Air Canada is quietly removing complimentary seat selection for standard economy fares.

For years, Canadian travellers have relied on a familiar routine: setting an alarm precisely 24 hours before an Air Canada flight to check in online and snag a preferred window or aisle seat—absolutely free of charge. But that long-standing travel hack is officially a thing of the past.

• Air Canada is quietly removing complimentary seat selection for standard economy fares.
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Air Canada is quietly overhauling its seating policy, and standard economy flyers are the ones footing the bill. The airline is removing complimentary seat selection for Standard Economy fares, transitioning what used to be a basic perk into a mandatory paid tier. This sweeping change applies even within the 24-hour departure window, a timeframe where seat modifications were historically free for everyone.

Under the new rules, if you purchase a Standard Economy ticket and choose not to pay for a seat assignment in advance, the airline’s automated system will simply assign you a seat at check-in. Want to change that dreaded middle seat at the back of the plane? Prepare to pull out your credit card. Any modifications to your automatically assigned seat during check-in will now incur a hard fee.

This major policy shift brings Air Canada closer in line with ultra-low-cost carrier models, a move that is already sparking widespread frustration among frequent Canadian flyers who feel increasingly nickel-and-dimed by legacy airlines. Travel experts advise passengers to double-check their fare class before booking their next domestic trip. If picking where you sit is a priority, you will now need to carefully factor the extra seat selection fee into your travel budget, or strongly consider upgrading to a Flex fare where selection remains included.