Calling Air Canada to book a flight now costs extra. Since October 15, 2026, the airline charges a non-refundable booking fee of CA$30 plus tax for each passenger on a new reservation made by phone with one of its agents.
That adds up fast for families. Air Canada's own example is a two-person booking, which costs CA$60 plus tax in fees. By the same math, a family of four pays CA$120 plus tax before a single seat is chosen. The good news is that most travelers can avoid it.
What the new fee covers
According to Air Canada's booking fee page, the charge applies to new bookings completed by phone with an agent through the airline's Contact Centre. It is charged per passenger, not per booking.
A few details matter:
- It is non-refundable. If you cancel the ticket, you do not get the fee back.
- It shows up as its own line. Air Canada says the fee appears as a separate charge on your receipt. It is not part of the airfare or carrier charges.
- Tax comes on top. Air Canada's fees and optional services page also shows the fee as $30.00 to $36.00, and that page says its tax-inclusive prices can carry up to 20% tax depending on the itinerary.
- Aeroplan reward calls are covered too. Air Canada says the fee "will continue to apply" to Aeroplan flight reward bookings made through the Contact Centre. That part is not new. The Aeroplan reward policy already listed a $30 fee for phone bookings.
Who doesn't pay
Air Canada lists two groups who are exempt. The first is customers who need specialized care and support, including those with accessibility needs. The airline points them to its Accessibility Services team at 1-800-667-4732.
The second is anyone calling because a trip they already booked was hit by a delay, cancellation or other disruption. In that case, Air Canada says there is no change to the help you get and no booking fee.
Calls about existing bookings are also free of this fee. Agents can still help with reservations you already hold and other trip questions. Normal fare rules still apply, so any change or cancellation fee tied to your ticket type stays the same.
How to dodge the fee
The simplest way is to book on aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app. Air Canada says there is no booking fee there. The airline says you can also use those tools to:
- Manage a reservation and choose seats
- Check in for your flight
- Accept a new flight, change your trip or ask for a refund after a disruption
There is a catch for people who get stuck online. Air Canada says that if you call because you had trouble finishing a booking on the website or app, the fee "may apply," depending on the circumstances. So if a booking fails online, try again or try the app before you pick up the phone.
Travel agents are separate. Air Canada says they set their own fees and policies, so ask your agent what they charge.
Why Air Canada says it's doing this
Air Canada says its website and app make it easy to book, and that steering everyday tasks to them "helps reduce wait times." It says this frees its agents to focus on cases that need personal support. The airline also says the fee lines up with what Aeroplan members already paid to book rewards by phone.
What this means for lounge fans
There is a quiet bonus to booking online. On eligible fares, Air Canada lets you buy Maple Leaf Lounge access when you book. Its fees page lists base prices of CA$79 on Economy Flex, CA$59 on Economy Comfort and CA$49 on Economy Latitude, Premium Economy Standard and Premium Economy Latitude, with tax extra depending on the trip. You can explore Air Canada's lounges on Lounge Frog's Air Canada page.
Points collectors should also know about a separate charge. Aeroplan's reward policy says a CA$39 partner booking fee applies per ticket when a reward includes a flight on a partner airline. That fee is not the same as the new phone fee, and it is not waived by booking online.
Our take is that this fee is easy to skip for most people, but it lands hardest on travelers who prefer or need a human on the line, such as people booking complex trips. Because it is charged per person, families booking together feel it most. If that's you, it is worth trying the app first.
