These days, social media is full of travel hacks that promise to make air travel easier, whether those are tips for packing into a carry-on, toys to keep toddlers busy on a long-haul flight, or pillows to beat jet lag. But Instagram and TikTok feeds are not the only places to find innovative ways to improve the flying experience. In fact, Air Canada has a hack for Americans who want to travel internationally with comfort and ease—and not just between the U.S. and the Great White North, but to nearly anywhere on Earth.  

While Air Canada will always be the go-to option for connecting the skies above these North American neighbors, the airline flies far beyond the continent to incredible locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, Mexico, and the Caribbean. American fliers are perfectly situated to take advantage of this extensive global network.

After a quick flight to one of Air Canada’s global hubs (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver), passengers can fly directly to some of the most exciting cities in the world like Tokyo, Milan, Brisbane, Madrid, São Paulo, Bangkok, Delhi, or Seoul. And that’s only a fraction of the places included in the airline’s route map. Name a major city in the world and chances are Air Canada flies there.

It’s not just Air Canada’s many international destinations that make it an appealing option for Americans traveling abroad, it’s the ease with which the airline gets passengers to their final destination and back home again.

The reality is, flying from the United States to an international city thousands of miles away will likely require a connection somewhere along the way. By flying through Canada, on Air Canada, American travelers will get a simpler and more efficient connection close to home that allows them to avoid potentially more congested airports in the U.S.

Here’s how it all works.

First, on their way out, when travelers land in Canada, they don’t have to wait in a long Canadian customs line. After a quick passport check, they are on their way. Also, there is no need to sprint between terminals—or squeeze onto a bus, shuttle, or tram—to make the next flight because all international connections are in the same terminal, under one roof. That means less time worrying about making a flight and more time preparing for a perfect vacation or an important business meeting. To further streamline the travel experience, checked bags are automatically sent to a traveler’s final destination. So, after an easy connection in Canada, travelers (and their bags) are off to nearly anywhere in the world. It’s as simple as that.  

Returning home is just as easy because travelers will pre-clear U.S. customs in Canada. This allows them to skip the lines when they land at an American airport. This one change could save travelers hours in total travel time. It also means that after a long day of flying, their arrival into the U.S. is not a slow-moving customs line that feels like it will never end, but their own home. So, by taking advantage of this hack, American travelers are not just getting a more seamless international travel experience, from takeoff to touchdown, but likely a shorter one too.

This is all to say nothing of the actual flying experience, which, of course, is top-notch thanks to Air Canada’s award-winning service. This year the airline won the Skytrax World Airline Awards for Best Cabin Crew in Canada, Most Family Friendly Airline in North America, and Cleanest Airline in North America.

Air Canada has always been, and will always be, the preeminent way to travel to and within America’s northerly neighbor. For U.S. travelers, though, that’s only part of what the airline can offer them. With Air Canada’s extensive network, Americans can get pretty much anywhere. Of course, traveling through Canada may not be the most obvious way for Americans to reach Europe or Australia, for example, but it just might be one of the easiest. And it might make the airline’s far away destinations not feel that far away after all.

To learn more about Air Canada’s international travel options, click Learn More below.