I recently had a frustrating experience with Flair Airlines, and I want to share it so others don’t get caught off guard.
Key things to watch out for:
Personal item size is extremely small
They advertise that a personal item is included, but the allowed size is very limited—much smaller than most people expect.
Strict measurement with metal sizer boxes
One is placed at check-in
Another is right before boarding
You must fit your bag inside the metal box perfectly.
No flexibility at all
Even if your bag exceeds the limit by less than an inch, they will not allow it.
High extra charges
If your bag doesn’t fit, you’ll be charged a large fee on the spot.
In my case:
Flight (Toronto → Vancouver): ~$300
Extra charge: $128 for being ~¾ inch over
Pressure situation at boarding
You’re often in a rush with no real option except paying or throwing things away.
Workaround (not ideal)
On my return, I had to:
Take clothes out of my bag
Wear extra layers
Then repack after passing the check
My takeaway:
This feels like a pricing trap—cheap base fares, but strict baggage enforcement leads to extra charges if you’re even slightly off.
Advice to others:
Measure your bag very carefully before flying
Don’t rely on “standard” personal item sizes
Avoid overpacking, even by a small margin
Be prepared to wear extra clothing if needed
Bottom line:
Flair may look cheap upfront, but if you’re not extremely careful, you could end up paying much more than expected.