Sunwing airline now charges a fee to its passengers who wish to bring carry-on baggage with them into the cabin on their flight.
Travelers can still have a personal item, such as a purse, small purse, or small backpack, free of charge.
However, they must pay a $25 fee if they wish to bring a small suitcase, sports bag or backpack into the cabin.
This new fee has been in effect since Monday.
Sunwing explains on its website that these rates are added to avoid customers paying additional fees for services they do not need.
The increasing number of travelers bringing carry-on bags is causing airlines headaches because there is not enough space for all passengers.
Many now choose to travel light, with only hand luggage in the cabin, in particular to avoid paying check-in fees for hold luggage and to avoid waiting for their suitcase on arrival.
However, the first checked bag is included free of charge with Sunwing Vacation Packages.
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For travelers paying for the air only, checked baggage costs $50, if prepaid, and $70 if paid at the airport.
For travel agent Nicole St-Hilaire, the addition of this fee is an incentive to check baggage.
“For me, adding a fee for Sunwing carry ons is like a co-payment to tell people: okay, you are entitled to checked baggage, take advantage of it. We won’t necessarily lose it anymore, it’s much less bad, today we can see it, there are no more piles of luggage in airports, ”she told TVA Nouvelles.
Éric Boissonneault, of the Association des agents de voyage du Québec, describes this fee as opportunistic.
He is of the opinion that the company should raise awareness rather than impose an additional fee.