2027 Northern Summer family trip

[drcam]

Dear people,

My mum and dad are trying to get me to organise a trip for the 3 of us to Eastern Canada (Maritimes) via Asia in summer (June to August) 2027.
We plan to be away for maybe 5-6 weeks in total.
My parents will only travel in J and we will be buying cash fares.
I went to the Masterclass with Alan Lam but I am wondering whether anyone here has any idea of getting the best deal.
If I look on Skyscanner, J revenue fares via Seoul are reasonable to Toronto or Montreal, but if you get a ticket out of Melbourne, it would be more than the sum of return fares to Korea and Korea to Canada!
My mother is not an Australian citizen and we want to avoid having to apply for a US visa, so we are not interested in transferring in the US.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[offshore171]

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cathay via Honkers an option? What's the budget per seat?

Have a look at the search below using sample 2026 dates (2027 won't be searchable now)

Google Flights

www.google.com

 

[drcam]

There is not really a set budget, rather than we are trying to get the best value. An Asian airline is preferred.

 

[offshore171]

There is not really a set budget, rather than we are trying to get the best value. An Asian airline is preferred.

Link above shows a couple of good options:

1 stop from MEL to Toronto via HKG on Cathay Pacfic
2 stop MEL to Toronto via SYD and ICN (Seoul) (Mix of Qantas, Asiana, Air Canada)

Second one involves a 24 hour layover in Seoul which may be a pro or con.

These are showing around the $11KAUD mark return in J. Do either of those fit the bill?

Any other options on the Google Flights link take your fancy?

 

[OZDUCK]

When we went to the Maritimes in 2016 we flew CX (originating in Perth) to Toronto. We were in J and while it was a long flight from Hong Kong to Toronto it went as well as we could really hope for. We drove to the east coast from Quebec City after using trains to get there via Ottawa and Montreal but flew back to Toronto from Halifax on Air Canada - a pretty easy hop even in Y.

 

[elanshin]

I'd consider utilising departures from CGK, MNL, HAN etc and seeing what sorts of prices are available. Other options could be purchasing points and redeeming them directly and immediately when there's solid point sales.

If you use CGK for example you ca. Probably find routing yo Toronto for around 5-6k return and you can probably get to CGK for 4k return

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

The Middle East is still technically Asia. Can do 1 stop to Toronto on any of the ME3.

 

[offshore171]

The Middle East is still technically Asia. Can do 1 stop to Toronto on any of the ME3.

While true, they go the "long way" to North America and prices look to be $16-18K+ for MEL to YYZ

Google Flights

www.google.com

Might make sense from Perth, but doesn't look like a useful option from MEL

 

[Forg]

My very limited experience has me thinking that, to get an idea for what August 2027 will cost for travel, a regular search on August 2026 from now ‘til the end of the year would be helpful. And note when the specials appear, so you know when to look nearing the end of next year.

Prolly a few questions for the parents could be involved … assuming J of course, do they care too much if they go a bit indirect? Are long waits in lounges OK? Do they have preferences not to use bottom-tier airlines like all the CCP ones?

 

[pauldab]

I use VN regularly for SEA travel when I need to fly business and their prices are surprisingly good value so using HAN or HCM as a hub would work too.

 

[drcam]

We will be going from SYD, not MEL.

Seems like JQ J to Korea and then ICN-YYZ might be our preferred option. Hopefully my folks can stomach a daytime flight without a flat bed, but I don't know about the way back.

We want to do a 1 week stopover in Asia (probably Korea and Jeju, as my mum and I haven't been).

 

[offshore171]

We will be going from SYD, not MEL.

You sent us on a wild goose chase with your first post!

Seems like JQ J to Korea and then ICN-YYZ might be our preferred option. Hopefully my folks can stomach a daytime flight without a flat bed, but I don't know about the way back.

Yeah that should be a fairly good solution, but obviously with this being 2 years away, the available options may well change. I do like the idea of a Korea stopover. Do it in both directions if the oldies are not strong travellers. Korea is a great destination in its own right.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I use VN regularly for SEA travel when I need to fly business and their prices are surprisingly good value so using HAN or HCM as a hub would work too.

Haven't done HAN, my thoughts would be to avoid HCMC, unless prepared to pay for fast- track @pauldab and @drcam
Crazy busy!

 

[747sp]

We did the same last year. We went via Boston and drove. If you go to PEI the bridge has a CAD 50 toll one way . The return is free.
Toronto is the easiest place to get too on the east coast. Vancouver obviously is better again and you get domestic flights to Halifax non stop from Vancouver.
Personally , with your criteria I would go to Vancouver and fly domestically to Halifax.

 

[pauldab]

Haven't done HAN, my thoughts would be to avoid HCMC, unless prepared to pay for fast- track @pauldab and @drcam
Crazy busy!

no fast track needed for transfers in SGN or HAN
HAN has fast track immigration lane for business if you're on VN and want to go landside between flights

 

[Flyfrequently]

no fast track needed for transfers in SGN or HAN
HAN has fast track immigration lane for business if you're on VN and want to go landside between flights

I should have clarified if they were to do a stopover @pauldab in SGN

 

[drcam]

T'way does fly to Sydney with their "business saver" angle flat bed, for about $1600 one way. But the reviews are not good.

My folks are in their late 70s and are quite fit for their age (probably in the top quarter but they are not masters athletes). My dad lived and worked in Vancouver for a year back when I was at university, so maybe he might want to visit that place again.