Royal Laurel, nonstop

EVA Air’s Royal Laurel is one of the best-reviewed business class cabins flying. It goes nonstop from Vancouver and Toronto to Taipei, so there is no US positioning leg to book.

3 ways to fly Royal Laurel

Taipei is EVA’s hub, so the same seat reaches deep into Asia on one ticket. Move the spend slider to see how long each card takes to earn the points. The highlighted cell is the card you’ve selected.

EVA’s edge: late saver space. EVA Air has a reputation for releasing partner award seats closer to departure than most carriers, sometimes inside two to three weeks, on top of the usual window that opens around 355 days out. Space has tightened in recent years and is never guaranteed, but flexible dates and a willingness to book the moment a seat appears put this within reach, especially when a long-planned award falls through.
Card:
Starting points 60,000 pts
Monthly spend: $5,000/mo
🥟
Taipei, nonstop
Return Royal Laurel business, one passenger · Vancouver or Toronto to Taipei
~$6,500 value

Board in Canada and wake up in Taiwan, no US connection to clear. 🥟 Royal Laurel is the cabin reviewers keep ranking near the top, a flat reverse-herringbone seat with direct aisle access and a footwell you can actually use. Taipei is the night markets, soup dumplings at the Din Tai Fung where it started, and hot springs in the hills a short metro ride from downtown.

Points required · return business class, one passenger 150,000 pts
Starting points (60,000 pts) −60,000 pts
Remaining to earn 90,000 pts
Annual earn at $5,000/mo ~78,000 pts/yr
Time to goal 14 months
Business class cash fare saved ~$6,500+
TD Aeroplan Business
1.3 pts/$1 · 60K bonus
Amex Business Reserve
3 pts/$1 on AC · 90K bonus

~150,000 pts return Royal Laurel business · YVR or YYZ–TPE nonstop on EVA Air, booked through Aeroplan on the partner distance-based chart at roughly 75,000 pts each way from Western Canada. EVA is a Star Alliance partner; Royal Laurel is its 777-300ER business cabin on long-haul routes — confirm aircraft type when booking. EVA partner awards through Aeroplan carry no fuel surcharges; taxes and fees are the only cash cost. Aeroplan partner pricing is distance-based and dynamic; the eastern routing sits in a higher band. Market business fares on this routing run ~$6,000–$8,500 CAD return. Saver space is limited; verify at aircanada.com/aeroplan.

Time to Goal · TD Aeroplan Business
🥟
150,000 pts
🏝
Onward into Southeast Asia
Return business class, one passenger · Canada to Bangkok, Singapore, or Bali via Taipei
~$8,000 value

Taipei is EVA’s hub, so the same Royal Laurel seat carries you deeper into Asia on one ticket. 🏝 Bangkok for the street food and the temples along the river. Singapore for the hawker centres and an airport that is a destination in itself. Bali for the rice terraces and a slower week. One business class fare, one of Asia’s best route networks.

Points required · return business class, one passenger 175,000 pts
Starting points (60,000 pts) −60,000 pts
Remaining to earn 115,000 pts
Annual earn at $5,000/mo ~78,000 pts/yr
Taxes & fees (cash) ~$140
Time to goal 18 months
Business class cash fare saved ~$8,000+
TD Aeroplan Business
1.3 pts/$1 · 60K bonus
Amex Business Reserve
3 pts/$1 on AC · 90K bonus

~175,000 pts return business class · Canada–TPE on EVA Air, connecting to Bangkok, Singapore, or Denpasar on EVA or a Star Alliance partner, booked through Aeroplan on the partner distance-based chart. The longer North America–Southeast Asia distance band costs more points than Taipei alone. EVA partner awards carry no fuel surcharges; taxes and fees are the only cash cost. Market business fares for this routing run ~$7,500–$10,000 CAD return. Saver-level partner space is limited and books up fast. Verify at aircanada.com/aeroplan.

Time to Goal · TD Aeroplan Business
🏝
175,000 pts
🌏
Two Countries, One Ticket
Return business class, one passenger · Canada to Southeast Asia, with a Taipei stopover
~$9,000 value

Aeroplan lets you stop in one city for up to 45 days mid-journey for 5,000 points. 🌏 Fly Royal Laurel to Taipei, stay a month for the night markets and the mountains, then carry on to Bangkok or Singapore on a Star Alliance partner. Two countries on one award, and the long-haul leg is still among the best business class seats flying.

Points required · return business + 45-day stopover 185,000 pts
Starting points (60,000 pts) −60,000 pts
Remaining to earn 125,000 pts
Annual earn at $5,000/mo ~78,000 pts/yr
Time to goal 19 months
Business class cash fare saved ~$9,000+
TD Aeroplan Business
1.3 pts/$1 · 60K bonus
Amex Business Reserve
3 pts/$1 on AC · 90K bonus

~185,000 pts return business class with a Taipei stopover · Canada–TPE (Royal Laurel, EVA)–onward to BKK or SIN on a Star Alliance partner, all on one Aeroplan award. Aeroplan permits one stopover of up to 45 days for an extra 5,000 points on a round-trip partner award. Onward pricing reflects the higher North America–Southeast Asia distance band. EVA partner awards carry no fuel surcharges. Market business fares for this routing run ~$8,500–$11,000 CAD. Stopover and routing rules change; verify at aircanada.com/aeroplan.

