![Best Ways To Book Air Canada Business Class With Points [2024]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Air-Canada-Signature-Class-787-Screen-scaled.jpg "Best Ways To Book Air Canada Business Class With Points [2024]")
Over the years, Air Canada has invested millions of dollars into elevating its premium cabin experience, ranging from its amazing airport lounges to its onboard offerings. As such, it’s built up a positive reputation among travelers for providing a high-quality experience for passengers — especially when flying in a premium cabin.
In this guide, we’re going to show you all the best strategies for booking a ticket in Air Canada’s business with points and miles so it’ll cost just a fraction of what the experience typically would.
We’ll focus most of our attention on the premium U.S. to Canada routes offering lie-flat seats, though we will also outline how to book Air Canada business class on long-haul routes departing from Canada.
Let’s get started!
A Look Inside Air Canada Business Class
Air Canada’s long-haul and premium transcontinental business class experience is collectively referred to as Signature Class.
If you’re flying out of a Canadian airport, you’ll have access to a series of Maple Leaf Lounges that are operated by Air Canada. And if you’ve booked an eligible award ticket, you may be able to access Air Canada’s ultra-exclusive Signature Suite Lounges. And, of course, you’ll receive other benefits like priority boarding and an enhanced baggage allowance with your ticket.
Once you step onto the plane, you’ll find a sleek business class cabin lined with posh reverse-herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat reclines to the fully flat position, has direct aisle access, and boasts plenty of storage.
You’ll enjoy high-quality bedding (including mattress pads), as well as amenity kits, extensive dining menus, great inflight entertainment, and great service.
If you’re traveling solo, we’d highly recommend a window seat for maximum privacy and views. Traveling duos should opt for a pair of seats in the middle.
How To Fly Air Canada Business Class Using Points
Air Canada’s premium business class routes are fairly difficult to book using points. If you’re planning to travel anywhere from a week to 3 months before departure, your chances of getting a business class award seat are slim.
That said, Air Canada makes a healthy amount of international business class award seats available very far in advance, particularly from Montréal (YUL).
You may also encounter last-minute availability (1 to 2 days before departure) from time to time, especially on premium U.S. to Canada routes.
Air Canada does not levy fuel surcharges for U.S. to Canada flights, and flights to Asia have a minimal amount of fuel surcharges. On the other hand, South American and European flights come with around $350 and $450 in fuel surcharges, respectively.
Here are most of Air Canada’s routes to and from the U.S. that offer lie-flat business class seats:
- Honolulu (HNL) – Toronto (YYZ)
- Honolulu (HNL) – Vancouver (YVR)
- Kahului (OGG) – Toronto (YYZ)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ)
- Newark (EWR) – Vancouver (YVR)
- San Francisco (SFO) – Toronto (YYZ)
In addition, 2 transcontinental routes within Canada regularly offer lie-flat business class seats:
- Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL)
- Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ)
Air Canada offers nonstop long-haul flights from Calgary (YYC) to the following destinations:
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- London (LHR)
Air Canada offers nonstop long-haul flights from Montréal (YUL) to the following destinations:
- Athens (ATH)
- Cairo (CAI)
- Bogotá (BOG)
- Brussels (BRU)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- Lyon (LYS)
- Geneva (GVA)
- London (LHR)
- New Delhi (DEL)
- Rome (FCO)
- Paris (CDG)
- São Paulo (GRU)
- Tel Aviv (TLV)
- Tokyo (NRT)
Air Canada offers nonstop long-haul flights from Toronto (YYZ) to the following destinations:
- Amsterdam (AMS)
- Athens (ATH)
- Bogotá (BOG)
- Dubai (DXB)
- Dublin (DUB)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- London (LHR)
- Munich (MUC)
- New Delhi (DEL)
- Rome (FCO)
- Paris (CDG)
- Santiago (SCL)
- São Paulo (GRU)
- Seoul (ICN)
- Tel Aviv (TLV)
- Tokyo (HND)
- Vienna (VIE)
- Zurich (ZRH)
Air Canada offers nonstop long-haul flights from Vancouver (YVR) to the following destinations:
- Auckland (AKL)
- Beijing (PEK)
- Dublin (DUB)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- London (LHR)
- Munich (MUC)
- New Delhi (DEL)
- Seoul (ICN)
- Tokyo (HND)
- Zurich (ZRH)
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, without a doubt, offers the most attractive one-way award prices for flights between the U.S. and Canada. It’s a Star Alliance frequent flyer program, meaning you can book Air Canada flights using Turkish Airlines miles.
