How to Choose Best Seats on Air Canada: Tips and Seat Selection Options

Picking a good seat is key to happy flying with Air Canada. This easy guide shows you how to book your favorite spot online in 4 simple steps. Learn about preferred seats, fees, and how changing a booking works.

Air Canada's Seat Selection Policies Made Simple

When booking Air Canada tickets, you can often choose your seat for free within 24 hours of making the reservation. After this, preferred seats near the front, emergency exits, and other special spots cost extra. Economy Basic fares do not include advance Air Canada seat selection .

Air Canada Advance Seat Selection Fees Explained

For most economy tickets, Air Canada charges $30–50 each way for advance seat selection in preferred locations like exits, front rows, and seat pairs. Some cheaper fares exclude free seat choice entirely. Fees are paid during or after booking through Manage My Booking.

How to Pick Air Canada Seats Online

Follow these simple steps to choose seats on Air Canada:

Book a flight first.

Visit aircanada.com or use the mobile app to book your trip and airfare.

Manage Your Booking

Within 24 hours of buying, log into Manage My Booking on the website or app to choose free standard seats or pay to upgrade.

Select Seats

A seat map will show available options color-coded by fee level, if any. Click to reserve your preferred spot.

Pay Fees if Applicable

For preferred seating locations, pay the required fee to confirm your choice.

What is a Preferred Seat on Air Canada?

A preferred seat is one that Air Canada charges a fee for due to factors like:

• Extra legroom and width

• Early boarding privileges

• Proximity to front/exit

• Some aisle/window locations

Preferred seats differ from Premium Economy, a higher class of service.

In-Depth Look at Seat Selection Options

Air Canada offers these basic seat selection choices:

• Complimentary standard seats (booked within 24 hours)

• Paid preferred seats ($30-$50 each way)

• Paid adjacent/paired seats ($20-$40 each way)

• Basic Economy with no advance seat choice

How Air Canada's Seat Selection Rules Work Step-by-Step

Choosing Seats When First Booking

The seat selection process begins when making your flight reservation:

1. Book airfare and ticket type

2. Within 24 hours, visit Manage My Booking

3. Select standard seats for free or pay for preferred spots

4. Review and confirm your choices

Choosing Seats After Initial Booking

Already booked? Change seats anytime before online check-in:

1. Go to aircanada.com and enter reservation details

2. Navigate to Manage My Booking on website or app

3. Browse seat map and select new spot for a fee if desired

4. Follow prompts to pay online and confirm switch

Checking In and Seat Selection

Web/mobile check-in opens 24 hours before departure. From here, you can:

• Print or download boarding pass

• Pay for checked baggage

• Review but usually not change seat

Use airport kiosks or counters to alter seats, availability permitting.

Ensuring Children Sit Together

Air Canada allows free advance seat selection for children under 12 sitting with an adult. Indicate this when booking or contact reservations.

Getting Refunds on Air Canada seat fees

If you cancel a booking with prepaid preferred seat fees, Air Canada processes refunds automatically back to the original form of payment. This can take 1-2 billing cycles.

For changes, request a refund online, by phone, or at the airport desk when rebooking. Same payment method applies.

Top Tips for Seat Selection on Air Canada

• Take advantage of free seats if booking early

• Pay extra for exit row, bulkhead, or other preferred options

• Indicate paired seats for children under supervisor's rules

• Review choices during web check-in 24 hours before flight

• Be aware of restrictions on cheapest Basic Economy fares

Whether budget or luxury, Air Canada provides ample seating options, from complimentary to upgraded, for smooth journeys at every service level. Happy flying!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I choose my seat on Air Canada?

Yes, you can select free standard seats within 24 hours of booking, or pay a fee for preferred seating.

Q: Does Air Canada charge for seat selection?
A: Air Canada charges $30-50 each way for advance selection of preferred seats like exits and front rows. Basic fares do not allow free choice.

Q: How do I pick my seat after booking?

A: Log into Manage My Booking on the Air Canada website or app to view seat maps and pay any applicable fees to change your selection.

Q: Is seat selection free with Aeroplan?

A: Many Aeroplan redemptions allow free preferred seat selection up to check-in time. Availability varies by route.

Q: What happens if I don't select seats on Air Canada?

A: The airline will assign you a standard seat at check-in. Preferred locations are first-come first-served.

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