A fall trip to Europe just became a lot more interesting. Air Canada Business Class award availability has opened from Montreal to several destinations across France and Switzerland, with nonstop flights available from 50,000 miles each way.
The current award space includes Geneva, Lyon, Paris, and Toulouse, with some of the strongest availability appearing in late October and throughout November. Considering Business Class tickets on these routes can easily cost $2,000 or more when paying cash, this could be an excellent opportunity to put your points and miles to work.
Even better, travelers heading to Toulouse may get to experience one of the newest aircraft in Air Canada’s fleet, while those traveling to the other destinations can still expect lie-flat seats and direct aisle access.
Award availability can disappear quickly, so always confirm that your preferred flight is available before transferring any points.
Air Canada Business Class Deal at a Glance
| Deal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Departure | Montreal (YUL) |
| Destinations | Geneva, Lyon, Paris, Toulouse |
| Airline | Air Canada |
| Cabin | Business Class |
| Lowest Price | 50K miles each way |
| Best Availability | October to November |
| Best Booking Option | ANA Mileage Club |
| Aeroplan Pricing | Approximately 66K to 94K points each way |
| Typical Cash Price | $2,000+ |
| Taxes & Fees | From approximately $60 USD one way |
Where Can You Fly?
This deal provides four very different ways to experience Europe.
You can fly from Montreal to Geneva (GVA) for easy access to Switzerland and the Alps, head directly to Paris (CDG) for a classic European city trip, explore the food and culture of Lyon (LYS), or fly to Toulouse (TLS) in southern France.
The Toulouse option is particularly interesting because Air Canada is operating its new Airbus A321XLR on the route. Lyon is another compelling choice because Air Canada’s Montreal to Lyon service provides a rare nonstop connection between North America and the city.
Here is a quick look at the pricing:
| Route | Aeroplan | ANA Mileage Club |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal to Geneva | 94K points | 50K miles |
| Montreal to Lyon | 66K points | 50K miles |
| Montreal to Paris | 66K points | 50K miles |
| Montreal to Toulouse | 66K points | 50K miles |
For travelers with transferable points, Aeroplan will likely be the easier option despite requiring more points. ANA offers the lowest mileage rate, but there is an important drawback that we’ll cover below.
Fly Air Canada’s New A321XLR to Toulouse
One of the most exciting parts of this deal is the opportunity to fly Air Canada’s new Airbus A321XLR between Montreal and Toulouse.
The aircraft represents a very different approach to transatlantic flying. Instead of a traditional widebody aircraft with two aisles, the A321XLR is a long-range narrowbody designed to efficiently operate thinner international routes.
More importantly for Business Class travelers, Air Canada’s configuration offers one Business Class seat on either side of the aisle, giving every passenger direct aisle access and considerably more privacy.
The seats also feature updated technology, including large 4K entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity.
Some Lyon flights through late October are also scheduled to operate with the A321XLR.
Other flights included in this deal are expected to use Air Canada’s Airbus A330 or Boeing 777. Both feature a 1-2-1 Business Class configuration, meaning every passenger has direct aisle access.
What Is Included in Air Canada Business Class?
This is not simply a larger seat at the front of the aircraft. On these long-haul routes, you’ll receive the full international Air Canada Business Class experience.
That includes a lie-flat Business Class seat, priority boarding, checked baggage, complimentary seat selection, lounge access, Business Class dining, and onboard drinks.
Eligible passengers departing Montreal can also access Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge before the flight.
For an overnight journey across the Atlantic, the lie-flat seat is arguably the most important benefit. Instead of spending the night sitting upright in economy, you can arrive in Europe significantly more rested and ready to start the trip.
Book From Just 50K Miles With ANA Mileage Club
The lowest published rate in this deal comes through ANA Mileage Club, which is pricing these Air Canada Business Class awards at just 50,000 miles each way.
That’s an exceptional rate for a transatlantic Business Class flight.
There is, however, an important catch.
Transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to ANA can take around 48 hours. Award availability is never guaranteed to remain available while you’re waiting for a transfer to complete.
For a deal with limited Business Class award space, that creates a meaningful risk. The 50K rate may be fantastic, but transferring points speculatively could leave you with ANA miles and no available flight to book.
Book Through Air Canada Aeroplan
For many travelers, Air Canada Aeroplan will be the more practical option.
Current pricing varies by destination, with awards starting around:
Montreal to Lyon: 66K Aeroplan points
Montreal to Paris: 66K Aeroplan points
Montreal to Toulouse: 66K Aeroplan points
Montreal to Geneva: 94K Aeroplan points
Aeroplan is a transfer partner of several major transferable currencies, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Rove.
Transfers are generally much faster, making Aeroplan a particularly useful option when bookable award space could disappear at any moment.
There is also a 20% Chase transfer bonus associated with this deal, which can bring a 66K Aeroplan award down to approximately 55,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points each way.
That’s only slightly more than the ANA price while avoiding the potentially lengthy ANA transfer process.
United MileagePlus Is Another Option
These flights can also be booked through United MileagePlus.
United is charging approximately 88,000 miles each way, with rates as low as 80,000 miles for eligible United cardholders.
That’s considerably more than ANA or some Aeroplan redemptions, so United probably wouldn’t be our first choice. However, having multiple ways to book the same award space is always valuable, particularly when you already have United miles available.
