Japan Airlines is offering free connecting domestic flights to Canadians

September 27, 2024 No Comments

Canadian travellers booking an international flight to Japan with Japan Airlines (JAL) are eligible for a complimentary domestic flight to any destination within Japan.

“This exciting offer represents an opportunity for Canadians to see and experience more of Japan and aligns with JNTO’s strategy of easing tourist concentrations in popular areas as well as attracting visitors to lesser-known regions,” said Yuka Suzuki, executive director of JNTO’s Toronto office.  “This advantage makes it easy for you to explore lesser-known, yet uniquely Japanese places, to experience the local culture and fresh, high-quality food; the snowy peaks of Sapporo, the sand dunes of Tottori, the subtropical islands of Okinawa – these and so many other gems are now more accessible to visitors than ever.”

To be eligible, Canadians must book an international flight and a corresponding domestic flight within the same reservation via JAL’s website. Separate bookings for domestic flights will not be eligible.

JAL’s extensive domestic network services 64 airports across 133 routes, offering access to every part of Japan, including desirable destinations like Okinawa, Tokushima, Niigata, Aomori, and Hokkaido. The offer provides a domestic travel alternative to Japan’s famous Rail Pass, which links the prefectures by high-speed train.

For detailed offer information, visit https://www.jal.co.jp/ar/en/offers/japan-domestic-flights/service/.

These private jet itineraries could cost you almost $200,000

August 16, 2024 No Comments

Remote Lands, the ultra-luxe tour operator offering bespoke travel to 38 countries in Asia, unveils its 2025’s Private Jet Expedition itineraries with long-term partner, the preeminent luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand Aman.

These small-group adventures for up to 18 guests showcase diverse destinations from Morocco to Bhutan, highlighting the regions’ culture, history, cuisine and spirituality with an emphasis on experiences that can only be obtained through Remote Lands’ exclusive access.

Since 2013, Remote Lands and Aman have partnered to provide deep, meaningful jet expeditions unlike any other. Each trip includes accommodations in extraordinary Aman properties, private transport in an Airbus ACJ 319, and immersive, globe-spanning experiences such as a helicopter ride around Mount Everest followed by a Champagne breakfast at 14,000 feet, a hike to Bhutan’s resplendent cliffside Tiger’s Nest monastery, a private yacht excursion through the geological wonder of Phang Nga Bay, and a fashion show at the home of Cambodia’s top fashion designer.

About the itineraries

The highly customized itineraries offer the flexibility for guests to enjoy personalized touring with a private car, driver and guide for each couple or solo traveler, delving deeper into special interests and needs.

Remote Lands’ expert team of travel specialists ensure the once-in-a-lifetime experience is perfectly tailored to the individual, offering thoughtfully curated experiences with extraordinary people in special locations throughout the journey.

The Grandest Tour – April 19 – May 9, 2025 (21 Nights)

Rates start at $188,888 per person, based on double occupancy.

The Grandest Tour returns in 2025 offering guests lodging in six Aman sanctuaries across seven different countries, in just one three-week journey by private jet. Commencing at Aman Tokyo, guests will journey from the ultra-modern city to the ruins of the Classical Era in Greece where there will stay at modern day acropolis, Amanzoe. With stops in between to explore Vietnam’s stunning Vinh Hy Bay, to cruise through Thailand’s UNESCO-protected Phang Nga Bay aboard a yacht and experience a long-life blessing ceremony in Paro, Bhutan, this experience is a global journey of discovery. Guests will also enjoy a special touch down at the iconic Taj Mahal, and, new in 2025, have the chance to spend two nights in the ancient silk road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

Around the World in Three Continents – September 7-27, 2025 (20 nights)

Rates start at $198,888 per person, based on double occupancy.

