Air Canada with a baby: rules for strollers, car seats & infant fares
Key facts
Short answer: Air Canada lets babies under 2 fly on your lap (free + taxes inside Canada, 5 + taxes US/Canada transborder, 10% internationally), checks one stroller and one car seat free, allows compact strollers up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.5 × 15.5 × 9 in) in the cabin, and guarantees free adjacent family seating.
Flying Air Canada with a baby or toddler? Whether you are flying within Canada, across the US border, or long-haul to Europe or Asia, Air Canada has specific folded stroller dimensions for both gate-checking and overhead bins, plus mandatory free family seat assignment for under-14s. Checked 27 October 2026.
Quick answers
- Lap infant fare: free within Canada (taxes only); US transborder flights pay taxes/fees; international flights pay 10% of the adult fare plus taxes.
- Minimum age to fly: babies must be at least 7 days old to fly on Air Canada.
- Cabin carry-on stroller limit: 21.5 × 15.5 × 9 in (55 × 40 × 23 cm). Counts as one standard carry-on item.
- Gate-check stroller size rule: Air Canada allows small collapsible umbrella-style strollers with a collapsed diameter up to 10 in (25.5 cm) and length up to 36 in (92 cm) to be gate-checked at the aircraft door. Larger full-size strollers must be checked at the baggage counter before security (still free)!
- Free infant cabin bag: a lap infant gets 1 free diaper/infant bag in the cabin (up to standard carry-on size), in addition to the adult's allowance.
- Bassinets on widebodies: free on Boeing 777, 787 and Airbus A330 aircraft for infants under 25 lbs (12 kg) who cannot sit upright unassisted.
- Mandatory free family seating: under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), children under 14 are assigned seats near an accompanying parent at no extra charge.
Watch out: Air Canada's gate-check vs counter-check stroller size rule
Important: like American Airlines in the US, Air Canada restricts the size of strollers you can bring through security to the boarding gate. Air Canada states that only small, collapsible strollers folding to a maximum diameter of 10 in (25.5 cm) and length of 36 in (92 cm) can be gate-checked at the aircraft door (where they are returned to you at the aircraft door on arrival).
Large, heavy, or full-size travel-system strollers must be checked at the baggage drop counter in the terminal before security — they are still checked completely free, and Air Canada provides loaner strollers inside some major Canadian hubs (such as Toronto Pearson and Montreal), or you can bring a compact travel stroller that fits inside the overhead bin.
Overhead bin strollers, car seats & bassinets
- Overhead bin strollers (21.5 × 15.5 × 9 in / 55 × 40 × 23 cm): a compact stroller that folds into a rectangle no larger than 55 × 40 × 23 cm (such as the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 or Joolz Aer+) is accepted in the cabin as part of your standard carry-on allowance. Check exact measurements in our Cabin Size Stroller Checker.
- Car seats on board: one car seat is checked free per child, or used on board if you buy a seat for your child (or in an infant seat). Accepted labels include Canadian CMVSS 213/213.1, US FMVSS 213 (FAA), UN ECE R44/R129, and the CARES harness.
- Widebody bassinets (under 25 lbs / 12 kg): on Boeing 777, 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330 widebodies, Air Canada offers free bulkhead bassinets for babies weighing under 12 kg (25 lbs) who cannot yet sit upright unassisted. Call Air Canada Reservations to request one; assignment is confirmed at the gate.
- Early boarding: families travelling with children under 6 board early between Zone 2 and Zone 3.
Summary table
- Stroller / pushchair
- One collapsible stroller checked free at the baggage counter or gate (max collapsed diameter 25.5 cm / 10 in and length 92 cm / 36 in for gate check). Compact strollers folding within 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.5 × 15.5 × 9 in) may go in the cabin as carry-on.
- Car seat
- One car seat checked free per child. Use on board requires a purchased seat and a Canadian CMVSS 213/213.1, US FMVSS 213 (FAA), or UN ECE R44/R129 approved restraint, or CARES harness.
- Cot / bassinet
- Long-haul widebody flights (Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A330): free bassinets on request for infants under 12 kg (25 lbs) who cannot sit upright unassisted; allocated subject to availability.
Compact strollers & pushchairs for flying
| Product | Weight | Folded size | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bugaboo Butterfly 2 | 7.3 kg (16.1 lbs) | 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm (17.6 × 9.6 × 21.8 in, IATA cabin-compatible) | £435 RRP / $479 MSRP | Check price at Bugaboo |
| Joolz Aer+ | 6 kg (13.2 lbs) | 53.5 × 45 × 21.5 cm (21.1 × 17.7 × 8.5 in) | £419 RRP / $449 MSRP | Check price at Joolz |
| Stokke YOYO3 (Babyzen YOYO) | 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) | 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in, IATA cabin-size) | £399 RRP / $449 MSRP | Check price at Stokke |
| UPPAbaby Minu V2 | 7.7 kg (16.9 lbs) | 58.4 × 45.2 × 29.2 cm (23 × 17.8 × 11.5 in) | £399 RRP / $399 MSRP | Check price at UPPAbaby |
| Joie pact lite | 5.35 kg (11.8 lbs) | 46.8 × 26 × 54 cm (18.4 × 10.2 × 21.3 in) | Around £160 / $199 (varies by retailer) | Check price at Joie |
Blank cells: not yet verified from the maker's official page.
FAQ
What size stroller can I gate-check on Air Canada?
Air Canada allows collapsible strollers with a collapsed diameter of up to 10 inches (25.5 cm) and length up to 36 inches (92 cm) to be gate-checked at the aircraft door. Larger strollers must be checked free at the baggage counter before security, while ultra-compact strollers within 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.5 × 15.5 × 9 in) can go in the overhead bin.
Does a lap infant get a diaper bag on Air Canada?
Yes. Air Canada allows one additional standard carry-on / diaper bag for a lap infant's items in the cabin, plus a free checked stroller and car seat.
What is the limit for an Air Canada bassinet?
Air Canada's bulkhead bassinets on Boeing 777, 787 and Airbus A330 flights are for babies weighing under 25 lbs (12 kg) who cannot sit upright unassisted.
Does Air Canada seat children with parents for free?
Yes. Under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations, Air Canada assigns children under 14 adjacent to a parent or guardian at no extra cost (within 1 row for ages 5–11, and directly adjacent for children 4 and under).
Sources
- Air Canada: Travelling with Children & Infants (checked 2026-10-27)
- Air Canada: Carry-On Baggage Policy (checked 2026-10-27)
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