Air Canada's Aeroplan, its frequent flyer program, updated its award charts in September 2022. The resulting changes are a mixed bag. Some North American routes might increase in cost up to 10%, but economy awards aren't going up. Plus, short-haul award flights between North America and South America are decreasing by up to 33% because of a new distance band.

If you’re looking to book economy flights on Air Canada, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your booking.

What to expect flying Air Canada economy class

Fare types

Air Canada introduced basic economy back in 2018, but unlike other airlines, the difference between basic and standard economy amenities isn’t very drastic. Air Canada charges for checked bags and advanced seat selection in both bundles.

Other, more expensive options include Flex, Comfort and Latitude, which offer free bags, better amenities and discounts.

Award bookings

Booking an Air Canada economy class award ticket puts you into standard economy, although you have an option to pay more points for booking into Flex, Comfort or Latitude.

Seats

Air Canada seats in economy are inconsistent across the fleet. Seat sizes and pitch (distance between the seats) vary, not only between narrow-body aircraft (A320 and B337) and wide-body (A330 and B787), but also within the same group of aircraft.

While you’re more likely to enjoy more comfortable seats on wide-body jets, a few Air Canada Rouge narrow-body A320 aircraft have spectacular 34-inch pitch, versus the 31-inch on A330. On the other end of the spectrum, there are seats with a dreadful 29-inch pitch.

Service

As to the onboard service, Air Canada has received a number of accolades from airline rating company Skytrax, including Best Airline in North America (eight times in 10 years), Best Airline Staff in Canada and Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in North America.

Other features of Air Canada’s economy class

Other features for both basic and standard economy include:

Bag allowance: Carry-on only.

Boarding: No priority boarding.

Food: Available for purchase (free with a Latitude ticket).

Air Canada economy vs. premium economy

Paying to upgrade from economy class to Air Canada premium economy might be an interesting proposition for longer flights. So, what is the difference between Air Canada economy versus premium economy?

In short, premium economy passengers receive perks in the airport and on the plane. They receive expedited check-in and priority baggage services, early boarding and larger, more comfortable seats — which also have more legroom. Premium economy passengers board in Zone 2 of 6, whereas economy flyers typically board in Zones 4, 5 or 6.

The general Air Canada economy class experience varies by destination.

International economy flyers get complimentary wines, spirits and meals and a personal touch screen entertainment center. A pillow and blanket are also offered for free.

North America and Caribbean economy flyers, meanwhile, only get a personal touch screen entertainment center. No snacks or sleeping comforts are provided for free.

Ways to get good value on Air Canada

Book with points on short hauls, especially when cash fares are high

Use Air Canada points on short but often expensive routes up to 500 miles. Unlike some airlines using fully dynamic pricing, Air Canada still has caps on maximum pricing, so paying 6,000 to 10,000 points for a flight that could otherwise cost hundreds of dollars is a good deal.

Here are some example flight routes in the 500-mile band:

Seattle or Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver.

New York to Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal.

Also keep in mind that some short, domestic Air Canada flights can be expensive; consider using your Aeroplan points when you’re traveling within Canada, too.

Book your Air Canada flight with United miles

If you have United MileagePlus miles, booking an Air Canada economy flight with United miles (United and Air Canada are Star Alliance partners), may cost you less than booking directly on Air Canada.

For a November flight between Miami and Vancouver, it would cost only 14,000 United miles as compared to the 17,500-25,000 required for the 2,800+ mile flight using Air Canada’s Aeroplan points.

It’s not always this way, so make sure you check the rates for your desired flight on both the Air Canada and United website.

Consider the Aeroplan® Credit Card, if you're a regular traveler

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.

Apply Now

Read Review

If you fly Air Canada regularly, the Aeroplan® Credit Card can easily return enough value to make the $95 annual fee a relative bargain. The free checked bag benefit alone can cover the cost with one or two round trips a year. The card earns:

3 points per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Air Canada.

3 points per dollar spent on groceries.

3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services).

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent in a month (up to a maximum of 1,500 points per month).

Other benefits include:

Sign-up offer: Earn up to 100,000 bonus points – 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 25,000 points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months..

First checked bag free on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight other passengers on the same reservation. This benefit applies regardless of what class of economy you travel in.

Automatic 25K status in the first year, which gives you perks like priority check-in, priority boarding and upgrades.

Earn a one-level status boost to 35K Status or higher when you spend $50,000 or more on your card in one year.

Reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.

Preferred pricing, which may allow you to redeem fewer points for award flights (depending on itinerary).

Pack only a carry-on, and bring your own snacks

Checking a bag will cost you around $24 ($30 CAD) unless you book a more expensive Flex, Comfort or Latitude ticket (or you pay with the Aeroplan® Credit Card. If you can do with just a carry-on, that’ll save you nearly $50 ($60 CAD) per round trip.

The Air Canada Bistro meal box costs over $8 ($10.49 CAD). Taking your snack on board can not only save you more than $16 ($21 CAD) per round trip, but can also give you control of what you want to eat.

Air Canada's economy class, recapped

Air Canada economy seats may not be consistent across the fleet, but that also means you can be in for a nice surprise, since some aircraft offer very generous legroom. Plus, you can expect solid service from Air Canada, which Skytrax named Best Airline in North America.

Unfortunately, the new award chart has made the cost of your award ticket generally more expensive; however, you can still get good value by redeeming your points on short flights or booking Air Canada flights with United miles. You can also save some money by not checking a bag and by packing your own food.