According to this post on Flyertalk, by Andrew Yiu, a representative of Air Canada, Transport Canada is set to relax the carry-on baggage restrictions on January 20, 2010 which were put in place for flights bound for the US after the December 25th terrorist attack by the underpants bomber!

According to the post, the following will be effective January 20th for flights originating in Canada, with a destination in the United States.

Effective January 20, 2010, Transport Canada will ease the carry-on baggage restrictions for customers traveling to the United States. You are allowed one standard article as defined below:

The maximum size of the standard article is 23cm x 40cm x 55cm with a maximum weight of 22kg.

The definition of standard article is a roller bag or backpack or a briefcase.

In addition to the standard article, you are allowed to bring 1 or more of the following items:

* Small purse
* Coat or outerwear
* Diaper bag, when travelling with an infant
* Duty-free purchases
* Crutches, canes, walkers
* Medical equipment
* Special needs items for customers
* Musical instruments
* Computer bag with laptop and accessories only
* Camera bag with camera and accessories only

The above will be enforced strictly.

Website will be updated shortly with the above but thought you all would welcome the good news!

Carry-on policy remains unchanged for all other destinations:

1 standard article as defined above + 1 personal article.
(http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin.../carry-on.html)

A summary of our checked baggage policy is as follows:

Domestic: 3 bags for Executive Class and 2 bags for Economy Class.

Transborder (including Hawaii): 3 bags for Executive Class and 1 bag for Economy Class (2nd bag fee is CAD $30)

Europe: 3 bags for Executive First and 1 bag for Economy Class (2nd bag fee is CAD $50)

International (except Europe): 3 bags for Executive First and 2 bags for Economy Class.

So effectively, we are nearly back to normal, in regards to the fact that one can bring a small suitcase, and a small breifcase, whereas before, we were able to bring that suitcase, and able to push the size of the briefcase.

It will be interesting to see tomorrow, if we will still have to all undergo the full body pat-down, and crotch grab by CATSA employees or the RCMP, but at least these temporary measures of no carry-ons was indeed temporary. Albeit nearly a month of temporary.

More info should be posted to the Air Canada site shortly, but who knows whether Transport Canada or CATSA will be making a statement, as their ability to share information throughout this ordeal has been absent for the most part!

• Darren Mak's blog