North Americans are spoiled with choice when it comes to flying across the Pacific Ocean. Some of the world’s best airlines are based in Asia, and fortunately, many offer direct flights to destinations across Canada and the United States.
What are the best airlines to get you across the Pacific? Which points currencies should you be focusing on? What are the availability patterns like, and how far in advance should you book?
In alphabetical order, let’s look at the 12 top-choice airlines for booking transpacific flights in a lie-flat seat with a reasonable number of points and minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
1. Air Canada
Air Canada serves many Asian hub cities, and it continues to add new routes and restore previously suspended ones. There are direct flights to Bangkok, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Mumbai, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo (Haneda and Narita) from Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver.
With Aeroplan, pricing for most of these flights is subject to the distance-based tiers on the “Between North America and Pacific zones” section of the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart. Destinations in India are subject to the “Between North America and Atlantic zones” section.
For Vancouver-based travellers, a direct flight to Tokyo or Osaka squeezes in at 4,701 miles and 4,942 miles, respectively, which is satisfyingly placed in the first distance band. This means that in theory, a direct flight in business class with Air Canada should cost as few as 55,000 points.
With the exception of the Vancouver–Singapore route, most others fall in the second distance band. In theory, this means that a seat in business class could cost as few as 75,000 points, while the others in the third distance band could cost 87,500 points.
The reality, however, is that you’ll be hard-pressed to find many seats available with these prices. In many cases, booking directly into business class will skew the price threefold or fourfold.
If you have status with Air Canada, one method to work around dynamic pricing is by employing the “Latitude Attitude” and using your Aeroplan Elite Status to your advantage.
By booking in a cheaper economy fare and using eUpgrades to upgrade to business class, it’s sometimes possible to bring the redemption cost back down to a much more palatable level when dynamic pricing is skewed the wrong way.
If you’re able to score business class seats with Air Canada at a reasonable price, you’ll benefit from direct flights to Asia, a consistent hard product, and a familiar soft product.
For some, direct flights take precedence over anything else, and since every single seat on Air Canada flights can be booked with points, you’ll always have options available.
Plus, Aeroplan points are fairly easy to come by, especially with one of the many co-branded credit cards available.
| Credit Card | Best Offer | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Up to 95,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee | Up to 95,000 Aeroplan points | $1,147 | Apply Now |
 85,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee | 85,000 Aeroplan points | $858 | Apply Now |
 Up to 60,000 Aeroplan points† $180 annual fee | Up to 60,000 Aeroplan points† | $842 | Apply Now |
 Up to 80,000 Aeroplan points† $599 annual fee | Up to 80,000 Aeroplan points† | $766 | Apply Now |
 Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† First Year Free | Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† | $683 | Apply Now |
 60,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee | 60,000 Aeroplan points | $634 | Apply Now |
 40,000 Aeroplan points $120 annual fee | 40,000 Aeroplan points | $573 | Apply Now |
 Up to 40,000 Aeroplan points† $139 annual fee | Up to 40,000 Aeroplan points† | $525 | Apply Now |
 Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† First Year Free | Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† | $434 | Apply Now |
 | 10,000 Aeroplan points† | $210 | Apply Now |
2. ANA
ANA has one of the best business class products that you can book with points, and the Japanese carrier should be one of the first places to look if you’d like to treat yourself to a world-class flight experience on your way to Asia.
ANA’s sole Canadian destination is Vancouver, while it also serves Honolulu, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, New York JFK, Chicago, and Washington DC in the US.
In addition, a “wildcard” routing for residents of eastern Canadian cities could be to fly down to Mexico City first, and then hop onboard ANA’s Mexico City–Tokyo Narita daily service. Chilaquiles and chirashizushi in one trip – what’s not to love?
If booking with Aeroplan, both Seattle and Vancouver fall within the first distance band of the “Between North America and Pacific zones” chart.
A seat in business class on either of these routes would cost only 55,000 points, plus a modest amount of around $100 in taxes and fees.
From all other destinations, you can expect to pay 75,000 points for a direct flight in business class. If you’re connecting from other North American cities, be mindful of the distance flown, as it may bump you up to the third tier at 87,500 points.
