I broke my "always check my bag" rule this week when flying Air Canada, because I had a two hour connection between different airlines and no idea how long security and passport control would take. Well, my bag size and fluids passed muster, and lines were short, but finding overhead bin space did me in. I had an aisle seat near the front - didn't do my homework to find out how they load the plane - and my zone got on last, so there was virtually no overhead bin space left, and the "small bags below" rule was not being enforced. I had to do some Tetris-level reshuffling to cram it in, while trying not to drop the other bags on the person below me. What a massive hassle. On the return, I had same-airline connection, checked my bag through and blissfully boarded with my little backpack. Back to Team "check-my-bag" for me. And if I ever have to carry on again, I'll select my seat with boarding order in mind.
Posted by
MD
647 posts
That sounds stressful for sure! I’ve been lucky so far, but I’m curious, how do you know boarding order when considering which seat to choose? I didn’t know this was possible.
Posted by
OP
Lynnwood
291 posts
KRS, I was actually assuming they did back to front, based on observation, but I was wrong. This is from their web site: "What does Zone 5 mean on Air Canada? Answer: Zone 3 for window seats, Zone 4 for middle seats, and Zone 5 for aisle seats if you do not have status or purchase Comfort fare or above (or Basic, which goes to Zone 6).May 6, 2023". My preferred carrier, Alaska Airlines, basically does front to back loading so I thought I was safe.
Posted by
WestCentral MN
361 posts
Thank you for reminding me of this! We booked AC to Europe next summer. We only do carry-on. For our segments, the price difference for an extra-legroom seat with earlier boarding will be worth it! Just purchased them now--thanks for your post.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4624 posts
Where on Air Canada's website did you find that boarding zone info? This is what I found. https://www.aircanada.com/au/en/aco/home/fly/at-the-airport/boarding-by-zone.html#/
Boarding by window/middle/aisle makes no sense if you're flying with others.
Posted by
OP
Lynnwood
291 posts
Allan, I agree it's not ideal for people traveling together, but it may help boarding speed (unless you are me standing in the aisle trying not to toss small bags onto their owners below.) I found that info by searching the Air Canada web site for "boarding zones" and that info was under "boarding zones explained," dated May 2023. Also, they are not the only airline to give different boarding zones to people traveling together. Traveling with my husband on Alaska, for example, I get an earlier zone because I have MVP and he does not.
Posted by
WestCentral MN
361 posts
Families seated together can board with the first boarding zone the family has. For example, if I am in a window seat with zone 3, and my husband is in a middle seat with zone 4, we can both board with zone 3. At least that was the way it was done last time we flew AC in 2021.
Boarding the window then middle then aisle is supposed to eliminate the hassle of the window person boarding last and the middle and aisle people having to get up and stand in the aisle so the window person can be seated. In theory it sounds good, but it doesn't make sense for those sitting together. I asked about it the first time we flew with AC and the procedure I described above is what I was told.