And while Turkish Airlines miles are slightly harder to earn without Amex and Chase as transfer partners, getting your hands on an award ticket is still doable.
You can book a one-way flight for great prices, and you won’t have to worry about fuel surcharges because even though any fuel surcharges are passed on to the traveler, Air Canada doesn’t levy fuel surcharges on U.S. to Canada flights to begin with.
Here’s the award chart for one-way Air Canada flights between the U.S. and Canada:
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|
Cabin Class |
Turkish Airlines Miles Cost (One-way) |
Taxes & Fees |
|
Economy |
10,000 |
~$22 |
|
Business |
15,000 |
~$22 |
Being able to book a one-way business class ticket that retails for more than $1,000 in each direction with just 15,000 miles offers incredible value — around 8 cents per point, which is unheard of for regional flights.
Turkish Airlines’ online search engine is very clunky. Unless you’re booking a Turkish Airlines flight, we recommend calling to book an award ticket. You can also book via email, but this can be excruciatingly frustrating to do.
Follow these steps to book your Air Canada business class ticket:
- Go to United’s website and find Saver availability for an Air Canada business class flight.
- Call Turkish Airlines at 800-874-8875 and select option 1.
- Enter your Miles&Smiles number. Select the prompt to book a new reservation.
- Provide the customer service agent your flight information, and confirm the ticket using your Turkish Airlines miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.
Earning Turkish Airlines Miles
Currently, you can earn Turkish Airlines miles through 4 transfer partners: Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Bilt transfers almost instantly, Capital One transfers in up to 24 hours, and Citi transfers in 1 to 2 days, all at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
Recommended Citi ThankYou Rewards Cards
*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.
$960
21.24% – 29.24% Variable
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 21.24% – 29.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Bottom Line: With Turkish Airlines, it’s possible to book a premium transcontinental business class flight for fewer miles than it would cost other travelers to book a short-haul coach flight!
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada’s loyalty program, Aeroplan, has a relatively complicated system for pricing award flights. It uses a hybrid dynamic award pricing system for its own flights, while it uses a hybrid distance-based award pricing system for partner flights.
That’s why in the following table, you’ll see that each distance bracket comes with a range of possible prices for one-way flights:
Something to be aware of while you’re searching for award availability: a Saver award that you find on a partner website like United may not be priced at the lowest possible price in a particular distance bracket.
For example, most Saver awards in business class on Air Canada’s route between Los Angeles (LAX) and Toronto (YYZ) cost 28,000 Aeroplan points, which is not quite the bottom of the 25,000-to-60,000-point range in Aeroplan’s award chart. For reference, the flight distance between Los Angeles and Toronto is approximately 2,175 miles.
Another unique benefit of using Air Canada Aeroplan is that you’ll have much greater access to award availability, meaning you won’t have to search for Saver availability — though you may end up redeeming more points for these flights.
Your total out-of-pocket bill will be around ~$32 in taxes and fees one-way.
Hot Tip: If you’re booking a Business Class Flexible Reward ticket using Aeroplan points, you have the incredible privilege of accessing the Air Canada Signature Suite Lounge. That’s right, there is a way to get into the Signature Suite with points.
Follow these instructions to book your ticket using Aeroplan points:
- Make your way to Air Canada’s homepage.
- In the top-right corner, click Sign in by hovering over the button that says Sign in.
- Log in using your Aeroplan number and password.
- On the homepage’s search box, remember to toggle the slider that says Points.
- Select Round-trip or One-way for the trip, fill in the search box, and click Find.
- Find a suitable flight, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use a credit card to book your Air Canada flight.
Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Amex, Bilt, Capital One, and Chase all transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio within 5 business days. You’ll also get a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
Recommended Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards (Personal)
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$1,200
21.49%-28.49% Variable
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Chase Ultimate Rewards
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$1,200
22.49%-29.49% Variable
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Chase Ultimate Rewards
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Rewards Center
Chase Ultimate Rewards
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health – Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Business Owner? Read our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.
