Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle drew attention the day before the Senate held a hearing this week on airline practices, calling passengers who evade carry-on baggage fees "shoplifters." "These are people that are stealing,

Air Canada said on Wednesday it will start charging for bigger carry-on bags from passengers opting for its lowest-priced basic fare for North America routes starting Jan. 3.

The first carry-on bag costs $35, and the second costs $50. You’ll want to pay for it ahead of time. Customers who arrive at the boarding gate with “ineligible” carry-on items will have to pay $65 for each item. Air Canada will also be making changes to its basic fare seating assignment.

Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year.

Air Canada said on Wednesday it would start charging for bigger carry-on bags from passengers opting for its lowest-priced basic fare for North American routes starting on Jan. 3, drawing immediate condemnation from Ottawa.

Months after WestJet added a controversial ultrabasic ticket that didn’t allow travellers to bring a carry-on bag, Air Canada is following suit by stripping carry-on baggage from its cheapest ticket.

Air Canada will impose carry-on bag fees for basic fare passengers starting Jan. 3, citing rising operational costs. Ottawa criticized the policy, saying it burdens Canadian travelers already grappling with