Air Canada Updates: Baggage Allowances, Lounge Openings & Closures, and Onboard Service Expansion

In the past week, Air Canada has made several announcements spanning changes to baggage benefits for some Aeroplan Elite members, planned refurbishments and opening of new lounges, and expanding its onboard offerings for passengers in the economy cabin.

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dive into everything you need to know about the recent announcements that have come from Air Canada.

Air Canada Reduces Baggage Allotment for 25K Members

As of February 1, 2026, there will be changes to the baggage allotment that comes as a Core Benefit for Aeroplan 25K members.

Currently, 25K members enjoy two complimentary checked bags of 23kg apiece on Air Canada flights.

Beginning on February 1, 2026, 25K members will have their baggage allowance dropped to one additional complimentary checked bag that comes in addition to the baggage allotment included with the purchased Economy fare, up to a maximum of two checked bags.

As a reminder, some Air Canada fares come with baggage inclusions, while others don’t. Plus, if you have a core or premium Aeroplan co-branded credit card, you get a free checked bag.

Therefore, the amount of baggage Aeroplan 25K members will have included (as of February 1, 2026) will depend on three factors, broken down as follows.

If you’re travelling on an Economy (Basic) fare or an Economy (Standard) fare on an Aeroplan redemption, you’ll enjoy one complimentary checked bag. This comes by way of your 25K status, since neither of those fares have baggage included.

If you also have an eligible Aeroplan credit card (core or premium), you’ll enjoy an additional complimentary checked bag for a total of two.

If you’re travelling on an Economy (Standard) cash fare, your baggage allowance depends on your destination:

• For travel within North America or to Sun destinations, you’ll enjoy 1 complimentary checked bag by way of your 25K status, since Economy (Standard) fares to these destinations do not include checked baggage
  • If you also have an eligible Aeroplan credit card (core or premium), you’ll enjoy an additional complimentary checked bag for a total of two.
• For travel to all other international destinations, you’ll enjoy 2 complimentary checked bags: 1 by way of the fare, and 1 by way of your 25K status
  • Note that the checked bag benefit offered through core and premium Aeroplan credit cards does not stack on top of this allotment

For Economy (Flex) or Economy (Comfort) fares – both of which include 1 complimentary checked bag – to all destinations, you’ll enjoy 2 complimentary checked bags: 1 by way of the fare, and 1 by way of your 25K status.

Economy (Latitude) fares come with 2 complimentary checked bags already, so as a 25K member with or without a core or premium Aeroplan credit card, there won’t be a change to your baggage allotment.

Note that the above baggage allotments apply to flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express.

The baggage allowance for all other tiers of Aeroplan Elite Status will remain unchanged.

New Baggage Allowances for Aeroplan 25K and 35K Members with Select Partners

As of February 1, 2026, Aeroplan 25K and 35K members will receive one additional checked bag beyond what’s included with their economy fare (up to two bags) when flying with United Airlines and the following select Lufthansa Group airlines:

• Lufthansa
• Brussels Airlines
• SWISS
• Austrian Airlines
• Discover Airlines
• Lufthansa City
• Air Dolomiti

Importantly, this doesn’t apply to Light fares offered by Lufthansa Group airlines.

In other words, if you’re a 25K or 35K member who purchases an eligible fare with any of the above airlines, you’ll get one free checked bag (if your fare doesn’t have any included baggage), or two free checked bags (if your fare includes a free checked bag).

If your fare includes two free checked bags, you won’t get an additional one.

Air Canada Announces Lounge Closures, Openings, and New Partnership

Air Canada is in the midst of a multi-year project to renovate many of its Maple Leaf Lounges.

The first major Canadian lounge to be renovated is the domestic lounge in Montreal (YUL), which closed on September 29, 2025 for approximately three months.

Fortunately, you can check out the brand-new Air Canada Café for domestic departures from YUL, which opened earlier this year.

Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members can also head to the newly opened Aspire | AMEX Lounge during renovations.

Transborder passengers departing from Montreal (YUL) can also look forward to a new Air Canada Café, slated to open in early 2026.

The domestic Maple Leaf Lounge in Halifax (YHZ) will be closed from October 1, 2025 through to early 2027.

Meanwhile, Air Canada will debut a new Air Canada Café in the domestic departures area of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) this fall, as well as a second location in the domestic departures area in early 2026.

According to Air Canada, passengers can expect “refreshed updates focused on comfort and style, as well as full renovations with expanded spaces and brand-new amenities, all rooted in modern, Canadian design” with the new lounge openings.