United also has a major flexibility advantage: eligible award tickets can generally be changed or canceled without a fee, with the miles redeposited.
Current Air Canada Business Class Availability
The strongest availability is currently concentrated around late October and November.
Montreal to Geneva
YUL to GVA: November 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26
GVA to YUL: October 21, 24-25; November 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27
Montreal to Lyon
YUL to LYS: October 18-20; November 2, 4, 6, 18, 20, 23, 25
LYS to YUL: October 20-21, 27; November 12, 14, 19, 24, 28
Montreal to Paris
YUL to CDG: November 8-9, 13, 22
CDG to YUL: November 9, 11-12, 21, 23-24, 26
Montreal to Toulouse
YUL to TLS: October 22, 25-28, 30; November 1-2, 4, 8-9, 15-18, 20, 22-24, 27, 30
TLS to YUL: October 27; November 4-5, 7, 11-12, 16-19, 23-26, 28
These dates should be treated as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Award inventory changes constantly, sometimes within minutes, so search and confirm availability before transferring points from any transferable rewards program.
Don’t Live in Montreal? Consider a Positioning Flight
Living outside Montreal doesn’t necessarily mean you have to skip this deal.
A separate positioning flight can be a useful strategy when an exceptional international award becomes available from another airport. Travelers from the United States or elsewhere in Canada could potentially book an inexpensive flight to Montreal and begin the Business Class itinerary there.
Just be careful when booking separate tickets.
We prefer building in plenty of time between the positioning flight and the long-haul departure. A delay on a separately booked ticket could cause you to miss the international flight, and the operating airline generally has no obligation to protect you when the flights are on separate reservations.
Depending on your schedule, arriving in Montreal the day before your Air Canada departure may be worth considering.
How to Search With Air Canada Aeroplan
Searching for these awards through Aeroplan is relatively straightforward.
- Sign in to your Aeroplan account on Air Canada’s website.
- Select Book with points.
- Search from Montreal (YUL) to Geneva, Lyon, Paris, or Toulouse.
- Search the dates with reported availability first.
- Filter the results to show Business Class.
- Filter by Air Canada and nonstop flights when necessary.
- Confirm the exact points price and taxes before transferring any rewards.
Once you’ve found the flight you want, you can transfer the required points into Aeroplan and complete the booking.
How to Search Through ANA
The ANA option requires a few additional steps but could save a substantial number of points.
Create or log into your ANA Mileage Club account and navigate to the Flight Awards section. Select the award reservation option, choose Business Class, and search the dates where Air Canada award space is available.
When availability appears, the award should price at approximately 50,000 ANA miles each way.
The challenge is getting the miles into your ANA account quickly enough. With Amex transfers potentially taking around 48 hours, we would carefully consider the risk before moving a large number of Membership Rewards points solely for this redemption.
Remember that transferable credit card points generally cannot be moved back into your credit card account after they have been transferred to an airline program.
Taxes, Fees, Changes & Cancellations
Taxes and fees start at approximately $60 USD one way. Roundtrip fees are around $255 for France and approximately $120 for Geneva, although one-way flights originating in Europe may have higher fees.
Cancellation policies also depend on the program used to make the reservation.
| Program | Changes | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Approx. $75 | Approx. $115 |
| ANA Mileage Club | No change fee | Approx. $20 or 3K miles redeposit |
| United MileagePlus | No change fee | No cancellation fee |
Aeroplan also offers Flexible Rewards at a higher mileage cost for travelers who value greater booking flexibility.
Always review the exact conditions shown during checkout because airline policies and fees can change.
Which Destination Should You Choose?
Paris may be the obvious choice, but this deal becomes much more interesting when you look beyond the French capital.
Lyon is one of France’s great culinary destinations and provides a very different experience from Paris. Toulouse gives you access to southern France and pairs particularly well with the opportunity to experience Air Canada’s newest A321XLR Business Class product.
Then there’s Geneva, which can be an excellent starting point for a broader Switzerland itinerary or a trip into the Alps.
Because each destination is served nonstop from Montreal, you could also consider building an open-jaw itinerary. For example, fly into Toulouse, travel through France by train, and return home from Paris or Lyon when award availability lines up.
Is This Air Canada Business Class Deal Worth Booking?
For travelers planning a fall trip to Europe, this is one of those award opportunities worth investigating quickly.
A 50,000-mile Business Class redemption to Europe is already compelling, but the combination of nonstop flights, lie-flat seats, multiple destinations, reasonable taxes, and Air Canada’s new A321XLR makes the deal even more interesting.
The 66K Aeroplan options to Lyon, Paris, and Toulouse are also strong, particularly for travelers who can take advantage of a transfer bonus. The ability to transfer points to Aeroplan from several major programs makes these awards much easier to access than many highly specialized mileage redemptions.
Best of all, you aren’t limited to the usual European gateways. Paris is available, but so are Lyon and Toulouse, giving you the chance to start your trip somewhere different.
Award availability can change quickly, so start by searching for your preferred dates. Confirm the seats first, compare your booking options, and only then transfer your points.
With the right combination of dates and rewards, your next trip to France or Switzerland could begin in a lie-flat Business Class seat for as little as 50,000 miles each way.
