Air Canada announced new Montreal – Tokyo Narita service this morning operated by a Boeing 787. The flight will be daily during the summer and will operate 3 times a week in winter.

• Montral – Tokyo Narita, 2:05pm – 3:50pm+1, Air Canada AC005
  
• Tokyo Narita – Montral, 5:30pm – 4:30pm, Air Canada AC006

Air Canada Boeing 787, Copyright: modfos / 123RF Stock Photo

The flight is already bookable, and it was loaded at the outset with plenty of award availability. In fact every single day from launch through end of schedule has 2 business class award seats available.

This is, by the way, for both the outbound and for the return flight.

There’s plenty of availability (for even more passengers) in economy as well. Note that this is availability from United.com, it isn’t just there for Air Canada’s own members it’s already showing for partners.

Here are some mileage costs:

• United MileagePlus charges 35,000 miles each way for economy and 75,000 miles each way for business class (Chase transfer partner, generally instant)
  
• Avianca LifeMiles charges 35,000 miles each way for economy and 75,000 miles each way for business class (Frequently sells miles cheap)
  
• ANA Mileage Club charges 50,000 miles roundtrip for economy and 85,000 miles roundtrip for business class (American Express transfer partner, not instant)
  
• Air Canada’s soon to be ex-frequent flyer program Aeroplan charges 37,500 miles each way for economy, 62,500 miles each way for premium economy, and 75,000 miles each way for business class (American Express transfer partner, generally instant)

Frequent flyer programs which add fuel surcharges to redemptions are going to be fine if all you’re doing is booking to Tokyo and back, expect to pay $30 – $35 in fuel surcharges each direction. Destinations beyond Tokyo, in South Asia, will have higher fuel surcharges and make you consider redeeming through programs like United’s and Avianca’s.

(HT: Milesopedia)