A recent policy to crack down on the size of carry-on bags is proving unpopular both with travellers and also with Air Canada front-line staff who are tasked with enforcing it.
Photo Credit: Graham Hughes/Canadian Press

Air passengers hostile over carry-on luggage

Air Canada agents are unhappy about having to enforce rules about carry-on luggage and deal with angry and sometimes abusive passengers. It has been a month since the airline launched the crackdown and things may get even worse on Sunday.

If the luggage a passenger wants to carry on board the plane is too big or too heavy, then it must be put in the luggage hold instead. As of Sunday, there will be a new $25-dollar charge for every piece of luggage stowed there.

‘Passengers can be quite aggressive’

“Some passengers have been quite abusive,” says Sheila Fardy, Air Canada service agent and union representative. “Passengers can be quite aggressive and swearing and stuff like that.”

For that reason, many agents don’t want to be assigned the task of enforcing the carry-on rules. The union has asked the airline to only assign employees who are willing to do it. If Air Canada refuses, the union plans to launch a grievance.

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