ANA Mileage Club
ANA Mileage Club offers attractive business class pricing, though using this program isn’t quite as attractive for U.S. to Canada flights as it usually is for flights to Africa, Asia, and Europe.
ANA requires round-trip or open-jaw award bookings; no one-way bookings are permitted.
Here’s how much it costs to book a round-trip Air Canada business class ticket between the U.S. and Canada:
Here are the instructions you should be following to book Air Canada business class flights using ANA miles:
- Instead of using ANA’s website to search for award availability, do so on United’s search engine. Look for Saver award tickets.
- Note down all the flight information.
- Visit ANA’s website, click ANA Mileage Club in the top-right corner, and log into your ANA Mileage Club account.
- You’ll be taken to a search page. Enter all of the same information from step 2.
- Perform your search and reconfirm availability.
- Book the flights using ANA miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.
This is what a successful award search looks like with ANA:
Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles
ANA partners with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Points can be transferred from Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio in about 3 business days. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in about 4 business days. When you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to ANA, you’ll earn a bonus of 5,000 additional miles.
Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Learn More(at Amex’s secure site)
Apply With Confidence
Know if you’re approved with no credit score impact
If you’re approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
$1,760
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
American Express Membership Rewards
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Learn More(at Amex’s secure site)
Apply With Confidence
Know if you’re approved with no credit score impact
If you’re approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
$1,420
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
- Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin’ locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges, which may include food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Credit use varies by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
American Express Membership Rewards
Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business cards that earn Membership Rewards.
Bottom Line: One of the underrated benefits of ANA Mileage Club is the fact that it allows award cancellations for just 3,000 miles per ticket. This is in stark contrast with other frequent flyer programs that may charge up to $200 per ticket!
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles offers excellent redemptions rates. In fact, on paper, the rates are better than ANA’s.
LifeMiles are generally easier to earn than ANA miles, and you can often even purchase LifeMiles at a phenomenal rate if you don’t have enough points.
But in practice, using LifeMiles for Air Canada business class tickets is incredibly frustrating — award availability often doesn’t match what’s viewable on United’s website. That, coupled with the steep change fee of $150 per ticket and cancellation fee of $200 per ticket, makes us reconsider whether it’s really the best option to book Air Canada business class.
Here’s how much a one-way Air Canada business class ticket between the U.S. and Canada would cost with LifeMiles:
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|
Cabin Class |
Avianca LifeMiles Cost (One-way) |
Taxes & Fees |
|
Economy |
12,500 |
~$38 |
|
Business |
25,000 |
~$38 |
Here are the steps to book your Air Canada business class flight using LifeMiles. Remember, just because you see availability on a partner’s website like United or Aeroplan doesn’t mean you’ll see the same availability on LifeMiles.
- Do not transfer points to LifeMiles until you’ve confirmed award availability.
- First, start by searching for award availability on United.com. Write down any matching flight details.
- Visit LifeMiles’ homepage.
- Change the site language to English by clicking the circular flag button in the top-right corner and clicking English.
- In the top-right corner, sign in using your LifeMiles Number and Password.
- On the new homepage’s top banner, click Fly.
- Near the top-left of the page, toggle the drop-down menu that says Smart Search and change it to Air Canada.
- Fill out the search box, choose one-way or round-trip, and click Find Flights.
- Select the travel dates.
- Attempt to verify that the flights you see are the same flights from the United.com search.
- After verifying all the flight information matches what you found on United, transfer your points to LifeMiles and book the reservation.
Earning Avianca LifeMiles
The good news is that LifeMiles are easy to earn, thanks to transfer partnerships with American Express, Brex Rewards, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Amex, Brex, Capital One, and Citi all transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in approximately 1 business day with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
Amex, Citi, and Brex also often offer transfer bonuses, which could reduce your award flight cost by an additional 20% to 30%!