However, it’s worth noting that there are some ongoing issues with ANA award availability through Aeroplan, so you may need to look to other programs for the time being.
Another great way to book ANA business class, and First Class for that matter, is with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Coming across Flying Club miles is a bit more involved than, say, Aeroplan, but the reward is well worth the effort.
In the US, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a 1:1 transfer partner with Amex US Membership Rewards, with the occasional transfer bonus, as well as Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at the optimal ratio of 60,000 points = 25,000 miles.
A one-way flight between Western North America and Japan prices out at 45,000 miles, and from Eastern North America, 47,500 miles.
Indeed, it doesn’t get much better than this for an excellent product, as long as you can find award space.
In terms of availability, ANA can be somewhat unpredictable. Generally speaking, they release award seats quite reliably at around 355 days prior to departure, but sometimes they’ll also release surprise batches of last-minute availability across all their North American destinations.
If you want to book ANA business class, be sure to search far in advance, consider taking a positioning flight to different airports if need be, and be open to booking something else and then potentially changing to ANA later on.
ANA operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777 aircraft on these routes. For the 777, keep an eye out for the newer planes that offer an outstanding business class product, known as “The Room“.
ANA’s other business class seat designs are cozy and private, while the top-notch Japanese food and highly attentive service will no doubt be the highlights.
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3. Asiana Airlines
If you’re looking to fly to Korea in comfort and style, count Asiana Airlines business class among your options for crossing the Pacific.
The Incheon-based airline doesn’t fly to Canada, but serves a good handful of US destinations, such as Honolulu, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York JFK.
Excluding Honolulu, all US destinations fall within the second distance band of Aeroplan’s “Between North America and Pacific zones” chart. This means that a direct flight will cost 75,000 points in business class, plus a reasonable $74 in taxes and fees.
While it doesn’t leave much wiggle room, you can squeeze in a connection to other Asian hub cities and still remain under the second distance band. For example, flying from Seattle to Bangkok via Seoul will cost only 75,000 points.
Award availability on Asiana tends to be quite favourable, and there are often two or even more seats available on the Seattle and Los Angeles routes at the beginning of the schedule. The New York route is certainly more popular among East Coast travellers, and therefore a little tougher to find space on.
While it may be wise to pick ANA, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, and Japan Airlines over Asiana, if those options aren’t available, then the bibimbap dinner course onboard Asiana Airlines should be something of a treat as well.
It’s worth noting that Asiana and Korean Air are set to merge into a single entity. When this happens, Asiana will become a SkyTeam-member airline, and the availability with Star Alliance loyalty programs may change.
4. Cathay Pacific
Moving away from Aeroplan for a moment and into the domain of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific business class can be a very comfortable way to fly to Asia. This is especially so if you’re looking to travel onwards to further points in South East Asia or beyond.
When booking Cathay Pacific business class flights, the only program with availability these days is Asia Miles. For the past few years, there hasn’t been any award availability for long-haul premium flights provided to other programs, and it’s unclear if this will ever change.
For Canadians, earning Asia Miles is relatively easy, as it’s a transfer partner of Amex Memberships Rewards at a transfer ratio of 1:0.75 and RBC Avion points at a 1:1 ratio. There’s also the Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo for earning miles on daily spending.
In the US, Asia Miles is a transfer partner of Amex US Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles at a 1:1 ratio.
Redeeming Asia Miles for Cathay Pacific flights is subject to a distance-based award chart.
At 6,392 miles, a one-way flight from San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Vancouver to Hong Kong in business class would cost 84,000 miles, while flights from other North American destinations, including Chicago, New York, Toronto, and Boston, price out at 110,000 Asia Miles.
It’s worth noting that the award pricing with Asia Miles isn’t the most competitive. However, it remains the only viable way to book Cathay Pacific business class flights with points for now.
Some reviewers have pointed out that Cathay Pacific business class is slightly overhyped by the airline’s glowing reputation, but overall, the reverse herringbone seating and professional onboard service should make it one of the more enjoyable ways to fly to Asia.