Spanning three continents, from Asia to Europe and concluding in northern Africa, Around the World in Three Continents is Remote Lands’ most diverse Aman Jet Expedition to date. Travelers will experience dramatic contrast, traveling through cities, deserts, tropical islands and ancient centers of civilization to see the palaces and temples of imperial Kyoto, the souks and medinas of imperial Marrakech, and more. The 20-night journey begins in Kyoto, with stops for relaxation on a private island in the Philippines; exploration of the world’s largest Buddhist temple in Borobudur, Indonesia; a private yacht excursion and dolphin quest in the Maldives; a visit to Al Alam Palace, the official residence of Sultan Qaboos in Oman; a tour of Venice with a private boat, captain and guide; and a sunrise hot air balloon flight at the conclusion in Marrakech, Morocco.

A Mindful and Cultural Journey – October 19 – November 2, 2025 (14 nights)

Rates start at $118,888 per person, based on double occupancy.

Travellers will learn about wellness and mindfulness on a journey through the spiritual heart of Asia to four Buddhist and Hindu influenced countries: Nepal, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka. Hosted by an ordained Zen Master (Dharmacharya), the trip begins in the Himalayas and concludes on the tropical beaches of Sri Lanka. Highlights include a helicopter ride around Mt. Everest followed a Champagne breakfast at 14,000 feet, mindfulness sessions with a spiritual leader, and tiger safaris in Ranthambore National Park in India.

Discover Southeast Asia – November 2-15, 2025 (13 nights)

Rates start at $74,888 per person, based on double occupancy.

Discover Southeast Asia is an in-depth two-week cultural journey through the heart of a compelling and diverse region, taking in ancient civilizations, UNESCO-listed old towns, dramatic coastlines and metropolitan areas. Breaking new ground on Aman Jet Expeditions, guests will stay at the highly-anticipated Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, which is set to open in late 2024, in the exuberant Thailand capital of Bangkok. Guests will see an ethical elephant sanctuary in Laos, a fashion show at the home of Cambodia’s top fashion designer, a Baci ceremony with a Lao Prince, and the ancient Khmer temples of Angkor from a private helicopter tour above Siem Reap, Cambodia, while staying at Amansara, just a stone’s throw away from the UNESCO-listed temples.

For more information, including itineraries and pricing, visit remotelands.com. 

Air Canada offering free wine & beer on North American flights

June 5, 2024 No Comments

Air Canada is introducing premium complimentary snacks, featuring homegrown Canadian favourites, to all customers on all flights.

The airline is also expanding its complimentary beer and wine offering to customers on flights within Canada and the U.S., alongside a selection of $5 spirits, through the end of this year.

Complimentary premium snacks are now offered to Economy customers on all Air Canada flights.

Whether travelling in Canada or across the globe, all customers on all flights can enjoy free sweet or savoury bites, including two Canadian favourites: buttery herb and garlic pretzels from Alberta’s family-owned and female-led TWIGZ, and Quebec-based Leclerc’s Célébration Cookie, a crafted sweet treat made with real milk chocolate and butter.

Free wine & beer on board

Air Canada has also extended its complimentary beer and wine offering to Economy customers flying within Canada and the U.S. just in time for summer, and through to the end of this year.

This adds to the existing complimentary offering in all International Economy and Premium cabins. Beer, wine and spirits remain available for purchase from the Air Canada Bistro menu on Economy flights to and from the Caribbean and Mexico.

Customers will enjoy a curated selection of exceptional beers, French wines, and customer favourite spirits. Featured flavour-forward craft beers include Hop Valley and Creemore Springs Premium Lager, as well as crisp and refreshing Molson Canadian and Coors Light. Two French wines from Paul Mas include a robust red or a fresh, dry white.

For cocktail aficionados, $5 spirits on offer include Baileys Original Irish Cream, Canadian Club rye, Bacardi Superior rum, Bombay Sapphire gin, Smirnoff vodka, Tromba Tequila Blanco, or Campari. There’s something everyone can cheers to with the largest bar offering of any airline in North America.

