Booking Star Alliance flights with Aeroplan
 

How can I book flights on other Star Alliance partners using my Aeroplan points? I will be flying Toronto-Tokyo next year and would like to fly Business using my Aeroplan points, if possible. I had originally thought of just ANA, but I realize there are some other Asian airlines that make the trip as well and are part of Star Alliance

How? Either use the Aeroplan website to find you a routing that you can book, or call in. Use the Aeroplan site (or other tools) to figure out the one-way segments that work, and, providing they all fit into a redemption's rules, you can book it through the call center for the $30 fee.

For example, if you read the "mini-RTW" thread, you will note that it is possible to construct a transatlantic routing to Asia, with 2 stopovers and the turnaround point. So you could visit 2 other places, in addition to your final destination on the same redemption. Lots of creative ways of approaching it, and lots of value to be had especially if you're redeeming a "business" reward.

One *big* thing to keep in mind: the Aeroplan computers are not smart enough to recognize that HND and NRT are both airports in the same city.

I have a flight coming up that arrives into HND, and leaves from NRT, that shows up in Aeroplan's computer as a multi-city open-jaw.

Also worth noting that some AC flights are to HND, and others are to NRT, depending on your city of origin.

Finally - and I just got this from a seemingly-very-knowledgeable Aeroplan agent an hour ago - Air Canada have recently and quietly removed most or all of the YQ from flights to Tokyo.

As you know, I heard this from an agent as well as few weeks ago.

On Jan 19, there were various media announcements in Bloomberg, View from the Wing etc.

Here is the ANA Official Chart/Doc. I would conclude AC had no choice.

"Regardless of point of sales for sectors between Canada and Japan, itineraries originating in Canada are as follows:
(For tickets issued on/after December 1, 2015) not applicable"

https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_c...fuelsurcharge/

For nonstop YYZ-TYO, AC will be your only option. If you want to make one stop, and are willing to go through the US, ANA services most of the major US hubs as well as Honolulu. United also flies to Tokyo from all of its US hubs (SFO, IAH, ORD, EWR, DEN) and probably some other cities I haven't thought of. If you want to connect in Asia you can go via Taipei (EVA Air), Seoul or Hong Kong but these aren't very time-efficient options.

Here's the VFTW article:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....6/01/18/44052/

I completely missed this news, but a quick YYZ-HND search shows AC roundtrip is just $105 in taxes, etc. Far better than a painful connection to an ancient United 744!

Does anybody know if this applies if Japan is a stopover or only if Japan is the final destination?

I've just booked a YVR-HKG-TYO-YVR to which it applies.

If Japan is final destination, yes. Otherwise, maybe

HK fuel surcharge is HK$ 0 as of Feb 1, as per HK Civil Aviation Department. This applies only to HK outbound but many airlines (including AC) chose to follow with inbound.

http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/fuel_surcharge.htm

Hey saw this thread pop up and had a question and thought maybe I should ask here. In my experience, TK tickets ticket instantly through Aeroplan. I just got 2 tickets - one ticketed and one did not. Do I need to worry that the one ticket is currently showing "unticketed" in my Aeroplan account? Has anyone had to wait on TK tickets?

Thanks!

I booked one AC/NH routing and one AC/TG/TK routing this week, the former ticketed immediately while the agent told me to expect the latter in a few days.

Thanks for the responses so far.....I had originally thought of ANA (and posted there), but then realized that there were other Star Alliance members that might fit, and I didn't have to limit myself to ANA either. I'm sure it's a common thing for frequent rewards-ticket flyers, but I use my points for a reward ticket just maybe every other year. I've gotten good value (Biz class to or from Europe), but I don't do it often.

Would like to know as well if YQ is also reduced on Japan stopovers, not just as final destinations.

Just did a dummy booking SIN-NRT-YVR and looks like the answer is no. YQ of $246 was quoted.

Just did a YVR-HKG-TYO-YVR and total fees and taxes were $102. Agent mentioned that this was because fees to Japan had been reduced/removed.