Check-In Information
How to Check In
Whichever option you choose, please make sure you have your travel documents as well as your booking reference, Aeroplan number or ticket number handy.
Web and Mobile
Check in from 24 hours before your flight up until the check-in deadline and purchase your travel options.
Print your boarding pass at home or have it sent to your mobile device. If you are departing from Algeria, Cuba or Morocco, you will need to see an airport agent to receive your boarding pass.
Tag any checked bags at an airport kiosk then proceed to Baggage Drop-off.
Airport Self-Serve Kiosk
Check in from 12 hours before your flight up until the check-in deadline and purchase your travel options.
Print your boarding pass and baggage tags.
Tag any checked bags then proceed to Baggage Drop-off.
Services offered during check-in
- Select a standard or Preferred seat
- Indicate the number of bags you are checking in and pay any baggage fees
- Make a same-day change or stand by for an earlier flight (if eligible)
- Request an upgrade using your eUpgrade credits (if eligible)
- Purchase a last minute upgrade (when available)
- Add or change your Aeroplan or other frequent flyer number
- Upload your health documents (for example: vaccination documents, COVID-19 test results)
When to check in with an airport agent
The following customers will need to check in with an airport agent:
- Children travelling with our Unaccompanied Minor service
- Customers requiring medical assistance, the use of a wheelchair or whose reservation contains a special request
- Passengers travelling with a pet in the cabin or the baggage compartment
Check-in and Boarding Times
Flying out of Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to the U.S. or another international destination?
If you have a flight to the U.S. or another international destination that departs before 9 am, please arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to your departure time to allow for longer than normal security and customs processing times.
Before arriving at the airport:
Ensure you have submitted any pre-departure forms and complete a COVID-19 PCR test, if required. You are responsible for ensuring you meet the entry requirements of your destination.
Check-in and baggage drop-off:
To reduce congestion at security and customs, the deadline to check in and drop off checked baggage is 90 minutes before departure for any flight from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to a U.S. or international destination.
If you are checking a bag or have special baggage needs (e.g., pets), please make sure to leave yourself extra time to drop off your baggage and line up for security and customs ahead of this deadline to avoid missing your flight. We are unable to process bags after the cut-off time.
Only have carry-on baggage? Or are you a Priority or Nexus customer? You must still be checked in and in line for security and customs prior to the 90-minute cut-off time, otherwise you will likely miss your flight. Unfortunately, we are unable to make any exceptions.
Security and customs:
Specifically for flights to the U.S. departing before 9 am from Toronto Pearson, and to optimize the flow of customers, we’ve introduced a new queue system for security and customs. After you check in, look for the signage to determine which queue you should enter for your flight.
We apologize in advance for any additional wait times as we work to make your experience at Toronto Pearson as seamless as possible.
It’s important to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight, so you have plenty of time to check in, drop off your bags and go through security screening.
- Check-in deadlines
To avoid delays at the airport, we encourage you to check in from 24 hours prior to departure using your Air Canada App or online. If you prefer to check in at the airport, please arrive well before the check-in deadlines indicated below. - Baggage drop-off
Make sure to arrive well before the baggage drop-off counter closes, as you cannot check bags once the deadlines below have passed. Overweight baggage can take longer to check. Use our checked baggage calculator to determine your free baggage allowance and any fees.
Check-in and boarding gate deadlines
As processing times at the airport are longer than normal due to COVID-19, it’s important to respect the following deadlines for your itinerary. Failure to respect them may result in the reassignment of any reserved seats, the cancellation of reservations, and/or ineligibility for denied boarding compensation.
* If you are travelling to the U.S., you must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prior to departure in Canada. Note the following for early morning departures:
- Pre-board security screening opens at 4:15 at Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) and at 5:00 at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)
- U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is open 4:30 – 20:30 at Toronto-Pearson (YYZ), and 4:30 – 20:00 at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)
** This is the latest you should be at the departure gate, ready for boarding.
*** Arriving after this time may result in reassignment of any reserved seats, the cancellation of reservations, and/or ineligibility for denied boarding compensation.