✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Don’t confuse this with Philippine Airlines — PAL Airlines here is the Canadian regional carrier (IATA PB, formerly Provincial Airlines), flying Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops around Atlantic and Eastern Canada and feeding into Air Canada’s network. Its baggage rules are Canadian-domestic in style: everyone gets a proper cabin bag and a personal item free, and the only real question is whether your fare includes a checked bag or makes you pay for it.
On the two cheapest fares — Basic and Standard — the first checked bag costs money. Basic is the dearest at roughly CA$40-46 for that first bag; Standard cuts it to about CA$20-23. Move up to Flexible or Freedom and the first checked bag is free (Freedom throws in the second bag free too). So if you know you’re checking a bag, the Standard-plus-bag maths often beats Basic, and Flexible can beat both once you factor the bag in.
Every checked bag on PAL, whatever the fare, is capped at 50 lb (23 kg) and 62 linear inches. Because these are Dash 8 turboprops with modest overhead bins, larger roll-aboards are frequently gate-checked (“sky-checked”) at the aircraft door — handed back on the jet bridge or ramp at arrival — and on the smallest Air Borealis Twin Otter connections you can’t bring a cabin roll-aboard at all, only a personal item. Pack for the aircraft, not the allowance.
Quick facts
| Carrier | Canadian regional (PB) — NOT Philippine Airlines |
| Carry-on bag | 1 piece, max 21 x 9 x 15 in (~53 x 23 x 38 cm) — included on all fares |
| Personal item | 1 small bag, max 16 x 6 x 13 in — included on all fares |
| Checked weight limit | 50 lb (23 kg) per bag, max 62 linear inches |
| Basic fare | First checked bag paid, ~CA$40-46 |
| Standard fare | First checked bag paid, ~CA$20-23 |
| Flexible / Freedom fares | First checked bag FREE (Freedom: 2nd free too) |
| Overweight (50-70 lb) | ~CA$100-115; over 70 lb must ship as cargo |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | One small item — purse, laptop bag or diaper bag — max 16 x 6 x 13 in. Included on every fare. |
| Carry-on bag | One piece, max 21 x 9 x 15 in (~53 x 23 x 38 cm). Included on every fare. On the Dash 8 turboprops, full-size roll-aboards are often gate/sky-checked at the door due to limited bin space. On Air Borealis Twin Otter legs, no cabin roll-aboard is permitted — personal item only. |
Checked baggage & fees
| Basic fare | No free checked bag. First bag ~CA$40-46, second ~CA$80-92. |
| Standard fare | No free checked bag, but cheaper. First bag ~CA$20-23, second ~CA$40-46. |
| Flexible fare | First checked bag FREE. Second bag ~CA$40-46. |
| Freedom fare | First and second checked bags FREE. |
| Weight limit | 50 lb (23 kg) per bag, maximum 62 linear inches (length + width + height). |
| Overweight | Bags 50-70 lb incur ~CA$100-115. Anything over 70 lb cannot be checked and must ship as cargo. |
| 3rd+ bag | ~CA$100-115 per bag on every fare. |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
PAL’s fares are a bag-inclusion ladder, so do the total-price maths, not the headline maths. A Basic fare plus its ~CA$40-46 first-bag fee often lands within a few dollars of the Standard fare that already discounts the bag to ~CA$20-23 — and if you’re checking a bag on a longer or return trip, Flexible (first bag free) can undercut both. Always compare the fare price plus the bag fee side by side before you book, because Basic only wins when you’re travelling carry-on-only.
The connection detail that actually matters: interline with Air Canada. PAL holds an interline agreement with Air Canada, so on a single through-ticket your bag is checked straight to your final destination and you don’t reclaim and re-check at the connection. But the allowance and fees for that journey are set by the itinerary’s governing carrier rules — and if your PAL and Air Canada flights are on separate tickets, that through-check protection generally does not apply: you collect your bag, clear it, and re-check under each airline’s own rules and fees. If your trip connects onto Air Canada, confirm it’s ticketed as one interline itinerary, and check which carrier’s baggage allowance governs before you pay a PAL bag fee you might not owe.
Frequently asked questions
Is PAL Airlines the same as Philippine Airlines?
No. This is PAL Airlines of Canada (IATA code PB, formerly Provincial Airlines), a regional carrier flying Dash 8 turboprops in Atlantic and Eastern Canada. It is completely separate from Philippine Airlines, which is also nicknamed ‘PAL’ but is a different company with different baggage rules.
Does the cheapest PAL Airlines fare include a checked bag?
No. The two cheapest fares, Basic and Standard, charge for the first checked bag — roughly CA$40-46 on Basic and CA$20-23 on Standard. The Flexible and Freedom fares include the first checked bag free (Freedom includes the second free as well). All fares include a carry-on and a personal item.
What is the checked baggage weight limit on PAL Airlines?
50 lb (23 kg) per bag, with a maximum size of 62 linear inches (length + width + height). Bags between 50 and 70 lb incur an overweight fee of about CA$100-115, and anything over 70 lb can’t be checked and must be shipped as cargo.
What carry-on can I bring on PAL Airlines?
One carry-on bag up to 21 x 9 x 15 inches plus one personal item up to 16 x 6 x 13 inches, included on every fare. Note that on the Dash 8 turboprops overhead space is limited, so full-size roll-aboards are frequently gate-checked at the aircraft door and returned on arrival.
How does baggage work when connecting from PAL onto Air Canada?
PAL has an interline agreement with Air Canada, so on a single through-ticket your bag is checked all the way to your final destination without reclaiming it at the connection. On separate tickets that protection usually doesn’t apply — you’d collect and re-check your bag under each airline’s own rules. Confirm your trip is one interline itinerary and check which carrier’s allowance governs.
Can I bring a roll-aboard suitcase into the cabin on PAL's Dash 8?
Sometimes, but not always. The Dash 8 has limited overhead bin space, so larger cabin bags are often ‘sky-checked’ at the aircraft door and handed back at arrival. On the smallest Air Borealis Twin Otter connecting flights, cabin roll-aboards aren’t permitted at all — you may bring only a personal item.
How much are extra or overweight bags on PAL Airlines?
A second checked bag runs about CA$80-92 on Basic, CA$40-46 on Standard and Flexible, and is free on Freedom. A third or additional bag is roughly CA$100-115 on any fare. Overweight bags (50-70 lb) also cost about CA$100-115. Buy allowances at booking to lock the lower prices.
Is PAL Airlines still operating in 2026?
Yes. PAL Airlines is operating in 2026 as a Canadian regional carrier flying Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops across Atlantic and Eastern Canada, partnered with Air Canada through an interline agreement and participating in the Aeroplan program.