Canadian North lowers checked baggage weight limit

Canadian North is changing its baggage allowance to 50 pounds per bag from 70, starting Feb.1.

ScottWeatherallis a spokesperson for the airline.

"We had to do that as a decision because we have to balance between our cargo and freight and our passengers," said ScottWeatherall, a spokesperson for the airline.

Weatherallsays the change will make it easier for passengers transferring between different airlines.

LeesaSowdluapikis a frequentflierandsays she uses the maximum 70 pounds allowed every time to shop.

"I don't like it becauseeverytimewe go down, we shop for meat and things that we don't get up here, for cheap prices like we don't get up here," she said. "So it is going to have an effect on us that shop down there."

Canadian North passengers with morethan two 50-pound bags can pay $75 or more foradditional bags, up to a limit of three extra bags. Passengers will also be chargedextra if a bag is overweightand there are extra charges for hockey bags.

First Air has not changed its baggage policy. Onjet flights, passengers are permitted to check two bags up to 70pounds each. On turboprop flights, the weight limit is 44 pounds per bag. The charge for excess bags is $75 for the first bag, $100 for the next two. The overweight/oversizecharge is $100.

Air North allows up to two checked bags with a combinedweight limit of 100 pounds on its 737 flights. A single bag may not weigh more than 70 pounds. Additional bags are $30 each and overweight charges are $1.05 per pound.