TravelSkills

News and Tips For Your Trips

Air Canada’s new transpacific partnerships

Air Canada uses a 777-300ER on its Vancouver-Hong Kong route. (Image: Air Canada)

Air Canada uses a 777-300ER on its Vancouver-Hong Kong route. (Image: Air Canada)

Air Canada has created new code-sharing and frequent flyer partnerships with Cathay Pacific and Virgin Australia.

The link with Cathay Pacific is in effect for travel beginning January 19, with tickets going on sale starting January 12. Passengers will be able to book a single ticket for connecting travel and check bags through to their final destination.

Passengers on Air Canada’s carrier’s flights to Hong Kong from Toronto and Vancouver will be able to connect onto code-share flights operated by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon to Manila, Cebu, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Travelers on Cathay’s transpacific service to Vancouver and Toronto will find Cathay’s code on connecting Air Canada service to major cities in Canada.

Members of Air Canada’s Aeroplan and Cathay’s Asia Miles programs will be able to earn and redeem miles on the code-share flights of both airlines, Air Canada said. The two airlines are not global alliance partners; Air Canada belongs to United’s Star Alliance, while Cathay is part of American’s Oneworld.

Cathay will put a new Airbus A350 onto its Hong Kong-Vancouver route this spring. (Image: Airbus)

Cathay will put a new Airbus A350 onto its Hong Kong-Vancouver route this spring. (Image: Airbus)

Cathay Pacific also announced plans to increase frequencies on its Vancouver-Hong Kong route from 14 a week to 17 effective March 28, when it will begin flying an additional three flights a week with a new Airbus A350. The existing double-daily service uses 777-300ERs.

Meanwhile, Air Canada has created a similar agreement with Virgin Australia that should take effect early in 2017 following regulatory approvals.

That agreement will allow passengers on Air Canada’s flights to Sydney and Brisbane to connect with Air Canada code-shared Virgin Australia flights to Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Melbourne and Perth in Australia as well as Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand; and on Virgin service from Sydney to Brisbane and to the Gold Coast; and from Brisbane to Wellington, New Zealand. Travelers on Virgin Australia flights to Los Angeles will see that airline’s code on connecting service via Air Canada to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

Aeroplan members and Virgin’s Velocity members will each be able to earn program credits for flights on the code-share services operated by the other airline. Air Canada said additional loyalty program reciprocal benefits will be announced later.

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

In the market for a new credit card? See our “Credit Card Deals” tab to shop around! It helps us help you!

Don’t miss out! Join the 150,000+ people who read TravelSkills every month! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates!


Print pagePDF pageEmail page
Editorial Disclaimer: This editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program. Responses in the comments section are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.”