5. China Airlines
As the sole SkyTeam-member airline on this list, China Airlines may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning out a trip to Asia. However, you may want to consider routing through Taipei for your next trip.
In North America, China Airlines flies to Honolulu, New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. From its hub in Taipei, the airline also flies to a number of destinations across Asia.
The most accessible loyalty program for booking China Airlines is Air France KLM Flying Blue.
In Canada, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Flying Blue at a 1:0.75 ratio, and you can also earn miles on daily spending with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard.
In the US, you can transfer from Amex US Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, and you can also earn on daily spending with the Bank of America Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard.
On both sides of the border, you can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at the ideal ratio of 60,000 points = 25,000 miles.
A one-way flight between Vancouver and Taipei comes in at 82,500 Flying Blue miles, plus a very modest $132 (CAD) in taxes and fees.
From Los Angeles, with an option to depart from LAX or ONT, you can fly to Taipei for 94,000 Flying Blue miles, respectively.
Award space tends to be consistent, and you can often find three or four seats available, especially on the West Coast routes.
In terms of an onboard experience, China Airlines operates the Airbus A350-900 and the Boeing 777-300ER on these long-haul routes. In most cases, you should be able to find its flagship business class product with a 1-2-1 configuration.
The airline’s hard product is quite competitive, and the food and service onboard are surely worthy of your consideration.
If you’re planning a trip out to Asia and are running into some roadblocks with other programs, be sure to consider China Airlines as an alternative to the usual suspects.
6. EVA Air
In its North American marketing campaigns, EVA Air’s tagline gets straight to the point: “The Best Link to Cross the Pacific”. Indeed, anyone who has had the pleasure of flying with the Taipei-based airline might be inclined to say that they’re absolutely right.
EVA operates flights to Vancouver and Toronto in Canada, as well as many US hubs: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and New York (JFK). With many options, it should be possible to find flights to Taipei.
When it comes to booking with Aeroplan, all four West Coast cities, as well as Chicago, fall under the second distance band on the “Between North America and Pacific zones” chart, meaning that a one-way flight in business class would cost 75,000 points. Flights from all other cities fall just over 7,500 miles, which increases the cost to 87,500 points.
There’s plenty of room to add a connecting flight to one of EVA Air’s many Asian destinations while still remaining in the third distance band. You could also add a stopover in Taipei for an additional 5,000 Aeroplan points.
Another great option for booking EVA Air flights is with Avianca LifeMiles, which is a 1:1 transfer partner with American Express US Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
LifeMiles also puts on frequent sales, which can be a great way to access the program outside of the United States
A one-way flight from North America to Taipei prices out at 85,000 LifeMiles.
EVA Air operates the Boeing 777 with reverse herringbone seats to most of these destinations, as well as the gorgeous Boeing 787 to others.
Historically, EVA Air has reliably opened up award seats at the beginning of the schedule, but these can be snapped up rather quickly given how popular these seats are among points-savvy travellers.
However, EVA has also historically maintained a good habit of opening up a few unsold seats into the award inventory at around T-5 days before departure. This means you could secure a last-minute seat onboard EVA Air business class even if you didn’t manage to snag one from the outset.
With a gourmet pre-selectable dining menu, swanky amenity kits, and a wide-ranging beverage selection, EVA Air business class is the real winner among this list. Matcha milk tea, anyone?
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7. Japan Airlines
If EVA Air were the “Best Link to Cross the Pacific”, then Japan Airlines comes in as a very close second in business class.
When it comes to booking Japan Airlines on points, it makes sense to use either Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, with the needle likely moving in AAdvantage’s favour in most situations.
You’ll pay 60,000–80,000 Alaska miles for a one-way business class flight on JAL business class, depending on from which city you depart.
With Alaska, you can also build in a free stopover in Tokyo on your way to any other destination; alternatively, you even could position an open-jaw between Tokyo and Osaka and then continue your journey from there.
With American Airlines AAdvantage, you’ll pay 60,000 miles for a one-way flight in business class between North America and Japan.
In Canada, you can access AAdvantage by transferring RBC Avion points at a 1:0.7 ratio. In the US, you can transfer Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, as well as through a number of co-branded credit cards.
