Maple Relief: Why Canada Is the Smart Way to Book Asia Right Now, With Amex or Chase Points

November 2020
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Save thousands with a different way of booking.

For our Canadian friends, and for Americans willing to make a connection via Canada, we’ve got some great news to share. Whether you’re coming or going (you’d be hard-pressed for a nicer stopover), this survey for Asia-bound travelers was made for you.

Our research team poured through flight data to find you the amazing availability of hidden premium seats—which normally run $4,000 to $8,000—using your miles or Amex or Chase Points.

We focused primarily on nonstop flights from Canada to Asia on Air Canada, All Nippon, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. They’re all in Business Class, as no First Class service is offered between Canada and Asia.

Hot Discount Mileage Award Options

All with taxes under $100 roundtrip, here are the opportunities available right now, that can save you a small fortune in miles when you book at the lowest levels.

Check out the treasure map below to know when and where you can find cheap Business Class awards.

Check out the treasure map below to know when and where you can find cheap Business Class awards.

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Looking for the lowest mileage partners for getting to Asia from Canada? Check out the following chart.

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[["Airline \/ Route","Depart","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Air Canada\nToronto to Tokyo","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Nov.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., <\/span>Feb.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.<\/span>"],["Air Canada\nToronto to Hong Kong","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Sept.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March to Aug.<\/span>","Dec., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, May, Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb., March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">June to Aug.<\/span>"],["Air Canada\nVancouver to Tokyo","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, June,<\/span> July, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., Feb. to April,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May, June<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.,<\/span> April, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June,<\/span> July, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug., Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., to March,<\/span> May, June"],["All Nippon\nVancouver to Tokyo","Nov., Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb. to May, Oct.<\/span>","Feb., April, May, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June, Aug.<\/span>","March, June, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July, Sept.<\/span>","Nov., Dec., Feb., March, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July, Aug., Oct.<\/span>","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May, June, Sept.<\/span>"],["Cathay Pacific\nToronto to Hong Kong","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan., Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">June<\/span>","Jan. to March, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April to June,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">July to Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb, May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">June, July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan, March, May, June, July<\/span>","Jan. to March, June, July, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.<\/span>"],["Cathay Pacific\nVancouver to Hong Kong","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, July, Aug.<\/span>","July, Aug., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept.<\/span>","Feb., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May, Aug.<\/span>","March, May, Aug.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Sept.<\/span>"],["Japan Airlines\nVancouver to Tokyo","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., July, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Jan.,<\/span><span style=\"color: #009966;\"> Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, July<\/span>","Nov., Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">April to June, Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span><span style=\"color: #009966;\"> Feb., April, July,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">April,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Feb., March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, June, Sept.<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; <span style="color: #6699cc;">in <u>blue</u> at least two seats</span>; <span style="color: #009966;">in <u>green</u> at least four seats</span>.</small>
[["<strong>Carrier<\/strong>","<strong>Route<\/strong>","<strong>Mileage Program<\/strong>","<strong>Award Cost<\/strong>"],["Air Canada<br> (Amex Transfer Partner)","Toronto and Vancouver to Tokyo; Toronto to Hong Kong","Air Canada","150,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","All Nippon*","<b>75,000 to 85,000 miles.<\/b>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","LifeMiles","150,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","\u0093Dynamic\u0094 award pricing for partner flights."],["All Nippon<br> (Amex Transfer Partner)","Toronto to Tokyo","All Nippon*","<b>75,000 to 85,000 miles.<\/b>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Air Canada","150,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","LifeMiles","150,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","\u0093Dynamic\u0094 award pricing for partner flights."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Virgin Atlantic","<b>90,000 miles.<\/b>"],["Cathay Pacific <br> (Amex & Chase Transfer Partner)","Vancouver and Toronto to Hong Kong","Cathay Pacific","140,000 (Vancouver)\/170,000 (Tokyo) miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","American","140,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Japan Airlines","110,000 (Vancouver)\/130,000 (Toronto) miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Alaska","100,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Iberia","175,000 (Vancouver)\/250,000 (Tokyo) miles."],["Japan Airlines<br> (Marriott Transfer Partner)","Vancouver to Tokyo","Japan Airlines","100,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","American","120,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Cathay Pacific","122,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Alaska","120,000 miles."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Iberia","150,000 miles."]]
<small>*All Nippon rates are based on low season, slightly higher during regular and high season, more <a href="https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/amc/reference/tukau/award/int/terms.html"><strong>here.</strong></a></small>