Additional information on Air Canada’s new drinks and premium snacks, and more, is available at: aircanada.com/bonappetit

Four Seasons Private Jet shows off six more itineraries

May 20, 2024 No Comments

Four Seasons has added another six itineraries to its lineup of 2026 Private Jet Journeys, offering discerning travellers new opportunities to explore the world’s most intriguing destinations.

These immersive itineraries go beyond onboard jet travel and luxury accommodations, encompassing bespoke local experiences from bold culinary to wellness offerings plus cultural and adventure expeditions. Delivered by a dedicated concierge, journey team, and local experts, these transformative travel experiences are designed to inspire.

African Wonders – December 29, 2025 to January 10, 2026 (13 Days) 
Set off on a family-friendly journey that combines some of the most interesting destinations in the region featuring majestic wildlife experiences, historical treasures, and natural wonders. Locations include Athens, The Pyramids, Serengeti, Mauritius, Rwanda, Victoria Falls, and Johannesburg. Price: USD 159,000 per person

Asia Unveiled – January 14 to 29, 2026 and March 28 to April 12, 2026 (16 Days)
Discover seven timeless destinations in Asia, starting with Japan’s eclectic capital and journey through ancient world wonders, dynamic cities, and idyllic islands. Locations include Tokyo, Bali, Angkor Wat, Hoi An, Bhutan, Maldives, and Bangkok. Pre/post trip stay options in Kyoto and Thailand are available to guests wishing to extend their trip. Price: USD 159,000 per person

Timeless Encounters – February 2 to 23, 2026 (22 Days)
Experience an around-the-world favourite featuring nature havens, city escapes, and a day stop at the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s iconic wonders. Locations include Kona, Bora Bora, Sydney, Bali, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, Taj Mahal, Dubai, Prague, and London. Price: USD 224,000 per person

Ancient Explorer – March 4 to 26, 2026 (23 Days)
Experience an around-the-world adventure across legendary wonders of the world, featuring stops in UNESCO Heritage Sites along the way. Locations: Miami, Mexico City, Easter Island, Bora Bora, Great Barrier Reef, Bangkok, Amman and the Lost City of Petra, Taormina, and Madrid. Price: USD 229,000 per person

International Intrigue – April 14 to May 04, 2026 (21 Days)
This around-the-world journey deserves a spot on everyone’s wish list, offering the perfect balance of remote island paradises, vibrant cultural capitals, and the vast African savannah. Locations include Seattle, Kyoto, Hoi An, Maldives, Serengeti, Marrakech, Florence, and Paris. Price: USD 219,000 per person

To find out more and to start planning a Four Seasons Private Jet Experience, click here or email the jet experience team.

Air Canada just added extra summer flights to Asia and Europe

April 24, 2024 No Comments

Air Canada customers have a wide range of exciting options across Europe and Asia this summer, along with a choice of 120 destinations in North America, to fulfill their summer travel plans.

Alongside new and enhanced international routes to Singapore, Madrid, Stockholm, Osaka and Seoul, the carrier’s Summer 2024 international capacity is growing by 30 per cent into Asia-Pacific and 25 per cent to key leisure destinations in Southern Europe compared to last summer.

Air Canada’s Atlantic schedule will provide the most non-stop service between Canada and Europe of any carrier. From Montreal and Toronto, Air Canada is launching new non-stop routes to Stockholm, and will increase frequencies to Rome and Athens. From Montreal, the carrier will also launch year-round service to Madrid, increase flights to Paris to up to three-times daily during the summer peak, and restore service to Lyon.

From Toronto, service will increase to Copenhagen and will commence Edinburgh and Brussels earlier in the season.

A gateway to the Pacific

Across the Pacific, Air Canada continues to build its Vancouver hub as the gateway to the Pacific.  