On the British Airways Avios side, the more economical journeys will be from the West Coast to Japan, such as paying 92,750 Avios one-way for business class between Vancouver and Tokyo.
In addition to Vancouver as their sole Canadian destination, JAL also serves eight cities in the US out of their twin Tokyo hubs: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Chicago, New York JFK, and Boston. On top of that, they operate a route between Los Angeles and Osaka as well.
Therefore, you have no shortage of backup options if the most convenient choice isn’t available, and JAL tends to be relatively generous with business class space.
As long as you have a small degree of flexibility in terms of dates and gateway airports, award seats should be readily available no matter how far out you’re looking.
On North American flights, you’re most likely to encounter JAL’s flagship business class product: the Apex Suite, which JAL has branded as the “Sky Suite”.
Plus, the airline is rolling out new business class cabins on its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which is something to keep an eye out for.
The window seats on these Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft are some of the most private business class seats in the sky, although as a byproduct they can also feel a little cramped as well.
With the industry-leading Sky Suite hard product, a delectable Japanese onboard meal, and an overwhelming snack menu to boot, the Japan Airlines business class experience is one you’ll likely never forget.
8. Qatar Airways
Doha-based Qatar Airways offers arguably the best business class product in the world with its Qsuites product. If you choose to fly to Asia via Doha, you’ll be sure to arrive feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to conquer your destination.
As a Oneworld airline, you can book Qatar Airways Qsuites with a number of loyalty programs, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
Of these options, arguably the most compelling way to book is with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, which can be thought of as another “flavour” of British Airways Avios.
For example, while you can’t transfer American Express Membership Rewards or RBC Avion directly to Qatar Airways Avios, you can transfer all of these currencies to British Airways Avios.
One the points are in British Airways Avios, you can move them to Qatar Airways Avios from within the program, which happens instantly.
One reason why this is such a compelling way to fly to Asia is that you can fly from any of Qatar Airways’s many North American destinations to Doha in Qsuites, and the onward to Bangkok in First Class for just 95,000 Avios and around $300 (CAD) in taxes and fees.
During your layover in Doha, you’ll also have access to the exquisite Al Safwa First Class Lounge, complete with a jacuzzi and fine dining.
In terms of availability, you’ll definitely want to look for flights well in advance of your intended departure date. As one of the world’s best products, award seats tend to get snapped up quickly.
If you don’t manage to get your flight booked well in advance, be sure to keep an eye out for last-minute availability.
9. Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines needs no introduction – even people who don’t concern themselves with airlines and travel every waking moment are likely to know that it’s one of the best airlines of the world.
Historically, snagging a seat on a long-haul Singapore Airlines flight in business class was limited to its own KrisFlyer program, with some pockets of availability with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. However, that all changed when long-haul flights became available using Aeroplan.
Singapore Airlines operates flights to many US hubs, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newark, and New York JFK.
Luckily, Singapore Airlines releases up to four seats on the North American routes around a year in advance. This includes the world’s longest commercial flight between Singapore and New York JFK, which clocks in at over 18 hours.
Using Aeroplan, flights from North America to Singapore cost 87,500 Aeroplan points, with the option to continue onward to another destination in South East Asia without crossing into the next distance band.
If you’d prefer to book with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles, you’ll have to begin dabbling with US credit cards.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to shell out between 107,000–111,000 miles for the same flights (at the very least), so you may want to consider booking with Aeroplan instead.
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10. Starlux Airlines
One of the more intriguing airlines on this list is the third Taipei-based airline that we recommend: Starlux Airlines.
In 2023, Starlux Airlines announced its first-ever partnership, and it became possible to book flights with Starlux using Alaska miles.
As it stands, the carrier has two US destinations – Los Angeles and San Francisco – as well as a number of other destinations across Asia.
If you’re lucky, you can snag a seat on one of these routes for 75,000 Alaska miles in business class.
However, it’s worth noting that these rates are exceedingly rare, and you’ll likely wind up paying much more (up to 165,000 miles).
Starlux Airlines offers an excellent business class product, so it’s worth keeping a keen eye on availability if you’d like to try out all three Taipei-based carriers to see which one you like the best.
