Air Canada has introduced basic economy fares earlier today, Tuesday, February 20, 2018, which — for the most part — emulate those of its brethren which are based in the United States; and the Economy Basic airfares apply to domestic flights within Canada for now.
Air Canada Joins the Basic Economy Bandwagon
Compare the eight different airfares now offered by Air Canada, with Economy Basic highlighted in red:
| Fare Component |
Economy Basic
|
Economy Tango
|
Economy Flex
|
Economy Latitude
|
Premium Economy (lowest)
|
Premium Economy (flexible)
|
Business Class (lowest)
|
Business Class (flexible)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Refundable
|
No refund No credit for future travel |
No refund | No refund | YES | No refund | YES | No refund | YES |
|
Any-time Change
|
No changes permitted | A fee applies | A fee applies | Fare difference only* |
$50 USD*
|
Fare difference only* |
$50 USD*
|
Fare difference only* |
|
Same-day Airport Change
|
No changes permitted |
$150 USD
$100 USD
on select routes†† |
$75 USD
|
YES |
$75 USD
|
YES | YES | YES |
|
Same-day Airport Standby
|
Not applicable | Free on select routes†† | Free on select routes†† | YES | Free on select routes†† | YES | Free on select routes†† | YES |
*
Any fare difference will apply. Contact Air Canada Reservations for details.
††
Free on Rapidair routes and flights between Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
Mileage Accrual and Altitude Benefits
| Mileage Accrual and Altitude Benefits |
Economy Basic
|
Economy Tango
|
Economy Flex
|
Economy Latitude
|
Premium Economy (lowest)
|
Premium Economy (flexible)
|
Business Class (lowest)
|
Business Class (flexible)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aeroplan Miles Accumulated
|
None |
25%
|
100%
|
125%
|
125%
|
125%
|
150%
|
150%
|
|
Altitude Qualifying Miles Accumulated
|
None |
25%
|
100%
|
125%
|
125%
|
125%
|
150%
|
150%
|
Travel Experience
| Travel Experience |
Economy Basic
|
Economy Tango
|
Economy Flex
|
Economy Latitude
|
Premium Economy (lowest)
|
Premium Economy (flexible)
|
Business Class (lowest)
|
Business Class (flexible)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Priority Check-in, Baggage Handling and Boarding
|
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
|
Access to Maple Leaf Lounges
|
Not applicable | Not applicable |
+ $50 USD
|
+ $25 USD
|
+ $25 USD
|
+ $25 USD
|
YES | YES |
|
Free Checked Baggage Allowance (fees are per direction)
|
1st bag
$25 USD
$35 USD
|
1st bag
$25 USD
2nd bag $35 USD
|
1
2nd bag $35 USD
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
Exemption from Sports Equipment Handling Fee (for 1 item)
|
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | YES | Not applicable | Not applicable | YES | YES |
|
Advance Seat Selection (fees are per flight segment)
|
$20 – $100 USD
|
$10 – $50 USD
|
YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
|
Treat yourself to a little more legroom with our Preferred seats. Free if you’re travelling on a Latitude fare.
|
||||||||
|
Complimentary Meal
|
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | YES | YES | YES | YES |
|
Prepaid Air Canada BistroVoucher (a value of up to $16.46 CAD, all taxes included)
|
+ $7.95 USD
|
+ $7.95 USD
|
+ $7.95 USD
|
YES | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
|
On My Way Travel Assistance Service
|
From
$25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
From $25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
From
$25 USD
|
Summary
Unfortunately, the basic economy disease is spreading; and the only way to stop it is for people to stop purchasing these airfares — but the possibility of that happening any time in the foreseeable future is virtually zero.
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