Air Canada Expands Complimentary Beer, Wine, and Snack Service for Economy Passengers

In June 2024, Air Canada introduced complimentary beer, wine, and snacks for passengers in the economy cabin on domestic and transborder flights.

Since September, 1, 2025, the complimentary service has expanded to include flights to Mexico and the Caribbean, and new options have just been added, too.

Air Canada now serves Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic beer as an option on eligible flights, in addition to a variety of alcoholic beverages.

For flights that depart prior to 10am, economy passengers can now enjoy MadeGood Mornings Cinnamon Bun Soft Baked Oat Bars as an option.

For flights from Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ) that depart after 10:30am, passengers can sample complimentary Greenhouse Ginger Defence Wellness Shots, which will also be available in Air Canada’s premium snack baskets and Bistro menu.

The Bistro menu will also include more made-in-Canada options, including Summer Fresh Hummus & Crackers, Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cups, TWIGZ Sour Cream & Onion Pretzels, and Smarties.

My Thoughts on the Latest Air Canada Updates

Here are my thoughts on the flurry of Air Canada announcements in the past week or so.

Aeroplan 25K Baggage Allowance: A Nudge Towards Aeroplan Credit Cards

First off, the reduction of baggage allowance for Aeroplan 25K members is a mostly negative change, in my opinion.

As it stands, 25K members benefit from two complimentary checked bags, regardless of fare type, and next year, the allotment will depend on the fare purchased and whether or not they have an eligible credit card.

Going forward, you’ll need to be more mindful of the fare type you choose (whether with Aeroplan points or cash) as a 25K member, especially if checking more than one bag is important to you.

If you’re someone who travels on Economy (Basic) or Economy (Standard) fares and who checks bags – and especially if you travel as a couple or a family – then having an Aeroplan credit card will become more important for you.

Meanwhile, if you travel on Economy (Flex) fares or higher, or if you’re in the carry-on-only club, then the change to this benefit will be much less impactful.

More Baggage for Aeroplan 25K & 35K Members with Select Partners

Meanwhile, it’s great to see an additional benefit come to Aeroplan 25K and 35K members who travel with United Airlines and Lufthansa Group airlines.

For the most part, additional baggage with other Star Alliance airlines comes as a benefit reserved for Star Alliance Gold members, which is granted with Aeroplan 50K status and above.

While the reduced baggage benefit for Aeroplan 25K members on Air Canada flights is likely to affect more people than the new 25K and 35K baggage benefit for United Airlines and Lufthansa Group flights, I think this is a meaningful change for the better.

Lounge Closures and Openings

Ever since the pandemic, there has been a lot of chatter about lounge overcrowding and the need for redesigned, updated spaces.

Perhaps no other Canadian airport is a better example of this than Montreal (YUL), as we often witness long lineups and frustrated passengers (especially in the international departures area).

It’s great to see Air Canada embarking on its lounge refurbishment project, and I’m keen to see what the redesigned Maple Leaf Lounges will look like and how the spaces will be changed to better accommodate modern traffic.

If I had to guess, I’d say that the Maple Leaf Lounge in San Francisco (and perhaps the Aspire Air Canada Café in Toronto Billy Bishop) could be an indication of what to expect in the refreshed Canadian Maple Leaf Lounges, though I could be completely wrong on this.

I recently had the chance to visit the new Air Canada Café in Montreal (which I thought was a lovely space), and in general, I’m a big fan of the Air Canada Café concept.

It’s exciting to know that there will be two Cafés opening in Vancouver (through which I transit often), and the addition of one to the transborder departures area of Montreal will also be welcome.

For passengers departing from or transiting through Halifax, the next year and a half (or so) will mean no lounge access, which is very unfortunate.

Expanded Onboard Offerings for Economy Passengers

Lastly, I think Air Canada has done a great job at implementing onboard service improvements for economy passengers over the past few years.

It’s nice to see the inclusion of a non-alcoholic beer for people who don’t drink. From what I can tell, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines have offered non-alcoholic beer options in the recent past, though they don’t currently offer it as an option.

It’s also great to see the extension of complimentary beer, wine, and snacks to economy passengers travelling to Mexico and the Caribbean, too. I’m sure that will be a welcome change to anyone seeking warmer waters this winter.

Conclusion

Air Canada has made a few announcements in the past week or so, spanning everything from changed baggage allotments for 25K (and 35K) members, to lounge openings and closures, and expanded onboard offerings for passengers in economy.

I’m particularly keen on seeing what’s in store for Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés, which we’ll be sure to keep you updated with as we’re able.