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CanadaStar AllianceAeroplanInternational Airlines Serving the US
Air Canada is Canada's flag carrier and the largest foreign carrier serving the United States, with more US destinations than any airline outside the US. Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver function as alternative gateways to Europe and Asia, and US preclearance at major Canadian airports means you clear US immigration before departure and arrive as a domestic passenger.
Key Travel Facts & Insights
Detailed answers on the ten things travellers ask most after booking.
Basic is non-changeable. Standard and Flex change for a fee; Latitude changes free. Fare difference applies throughout.
How to change a flight24 hours before departure. 45 minutes before departure within Canada.
Check-in and boarding cutoffsPoints expire after 18 months of inactivity; any earning activity resets it. Aeroplan credit cardholders are exempt.
Loyalty programme guide| Fare | Includes | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Carry-on and personal item. | No checked bag, no changes, no refunds, no seat selection, and no Aeroplan status qualifying. |
| Flex | Changes for a fee, seat selection and full Aeroplan earning. | Checked bag still charged on North American routes. |
| Signature Class | Lie-flat suite on widebodies, Maple Leaf Lounge or Signature Suite access, two checked bags. | Narrowbody transcontinental Business is a recliner, not lie-flat. |
Boeing 777 and 787 widebodies and Airbus A220 and A320-family narrowbodies, with Air Canada Express regional partners.
Possibly. Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations require CAD 400–1,000 compensation for delays and cancellations within the airline's control on flights to, from or within Canada. It applies to US travellers, is separate from a refund, and must be claimed — the airline will not offer it automatically.
At Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and others you clear US immigration and customs before departure, then arrive in the US as a domestic passenger with no further processing. Allow an extra hour at Toronto Pearson at peak times.
Yes — unusually so. It publishes a distance-based award chart, adds no carrier surcharges on Air Canada flights, allows a stopover for 5,000 extra points, and most major US flexible points currencies transfer into it.
We confirm live fares, seat availability and the exact baggage and change rules attached to your fare before you pay — then stay with you through any change, cancellation or claim.