/web) so that we can easily contact you in case of travel disruptions such as weather or other conditions.

• Is your flight on time? Confirm online 24/7 at aircanada.com/flightnotification.

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.

See the Daily Travel Outlook for possible disruptions due to forecasted weather or other conditions.

Use the Self-service rebooking tool in the event of flight disruptions.

• 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.

• Review baggage rules. Here’s what to carry-on and check-in.

Bring all valuables including electronics, documentation, medication, car keys, money, jewelry in carry-on bags and not in checked 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 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 http://www.aircanada.com/checked.

• Avoid unnecessary surprises before your vacation takes off. Double check your travel documents are valid at aircanada.com/traveldocumentation.

Travel within Canada. All Domestic travel: 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. All international travel: Requires a valid passport. 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.

Travel to Canada from an international destination. Canadian citizens: Canadian passport for travel to Canada. Dual nationals may no longer use a non-Canadian passport to arrive in Canada.

Friends and family from outside Canada: Reminder to visiting friends and family from outside Canada that the Government of Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that must be obtained prior to travel. More information: www.aircanada.com/eta.

Parents travelling with children. If passports are required, all children must have their own passport. Remember that parents/legal guardians do not sign their child’s Canadian passport, as doing so invalidates it.

Visit IATA Travel Centre and Travel and Tourism Canada or contact the embassy high commission or consulate of all countries you and your child will be visiting to confirm all entry and exit document requirements.

• Air Canada’s global hubs make flying to the US seamless.

Travelling to the USA. Air Canada customers flying to the US (from or via Canada) will clear US Customs at Canadian airports before their flight. Operations at all four Canadian hubs, Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR) and Calgary (YYC) are all under one roof with no terminal transfers, meaning connections are easy, comfortable, seamless, and smooth.

Travelling from the USA. For customers travelling from the US through AC hubs and onwards to any international destination, the seamless connection process and quick passport check means passengers never have to wait in customs lines, pick up bags or transfer terminals. Simply walk to the next departure gate.