Go to aircanada.com and follow @AirCanada on Twitter for latest travel updates

Highlights

• Save time by checking-in online within 24 hours of departure at aircanada.com or mobile devices
• Stay informed of flight status whether travelling on Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge at aircanada.com/flightnotification
• Arrive early at the airport and consult recommended check-in and cut-off times at aircanada.com/deadlines
• Allow extra time when departing to and from the United States as security wait times may be longer than usual
• Check size and weight allowance when packing at aircanada.com/carryon as carry-on baggage will be screened and tagged
• Ensure all valuables, electronics, documentation, medication, car keys, money, jewelry, cameras, are in their carry-on bags
• Provide contact information including your email address when booking a flight and when checking-in (mobile‎/kiosk/web) in case of travel disruptions
• Remind visiting friends and family that they may need an eTA travel authorization to enter Canada www.aircanada.com/eta
• Canadian citizens must use a Canadian passport for travel to Canada. Dual nationals can no longer use a non-Canadian passport to arrive in Canada.

MONTREAL, Dec. 15, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - With the winter travel season upon us, including the peak holiday travel period between December 15, 2016 and January 8, 2017, Air Canada is offering tips to ensure a smooth travel experience. For the latest operational updates, customers are invited to visit aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter, join Air Canada on Facebook, and sign up for flight notification alerts.

• Stay Informed
  
  Flight status and travel updates online
  Operational news is available in the Daily Travel Outlook under the Fly section at the top of the home page at aircanada.com. This section also contains information on what to expect and do in case of flight disruptions. Before leaving for the airport customers should check the status of their flights on aircanada.com, or on an internet-enabled mobile device at mobile.aircanada.com, or by calling the toll free Air Canada flight status line at 1-888-422-7533; TTY (Hearing Impaired): 1-800-361-8071.
  
  Flight notification
  Air Canada encourages customers to provide contact information including their email address and phone number so that they can receive flight delay and cancellation information directly on their mobile devices or via e-mail. To register or for more information, simply visit: aircanada.com/flightnotification.

• Go Online
  
  Web and mobile check-in
  Air Canada customers can save time by checking-in, selecting/changing their seat, selecting the number of checked baggage and paying any baggage fees within 24 hours of departure time either at aircanada.com or on their mobile devices through mobile.aircanada.com. Customers should also provide their contact information at time of check-in (mobile‎/kiosk/web) to ensure they can easily be reached in case of travel disruptions.
  
  Self-service rebooking tool
  In the event of flight disruptions that may be caused by bad weather, customers are invited to rebook themselves using Air Canada's self-service rebooking tool available at aircanada.com or on their mobile device.
  
  Recommended check-in times
  During peak travel days, Air Canada recommends that customers arrive early at the airport to avoid problems associated with congestion. Information on check-in times is available at: aircanada.com/deadlines.

• Pack Right
  
  Valuables, Medications, Car Keys
  Customers are reminded to ensure that all their valuables, including electronics, documentation, medication, car keys, money, jewelry, cameras, etc., are with them or in their in carry-on bags and NOT in their checked bags. To facilitate security inspection, customers carrying gifts on board the aircraft should keep them unwrapped. Information on checked baggage allowance is available at:http://www.aircanada.com/checked.
  
  Carry-on baggage
  The carry-on baggage allowance is one standard article 23cm x 40cm x 55cm weighing a maximum of 10 kg, and one personal article 16cm x 33cm x 43cm weighing a maximum of 10 kg. More information is available at: aircanada.com/carryon. Airport agents will be screening and tagging carry-on baggage and passengers who exceed their allowance will be required to check their carry-on baggage, and additional checked baggage fees may apply.
  
  Government regulations stipulate customers can only transport in their carry-on baggage a limited amount of liquid, gel and aerosol items: 100ml/100g (3.4 oz) per article or smaller. Larger containers must be placed in checked baggage.
  