The carrier recently started year-round service to Singapore from Vancouver, and will increase capacity to Hong Kong, Osaka and Seoul. On the East Coast, the airline is excited to start seasonal service from Toronto to Osaka and increase capacity to Tokyo, while from Montreal, Air Canada will begin seasonal service to Seoul, complementing enhanced capacity to Tokyo.

In North America, new routes will be offered from Toronto and Montreal to Tulum, from Toronto to Charleston, and from Montreal to St. Louis, Austin and New Orleans. Within Canada, Ottawa–Calgary and Halifax–Vancouver flights will resume, and there will be frequency or capacity increases, including between Toronto and Saskatoon, Regina, Victoria, Sydney and Gander, as well as between Montreal and Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria, Edmonton, Moncton, Fredericton and Deer Lake.  

Air Canada is increasing its international network capacity by 8 per cent for summer 2024 compared to summer 2023. The airline is also boosting service to North America, with an increase of four per cent in available daily seats in 2024, with 518 flights to 120 destinations.

 

Four Seasons private jet is offering exclusive bookings

April 5, 2024 No Comments

Four Seasons has announced that its Four Seasons Private Jet Experience is available for private bookings, for a limited time, for your desired trip length between Aug. 4 to 26 and Dec. 20 to 27, 2024 only.

Complete booking of the Four Seasons Private Jet for up to 48 guests staffed by 10 crew members is priced at approximately USD 115,000 per day, inclusive of all Four Seasons Private Jet flights and onboard services, including all meals, as well as airport services where applicable.

 

What's included

Ground transfers, overnight accommodations, on-location meals, tours, and tickets can be arranged at an additional cost through the Four Seasons Guest Experience Team, or at the party’s own discretion.

The Four Seasons Private Jet is a custom-designed Airbus A321neoLR that hosts the Four Seasons Private Jet Experience – an ongoing series of regional and round-the-world itineraries featuring flexible options for on-the-ground activities and tours, with accommodations at Four Seasons hotels and resorts, as well as carefully chosen boutique accommodations in remote destinations where there is no Four Seasons.

  • Features 48 custom-designed, spacious leather flatbed seats; each guest is provided with a personal iPad loaded with the latest entertainment as well as Bose headphones

  • Includes the Lounge in the Sky social gathering space, extra-large lavatories with full-length mirrors, and global Wi-Fi availability

  • An in-flight executive chef brings the culinary world of Four Seasons to the jet, inspired by destinations on the journey and customized to guest preferences

  • Serviced by ten in-flight crew members including three pilots, one engineer, and six cabin crew, with options to add an onboard physician, tour manager, or more cabin crew at additional cost

  • Incorporates the most up-to-date, hospital-grade air filtration system that renews the cabin air every two to three minutes and removes 99.9 percent of particles, viruses and bacteria

For inquiries, contact [email protected]

 

Cayman Islands answers Canadian demand with more flights

March 4, 2024 No Comments

As travel continues to rebound following the pandemic, the Cayman Islands continues to steadily climb back to 2019’s arrival levels and market share.

Last year the destination saw record-breaking arrivals including the destination’s best Q1 and best ever March on record for Canadian visitation.

The steady increase in Canadian visitation has also led to an increase in airlift to five non-stop flights a week to Grand Cayman thanks to augmented summer schedules.

More flights from Air Canada & WestJet

The heightened demand for Canadian travel to The Cayman Islands has resulted in boosted flight frequency by both Air Canada and WestJet.

Both airlines will increase the number of non-stop flights from Toronto to Grand Cayman to a combined seven a week from March to April 2024 and up to five a week through the summer.

Combined, Air Canada and WestJet will offer up to seven non-stop flights per week from Toronto to Grand Cayman in March and April.

An increased summer schedule will see up to five non-stop flights per week from Toronto to Grand Cayman on Air Canada and WestJet.

