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Upcoming Changes to Air Canada’s Check-In Policy

Air Canada is making some changes to its official check-in policy, as it will standardize the check-in cut-off time for most flights.

Written by T.J. Dunn

On August 30, 2024

Read time 6 mins

Air Canada has announced it’s making some changes to the check-in policy for passengers about to depart on an Air Canada flight.

As of September 4, 2024, the check-in time will be standardized to 60 minutes prior to departure for nearly all Air Canada flights, with a few exceptions.

Upcoming Changes to Air Canada’s Check-In Policy

Air Canada is making some changes to its check-in policy for passengers prior to boarding most Air Canada flights.

As of September 4, 2024, there will be a standardized check-in time of 60 minutes prior to departure for the vast majority of Air Canada flights. This means that whether you’re flying on most domestic, transborder, or international flights, you’ll need to check in at least 60 minutes prior to departure.

The only exceptions to this are Air Canada flights that depart from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), as the check-in deadline will be 30 minutes prior to departure. Furthermore, if you’re booked on the Landline bus service from Hamilton (YHM) or Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF), the check-in deadline is also 30 minutes prior to departure.

Air Canada is standardizing its check-in policy

All flights prior to September 4, 2024, will follow the current check-in deadlines, which are as follows:

  • Domestic flights: 45 minutes prior to departure
  • Flights departing from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ): 20 minutes prior to departure
  • Flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to the United States: 90 minutes prior to departure
  • Flights from all other airports to/from the US: 60 minutes prior to departure
  • International flights departing from Toronto Pearson (YYZ): 90 minutes prior to departure
  • All other international flights: 60 minutes prior to departure

Going forward, Air Canada’s cut-off time for check-in will be 60 minutes prior to departure for domestic, transborder, and international flights (including Mexico and the Caribbean), except those situations outlined above.

Importantly, on domestic flights, the deadline for baggage drop-off will remain at 45 minutes prior to departure, while on all other routes, it will be 60 minutes prior to departure. 

This means that you can check in to your domestic flight online, through the app, or at the airport at least 60 minutes prior to departure, but you have up until 45 minutes prior to departure to drop off your baggage. You can drop off your baggage as early as four hours prior to the departure of your Air Canada flight.

Furthermore, if you have Aeroplan Elite Status and are waitlisted for an eUpgrade, the upgrades will process 15 minutes earlier than they usually do.

According to Air Canada, these changes are being made to ensure a smoother, more efficient boarding process, giving customers peace of mind as they prepare for takeoff.

Air Canada Standardizes Check-In Policy for Most of its Network

The biggest news with this change is that check-in for domestic flights will now close 60 minutes prior to departure instead of 45 minutes prior to departure, with the noted exceptions of flights from Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ) and Landline bus service from Hamilton (YHM) and Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF).

Of course, the easiest way to get around this change (and the easiest way to check in for Air Canada flights in general) is to check in online or through the Air Canada app, which opens at 24 hours prior to departure.

If you’re someone who likes to do everything in person for domestic flights, be sure to arrive at the airport a bit earlier than you usually would, since the cut-off time will soon be 15 minutes earlier than it has historically been.

Be sure to take note of the new check-in cut-off times for Air Canada flights

Otherwise, the only change to Air Canada’s check-in policy affect passengers departing from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ).

Regarding flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ), you’ll no longer have to check in at least 90 minutes prior to departure for transborder or international flights, which will drop down to the new standard of 60 minutes prior to departure.

If you’re used to cutting it close at Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ), which currently has a check-in deadline of just 20 minutes prior to departure, you’ll want to give yourself an extra ten minutes going forward, since the deadline is being moved up from 20 minutes to 30 minutes prior to departure.

Depending on your destination, you may want to also pre-book a timeslot at security with Express, or if you’re headed to the United States, use Mobile Passport Control to save time after you’ve checked in.

Conclusion

As of September 4, 2024, Air Canada is making some changes to its official check-in policy.

Going forward, nearly all Air Canada flights will have a check-in deadline of 60 minutes prior to departure, with the exceptions of flights from Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ) and Landline bus service from Hamilton and Kitchener.

Be sure to keep these new check-in times in mind going forward, as if you miss the cut-off time, you may also miss your flight.

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