Temporary pause on Air Canada seat selection fee

Air Canada Faces Backlash Over New Seat Selection Fee

Air Canada recently faced backlash from customers after announcing a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares. The airline had planned to charge passengers with standard or basic fares to change their automatically assigned seats during check-in, sparking outrage among consumers.

The change was set to take effect on April 24, but after receiving numerous complaints on social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit, Air Canada decided to pause the implementation of the new fee. The airline did not confirm whether the consumer backlash influenced their decision, but stated that they paused the fee for operational reasons.

Some customers expressed frustration over the airline’s decision, with one Facebook user calling it “just another money grabber.” Others criticized Air Canada for behaving like budget airlines by eliminating free checked baggage and now charging for seat selection during check-in.

In response to the backlash, Air Canada issued a statement clarifying the policy change, stating that they would continue to assign seats to ensure families on the same booking are seated together for no fee, as per Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.

While Air Canada is not the first Canadian carrier to charge a fee for seat selection after check-in, the decision to introduce the new fee has sparked a debate among consumers. The airline has not provided a timeline for when the pause on the fee will end, but stated that they will communicate next steps at the appropriate time.