  For more information on security measures, please consult the following official web sites:
   - Transport Canada at www.tc.gc.ca 
   - Canadian Air Transport Security Agency (CATSA) www.catsa.gc.ca/home
   - USA Transportation Security Administration at www.tsa.gov
   - British Airports Authorities at www.baa.co.uk
  
  Small lithium battery-powered vehicles not accepted as checked or carry-on baggage
  Small lithium-battery powered vehicles (hoverboards, electric skateboards, airwheels, mini-segways and balance wheels) should be shipped via Air Canada Cargo. Information is available at aircanada.com/cargo.
  
  Personal electronic devices powered by lithium batteries 9laptops, ipads, iphones, etc) and spare batteries must be in carry-on baggage.
  
  Galaxy Note 7 phones are not permitted on board.
  
  Strollers
  Air Canada recommends the use of small, umbrella type strollers as facilities are not designed to accommodate larger, heavy strollers. Collapsible strollers may be checked at the gate and will be delivered to you at the aircraft door at destination. Details of the stroller policy are available at: aircanada.com/infant-child.
  
  Sporting equipment
  Air Canada recommends that customers pre-register their sporting equipment by contacting Air Canada Reservations, Air Canada Vacations or their travel agent up to 24 hours prior to departure. Some sporting equipment is entitled to a waiver of oversize and/or additional piece charges. Details are available at: aircanada.com/excessbaggage.
  
  External and internal name tags
  As external baggage name tags sometimes become detached, Air Canada recommends that passengers also place identification INSIDE their bag.
  
  Duty-free purchases
  Any duty-free items purchased before or during a flight that exceed current Government regulations will be confiscated at security check points unless they are sealed in Security Tamper Evident Bags (STEBs). For more information, please refer to the Canadian Air Transport Security Agency (CATSA) web-site: catsa.gc.ca/duty-free-purchases.

• Travel Documentation
  
  Travelling with children
  Parents travelling with children should ensure they have appropriate documents including a birth certificate showing the name of both parents, legal documents pertaining to custody, or a parental consent letter authorizing travel where the child is travelling alone or with only one parent.
  
  Children travelling outside of Canada with one parent may require legal documentation proving the other parent or guardian's consent that the child may leave the country. Consult the Embassy or Consulate of the countries the child will be visiting and the Department of Global Affairs at 1-800-267-8376 to determine if such documentation is necessary.
  
  Electronic Travel Authorization for Flights to Canada
  Reminder to visiting friends and family from outside Canada that the Government of Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that must be obtained prior to travel. More information is available at:  www.aircanada.com/eta
  
  International travel requirements
  All international travel requires a valid passport and in some cases other documentation, such as visas, in order to enter the country of destination and/or for transiting connection countries including ESTA to enter the US, ETA for Australia, and EVUS for some Chinese passport holders arriving in the US.
  
  The IATA Travel Centre search tool offers details regarding country-specific passport, visa and health entry requirements.
  
  Domestic travel requires government-issued photo identification that includes date of birth and gender for all passengers 18 years of age and older. Government regulations require that the name provided in the flight reservation be exactly the same as it appears in the travel documentation. More information is available at: aircanada.com/traveldocumentation.
  
  Air Canada encourages customers to complete any travel information form ahead of time at aircanada.com.
  
  Travelling to, from, via or over the U.S.
  United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint lines can be longer than normal in spring and summer. The TSA recommends arriving at the airport 2 hours before departure if your flight is in the early morning or evening, when wait times for screening can be up to one hour. Members of Known Traveler Programs, such as Nexus or Global Entry, may experience normal wait times. Learn more
  
  The United States requires that travellers provide additional Secure Flight information at least 72 hours before their flight or at time of booking. Please note that this requirement applies to many international flights which are deemed to over-fly the US. For more information, please consult aircanada.com/secureflight 
  
  Eligible Air Canada customers enjoy the benefits of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's TSA Pre✓™ program which provides accelerated security screening at most U.S. departure airports by allowing customers to keep shoes, belts and light outerwear on, and laptops and liquids in carry-on baggage. Learn more about TSA Pre✓ and how it applies to Air Canada flights.

SOURCE Air Canada