11. Turkish Airlines
Next on this list is Turkish Airlines. With an ever-expanding network and excellent offerings with both its hard and soft products, flying the long way to Asia via Istanbul is a very attractive possibility.
Turkish Airlines offers direct flights to Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, as well as to Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York JFK, Newark, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami. With so many options to choose from, finding award space to Istanbul shouldn’t be difficult at all, as long as you’re flexible with your departure airport and book in advance.
There are a host of destinations in Asia to which Turkish Airlines flies, adding strength to an already strong proposition.
Your best bet for booking Turkish Airlines flights on points is likely Aeroplan.
Flying from hubs in Eastern North America via Istanbul to many destinations in Asia fall within the third distance band on Aeroplan’s “Between North America and Pacific zones” chart. Sticking with Turkish Airlines will cost 87,500 points in business class, with the possibility of adding a stopover in wonderful Istanbul for another 5,000 points.
On most of its routes, Turkish Airlines reliably releases up to four award seats in business class. For routes that are particularly desirable, such as Vancouver–Istanbul, be sure to book as far in advance as possible.
Otherwise, you should be able to find availability from one of its many hubs in North America.
Turkish Airlines is known for its strong soft product onboard its flights. It also boasts one of the world’s finest business class lounges at its hub in Istanbul, so you can be sure that your connection will be very comfortable.
With the introduction of its revamped cabin on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, Turkish Airlines offers an excellent hard product as well.
Be sure to pay attention to the aircraft type when planning your trip, as it’s very possible to book back-to-back flights with a Dreamliner or Airbus A350, which are vastly superior to the relatively dated 777 and A330 products.
12. United
To cap off this list, we look to United, which operates its flagship Polaris business class product on many routes to Asia.
From its hubs in Chicago, Houston, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles, there are direct flights to a number of destinations across Asia.
United flights can be booked with many Star Alliance-member airlines’ loyalty programs. Of these, the most accessible options are with Aeroplan and United MileagePlus.
In Canada and the United States, Aeroplan points are quite easy to come by. Points can be earned through co-branded credit cards and transferrable points programs, such as Amex Canada MR, Amex US MR, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One.
On the other hand, United’s own loyalty program is less accessible, as you can either earn points directly with a co-branded Chase credit card, or by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
Another option is to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles at the optimal ratio of 60,000 points = 30,000 miles, factoring in the bonus with United through the RewardsPlus partnership.
In Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Chicago, as well as in Houston and Washington Dulles, you’ll enjoy an excellent ground experience in the airline’s flagship United Polaris lounges.
Prior to your flight, you can sip on delicious cocktails, dine from an à la carte menu or at a buffet, and freshen up with a shower before heading to board.
Flights to destinations in Asia fall in the second and third distance bands on the “Between North America and Pacific Zones” chart. Depending on your origin and destination, it’ll cost 75,000 or 87,500 points in business class.
If you’re booking with United MileagePlus, expect to pay at least 80,000 MileagePlus miles on routes to Asia, which can skew much higher with variable pricing.
Generally speaking, award availability for United flights to Asia from its major hubs, including San Francisco, Chicago, and Newark, is quite sparse, at least with Aeroplan points. Keep an eye out for last-minute award availability, as United tends to release plenty of seats at the last minute.
United might not offer the most competitive hard or soft products, but it’s still better than what other airlines offer. As long as you fly in its flagship Polaris product, you’ll enjoy a lie-flat seat, decent catering (including ice cream), and a great lounge visit.
When you’re planning a trip to Asia, be sure to look at United for a combination of an excellent ground experience and another way to get across the Pacific in a horizontal position.
Conclusion
For many Asia-bound travellers, a comfortable seat and a good night’s rest are of paramount importance on a 12- to 15-hour flight across the Pacific.
Between the 12 airlines outlined here and each of their numerous North American gateways, you’re almost certain to find a way to redeem your miles for a stylish lie-flat seat on your next trip to Asia.
And if, somehow, you fail to find suitable award space on all 12 options, remember that there are yet more options for flying “the long way around” to Asia via Europe as well!