Recommended Capital One Miles Cards
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Learn More(at Capital One’s secure site)
$1,350
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Capital One Miles
$1,600
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Capital One Miles
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Learn More(at Capital One’s secure site)
$360
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
Capital One Miles
Bottom Line: Avianca LifeMiles is the best option for Capital One enthusiasts, thanks to the enhanced 1:1 transfer ratio. Just be mindful that LifeMiles doesn’t always have access to the same availability that other partners like United do. Also, remember that LifeMiles has a harsh change fee of $150 and a brutal cancellation fee of $200 per ticket!
United MileagePlus
The last method we’ll talk about is United MileagePlus, a very popular program in the U.S. MileagePlus will waste very little of your time, thanks to a simplistic booking process and powerful search engine.
The mileage prices are more or less in line with the average Star Alliance frequent flyer program, but the convenience of MileagePlus is very valuable.
Here’s how much it will cost to book an Air Canada business class flight between the U.S. and Canada using United miles:
There are no fuel surcharges you’ll be liable for, and redemption prices are reasonable.
Here are the steps you can take to reserve your Air Canada flights using United miles:
- Go to United’s website.
- Check off the box that says Book with Miles in the homepage’s search box.
- Fill in the flight information and click Find flights.
- Scroll through each date in the calendar and confirm your ticket when you find a suitable option.
Earning United MileagePlus Miles
United MileagePlus is transfer partners with Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards points transfer almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 3 business days at a 3:1.1 ratio. And, you’ll get a 5,500-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Also, Chase issues a handful of co-branded United credit cards that earn United miles directly.
Recommended United Cards
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$720
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Limited-time offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$1,080
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$840
21.99% – 28.99% Variable
The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
Learn More(at Chase’s secure site)
$360
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.
$600
21.99%–28.99% Variable
Other Great Options for Booking Air Canada
There are plenty of other ways to book Air Canada business class flights, including EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Asiana Club, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Some of these frequent flyer programs have hard-to-earn miles, while others have unattractive award rates. And a few of them have unintuitive booking processes that require phone calls.
Remember, we focused on flights between the U.S. and Canada. For flights between Canada and the rest of the world, there are undoubtedly going to be different programs that have competitive redemption prices!
Great Air Canada Business Class Redemptions
In total, we covered options for booking Air Canada business class tickets between the U.S. and Canada. Here are our findings (note that the Air Canada prices refer to the Saver-level awards):
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|
Route (Round-trip) |
Turkish Airlines Miles Cost |
Air Canada Points Cost |
ANA Miles Cost |
Avianca LifeMiles Cost |
United Miles Cost |
|
U.S. to Canada |
30,000 + ~$60 |
50,000 to 57,000 + ~$98 |
55,000 + ~$60 |
50,000 + ~$76 |
55,000 + ~$60 |
As you can tell, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles wins by a long shot. Offering one-way business class tickets for a jaw-dropping 15,000 miles, it’s easy to see why this is our undisputed winner. Turkish Airlines miles can be transferred from Bilt, Capital One, or Citi at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.
After that, we’re big fans of Air Canada Aeroplan for its enhanced award availability, as well as offering the only way to get Signature Suite lounge access on an award ticket when booking a Business Class Flexible Reward ticket. Aeroplan is transfer partners with Amex, Capital One, and Chase at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.
ANA is great because if you find round-trip award availability, you can book with peace of mind, knowing that the cancellation fee is just 3,000 miles per ticket. Miles can be transferred from Amex 1:1 or Marriott Bonvoy 3:1.
LifeMiles is the best deal for those amassing Capital One miles due to the 1:1 transfer ratio, but be wary of the inconsistent award availability and the severe change/cancellation fees! Other partners include Amex, Brex, and Citi at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.
United MileagePlus is a solid choice because its online interface is second-to-none; you can take care of your award booking completely online with ease. Transfers can be made 1:1 from Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, or 3:1.1 from Marriott Bonvoy.
