Well, 1st-air sometimes lets you know if a routing is via Canada or not.

If the ticket was issued on "Canadian style" airline tickets (which use red carbon paper backing on each coupon) where the coupons aren't stapled togheter, this can be avoided.

From what I know, 1st-air has sales agreements with a number of airlines for certain destinations. But to satisfy some customers who request fares which they don't have sales agreements, they can do those "questionable" and illegal things.

What rogerli's friend should have done is went to an asian travel agent who may have discounts for legitimate business class tickets to Hong Kong.