Time to Goal · TD Aeroplan Business
🌏
185,000 pts
Annual value by card
Spend is set from the bar above. Select your expected Aeroplan redemption value.
Aeroplan redemption value
TD Aeroplan Visa Business
Annual pts earned
Value at 1.5 cpp
Annual fee−$149
Welcome bonus (year 1)
Year 1 total return
Ongoing net (earn − fee)
Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve
Annual pts earned
Value at 1.5 cpp
Annual fee−$599
Welcome bonus (year 1)
Year 1 total return
Ongoing net (earn − fee)
TD · $149/yr
CategoryRateAnnual
Air Canada ($500/mo)2.0×
Travel, dining, telecom ($2,000/mo)1.5×
Other ($2,500/mo)1.0×
Annual earn
Amex Reserve · $599/yr
CategoryRateAnnual
Air Canada & ACV ($500/mo)3.0×
Hotels & car rentals ($750/mo)2.0×
All other ($3,750/mo)1.25×
Annual earn

TD split: 10% Air Canada direct (2×), 40% travel, dining, telecom & transit (1.5×), 50% general (1×). Amex Reserve split: 10% Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations (3×), 15% hotels and car rentals (2×), 75% everything else (1.25×). Both cards earn Aeroplan points directly — no transfer step required. The earn crossover where Amex’s higher rate covers its $450 fee premium occurs at approximately $10,400/month in total spend.

Side by side

Both cards earn Aeroplan directly on the same Air Canada flights and the same partner redemptions, including EVA. The difference is earn rate, Air Canada perks, and the cost of carrying the card.

TD Aeroplan Visa Business Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve
Fees
Annual fee $149 $599
Supplementary card fee $49 each · first two waived year 1 $199 each · or add a no-fee Aeroplan Business card at $0
Welcome Bonus
Maximum bonus Up to 60,000 pts Up to 90,000 pts
Bonus structure 10K on first purchase + 30K at $15K in 180 days + 20K at $25K in 365 days 65K after $10,500 in first 3 months + 25K after $3,500 in month 13
Earn Rates
Air Canada & Air Canada Vacations 2 pts/$1 3 pts/$1
Hotels & car rentals 1.5 pts/$1 (travel category) 2 pts/$1
Travel, dining, telecom, transit 1.5 pts/$1 1.25 pts/$1 (general rate)
All other purchases 1 pt/$1 1.25 pts/$1
Earn cap (bonus categories) $80,000/yr on bonus-rate categories None stated
Air Canada Perks
Free first checked bag Yes · cardholder and up to 8 on same booking Yes · cardholder and up to 8 on same booking
Maple Leaf Lounge access 1 pass per $10,000 spend · max 4 per year Unlimited · North America · cardholder + one guest
Air Canada Café access Included · North America
Priority Pass membership Complimentary membership · 1,200+ lounges (visit fees apply)
Status Qualifying Miles 1,000 SQM per $20,000 spend · max 25,000/yr 1,000 SQM + 1 SQS per $10,000 spend · 2× faster
Annual companion pass Yes · economy companion at $99 base fare after $25,000 annual spend
Other Perks
NEXUS application fee rebate Up to $100 CAD every 48 months
Avis Preferred Plus Yes Yes
Insurance
Emergency travel medical Up to $2M · first 15 days of trip Up to $5M · first 15 days of trip
Trip cancellation Yes Up to $1,500 per person
Trip interruption Yes Up to $1,500 per person
Flight delay & baggage Yes (9 coverage types) Yes · up to $1,000 for delays of 4+ hours
Learn More Apply Now Learn More

TD earn cap applies to bonus-rate categories combined. Amex companion pass applies to Air Canada economy cash bookings worldwide. Verify current welcome offers, earn rates, and terms directly with TD and American Express before applying.

The companion pass changes the math. After $25,000 in annual card spend (achievable at roughly $2,100/month), the Amex Reserve issues an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass. This lets you add a companion to any Air Canada economy cash booking at a $99 base fare plus taxes. On a transatlantic or transpacific route, that fare difference can be $800–$2,000+ per trip. Used once a year on a meaningful route, the companion pass alone can justify the $450 fee premium over TD.
Status Qualifying Miles: the hidden edge. Both cards help you work toward Aeroplan Elite Status, but Amex earns SQM twice as fast: 1,000 SQM per $10,000 vs TD’s 1,000 SQM per $20,000. At $5,000/month, Amex contributes ~6,000 SQM annually vs TD’s ~3,000. For cardholders who already fly Air Canada and are chasing 25K or 35K status, that gap is significant.

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