Some wonder why Air Canada seems to charge hundreds more for extra checked baggage for this one particular Caribbean destination compared to others.
A CP24 reader sent a screenshot of Air Canada’s checked baggage policy towards Kingston, Jamaica.
Online it shows that a Toronto Pearson International Airport traveler has to pay $30 for their first checked bag, $200 for their second checked bag and $500 for each additional additional bag they want to fly to Kingston with.
Compared to other Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic and Cuba, travelers pay US$50 for their second checked bag and US$225 for each additional checked bag thereafter.
The price disparity also drew some attention on Twitter, when a user compared Kingston’s exorbitant prices to Guangzhou, Delhi and Tel Aviv. The tweet was viewed over 155,000 times at the time of publication.
Hello @AirCanada, why are the baggage fees for travelers flying to Kingston (Jamaica) significantly higher than other cities like Guangzhou, Delhi and Tel Aviv…? pic.twitter.com/1v7AG5SsKS
— Daniel | Personal Finance and Travel (@danicaSnelson) January 22, 2023
Air Canada noted on Twitter that its flight to Kingston is normally through its Air Canada Rouge leisure service.
In an emailed statement, Air Canada added that it operates this route with smaller aircraft that have less cargo space for customers to stow checked baggage.
On January 17, the airline announced that it had changed its baggage fees for flights between Kingston and Canada and the United States.
“We have adjusted our fee structure for our flights to Kingston, Jamaica by increasing our extra bag fees,” an Air Canada spokesperson confirmed to CTV News Toronto in an email.
While the flights are operated on narrower aircraft, Air Canada says customers on these trips “historically carry more baggage than average.”
“This sometimes resulted in bags having to be left behind and had to be delivered later, which was inconvenient for customers, among other things,” the emailed statement said.
“The additional baggage fee is intended to promote a fairer distribution of available baggage capacity and encourage customers to pack more conservatively. It was also seen as a better option than simply limiting the number of bags per person, so those who need to bring extra bags still have the option.”
The airline recently made headlines for how it allegedly dealt with this newlywed couple’s lost luggage.
After waiting four and a half months to collect her lost suitcase, Nakita Rees was informed by Toronto police that a charity had lawfully received the bag after allegedly donating it to Air Canada.