Here are some awesome award redemptions you can make with Air Canada:
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ) round-trip in Air Canada business class for 30,000 Turkish Airlines miles
- Newark (EWR) – Vancouver (YVR) one-way in Air Canada business class for 25,000 LifeMiles
- San Francisco (SFO) – Toronto (YYZ) round-trip in Air Canada business class for 58,500 Aeroplan points (includes a Flexible Reward ticket booked on the returning flight with Signature Suite access)
- Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL) one-way in Air Canada business class for 27,500 United miles
- Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ) round-trip in Air Canada business class for 55,000 ANA miles
How To Earn Enough Miles for Air Canada Business Class
There are numerous methods for booking Air Canada business class. Since Air Canada is a Star Alliance airline, you can redeem points from any transferable currency to book business class flights!
Here is the list of transferable currencies and which of the top 5 frequent flyer programs they can transfer to:
- American Express Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Air Canada Aeroplan almost instantly, ANA Mileage Club within 3 business days, and Avianca LifeMiles almost instantly.
- Bilt Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly to Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Miles&Smiles, and United.
- Brex Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly to Avianca LifeMiles.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantly to Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus.
- Citi ThankYou Rewards Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Avianca LifeMiles almost instantly and to Turkish Airlines in 1 to 2 business days.
- Capital One miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, to Avianca LifeMiles almost instantly, and to Turkish Airlines at a 1:1 ratio in around 1 business day.
- Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Air Canada Aeroplan within 5 business days, ANA Mileage Club within 4 business days, Avianca LifeMiles within 1 business day, and Turkish Miles&Smiles. They also transfer to United at a slightly better 3:1.1 ratio within 3 business days.
You should also note that transfer bonuses to LifeMiles of 15% to 30% are offered often, whereas Aeroplan occasionally has transfer bonuses of 15% to 25% and Turkish Airlines has transfer bonuses very rarely. Typically, the transfer bonuses are from Amex, Citi, and Brex (on occasion). A Capital One transfer bonus is very rare, and ANA and United have never had transfer bonuses.
When Should You Search for Award Space
This is highly dependent on the route you’re flying. For example, if you’re booking an international route from Montréal, it shouldn’t be difficult to find availability far in advance, and you’ll need to start searching at least 2 months in advance of departure if you want to book premium transcontinental flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Toronto.
But, you may also find extremely last-minute availability (same-day or a day before departure). The general rule of thumb is to search far in advance for Air Canada business class flights.
We recommend using United to search for award space. If you plan on adhering to a strict flight schedule and are fine with redeeming double or triple the points, give the Air Canada website a shot.
What Makes Air Canada a Great Business Class Redemption
Air Canada is an airline that never blows anyone away, but it provides a good enough impression to make people happy to fly on it again. According to our rankings, it’s also one of the best international business class airlines in the world.
Let’s take a look at the major highlights:
Solid Seats
Air Canada’s hard product is industry-leading. Whether you’re flying on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the 777, you’ll find comfortable lie-flat business class seats in a reverse-herringbone layout.
Each of these seats is wide, spacious, comfortable, technologically advanced, and provides plenty of privacy.
All-around Quality
Beyond the hard product, everything else about the Air Canada business class experience receives high marks.
Whether you’re looking at the expansive wine list, the attention to detail in its catering, the friendly Canadian service, or the comfortable bedding, Air Canada business class is an all-around high-quality product.
Even on regional flights, you might find a mattress pad, complete with a full set of bedding and a wellness amenity kit.
Incredible Business Class Lounge Access on Select Award Tickets
Air Canada’s Signature Suite has made a big splash. These ultra-exclusive spaces are the best lounges in North America, competing on level footing with international first class lounges!
Amenities include plenty of space to relax, à la carte dining service with top-tier food offerings, top-shelf alcohol, and much more.
And if you redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points for a Business Class Flexible Reward ticket, you’re entitled to Signature Suite lounge access!
Check out the price difference between a Saver Reward and a Flexible Reward ticket:
If anything, you can think of the difference in rates as your way to purchase access to the exclusive airport hangout.
Final Thoughts
Air Canada receives high marks all around. Booking a business class ticket, particularly on premium U.S. to Canada routes is especially challenging due to a drought of award availability.
But if you’re willing to book your trip to Canada a bit further in advance than everybody else, you’ll be rewarded with superb redemption value.
With some luck and plenty of advanced planning, you’ll find yourself sitting comfortably in an Air Canada business class seat in no time!
The information regarding the Citi Premier® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants.
The information regarding the Citi Rewards+® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Custom Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
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