Last year, visits from Canada were 44 per cent higher than those from January to December 2022 and for the first time in a year, more than 4,000 Canadian visitors were welcomed in three months (February, March and December). Three of the best 10 performing months for Canadian visitation in recorded history were in 2023.

Canadian arrivals in December 2023 totalled 4,125, up 7.8 per cent from December 2019. Canada represented an 8.3 per cent share of total stayover arrivals in December 2023, compared to 7.1 per cent in December 2019.

In 2023, the destination welcomed a total of 429,284 stay-over visitors.

You can now fly directly to Osaka, Japan from Toronto

February 7, 2024 No Comments

Air Canada has unveiled a new seasonal, direct service between Toronto and Osaka.

Flights between Pearson International Airport and Kansai International Airport will run three times a week from June 17 to Oct. 25, 2024, onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Paired with increased frequency on their popular Vancouver-Osaka flight, this will more than double Air Canada’s capacity to Osaka, compared to the previous summer.

Direct service to Japan

Japan continues to be an expanding market for the airline, which has steadily increased both their capacity and number of direct routes to accommodate the demand.

During peak summer season this year, Air Canada will offer more than 12,000 seats a week between Canada and Japan, resulting in an overall capacity increase of approximately 20 per cent compared with last summer.

Air Canada currently runs direct flights between:

  • Toronto-Osaka (KIX) *Seasonal
  • Toronto-Tokyo (HND)
  • Toronto-Tokyo (NRT)
  • Montreal-Tokyo (NRT)
  • Vancouver-Osaka (KIX) *Seasonal
  • Vancouver-Tokyo (NRT)

A vibrant city

Thanks to its continual growth and development, Japan is now more accessible than ever for Canadian tourists, opening a direct gateway for visitors to experience the land of the rising sun for themselves.

Osaka is a vibrant city best known for its food, fun and nightlife.  A convenient 30-minute train ride from Kansai International Airport, it is a gateway not only to the Kansai region but to the rest of Western Japan, with convenient access to the many attractions in Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki and beyond.

Canadian airline adds summer flights to Stockholm

November 1, 2023 No Comments

Air Canada is expanding its presence in Scandinavia with new summer seasonal flights to Stockholm.

Three weekly flights from Montreal and two weekly flights from Toronto will begin June 12, 2024. The airline will also be increasing capacity on its year-round Copenhagen flights from Toronto with daily flights beginning May 1, 2024 until Oct. 31, and will resume seasonal flights from Montreal earlier on May 2, 2024, increasing up to five weekly flights in June.

Air Canada first launched service to Scandinavia in 2010 with flights from Toronto to Copenhagen. In 2023, the airline expanded its presence in Copenhagen with the addition of new flights from Montreal to Copenhagen.

Air Canada plans to operate 100 per cent of its peak summer 2019 trans-Atlantic capacity next year, taking full advantage of the robust recovery in its largest international market.

Flights will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

Seats are available for purchase now at aircanada.com, via the Air Canada App, Air Canada’s Contact Centres, and travel agents.

This Canadian airline is now offering direct flights to Lima, Peru

August 14, 2023 No Comments

Air Transat will offer exclusive direct flights to Lima, Peru, from both Montreal and Toronto this winter.

This program expansion will create a new gateway to South America for fans of gastronomy, history and breathtaking natural sites, in addition to the flights already offered to Colombia.

Recently, the company also announced that it will be relaunching its route between Montreal and the tropical island of Cozumel, Mexico.

Toronto departures

Toronto–Lima flights will be operated twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from December 20 to April 24; in addition, Montreal–Lima flights will be operated once weekly, on Fridays, from December 22 to April 26.

Montreal–Cozumel flights will be operated once weekly, on Fridays, from December 15 to April 26. It should also be noted that Transat offers all-inclusive packages to Cozumel at select hotel partners.

These flights will be operated with new generation Airbus A321LR aircraft featuring spacious cabins, state-of-the-art in-seat entertainment systems and the lowest fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and NOx) in their class.