Flying from Vancouver: Key Advantages
Closest to Asia: YVR is 2-3 hours closer to Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong than Toronto — shorter flights and cheaper fares.
US West Coast access: LA, San Francisco, and Seattle are all under 3 hours and often under $200 round trip.
Hawaii gateway: Vancouver offers the cheapest Hawaii flights in Canada at just 6 hours direct.
If you live in Vancouver, you have a geographic advantage that most Canadians don't: you're closer to Asia and the US West Coast than any other major Canadian city. That translates directly into cheaper flights and shorter travel times.
We tracked fares from Vancouver International (YVR) across every major route and compiled the 10 cheapest international destinations you can fly to right now. All prices are round-trip in CAD.
Los Angeles, USA
Airlines: WestJet, Air Canada, Flair, United, Delta, American
Flight time: 2h 45m direct
Cheapest months: January, February, October, November
The cheapest international flight from Vancouver. Six airlines compete on this route which keeps fares incredibly low. Flair regularly drops below $150 round trip for carry-on only fares. Perfect for a long weekend — you can leave Friday after work and be at Santa Monica Beach by dinner.
Search Vancouver → Los Angeles flights →San Francisco, USA
Airlines: Air Canada, WestJet, United, Alaska Airlines
Flight time: 2h 30m direct
Cheapest months: January, February, March, November
Similar distance and pricing to LA but with fewer carriers so deals are slightly less frequent. Alaska Airlines often has the best fares. Great for a tech-and-food weekend trip.
Search Vancouver → San Francisco flights →Seattle, USA
Airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta
Flight time: 0h 55m direct
Cheapest months: Year-round
Under an hour in the air — practically a bus ride. But consider driving or taking the Bolt Bus instead, which can be $30-50 each way. Flying only makes sense if you find ultra-cheap fares or are connecting onwards.
Search Vancouver → Seattle flights →Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Airlines: WestJet, Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines
Flight time: 6h direct
Cheapest months: September, October, November, January
Vancouver is the cheapest Canadian city to fly to Hawaii from — direct flights are only 6 hours. WestJet runs seasonal direct service and their sale fares can dip to $299. The sweet spot is flying in shoulder season when prices drop but weather is still perfect.
Search Vancouver → Honolulu flights →Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Airlines: WestJet, Air Canada, Sunwing, Flair
Flight time: 4h 45m direct
Cheapest months: May, June, September, October, November
Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta is a hugely competitive route with multiple carriers. Shoulder season (May-June, September-November) offers the best balance of price and weather. All-inclusive packages through WestJet Vacations can be outstanding value.
Search Vancouver → Puerto Vallarta flights →Cancún, Mexico
Airlines: WestJet, Air Canada, Sunwing
Flight time: 5h 15m direct
Cheapest months: May, September, October, November
Slightly more expensive than Puerto Vallarta from YVR but still very affordable. Direct flights are seasonal — in winter you may need to connect through Calgary or Toronto. Check both CUN and PVR and pick whichever is cheaper.
Search Vancouver → Cancún flights →Tokyo, Japan
Airlines: Air Canada, ANA, JAL, Zipair
Flight time: 9h 30m direct
Cheapest months: January, February, March, November
Vancouver is Canada's gateway to Asia — it's 2-3 hours closer than Toronto. Zipair (Japan Airlines' budget carrier) launched direct YVR-NRT service with fares starting around $499. This has forced Air Canada and ANA to compete harder. Cherry blossom season (late March-April) sees higher prices.
Search Vancouver → Tokyo flights →Seoul, South Korea
Airlines: Air Canada, Korean Air
Flight time: 10h 30m direct
Cheapest months: January, February, March, November
Korean Air runs daily direct flights and frequently has sales. Seoul is also an excellent connecting hub for Southeast Asia — Korean Air connections to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila can be cheaper than flying direct from Vancouver.
Search Vancouver → Seoul flights →London, United Kingdom
Airlines: Air Canada, British Airways, WestJet
Flight time: 9h 15m direct
Cheapest months: January, February, November
Longer and more expensive than flying from Toronto to London, but still competitive. WestJet's Dreamliner service to Gatwick (LGW) is often cheaper than Heathrow options. If London is flexible, checking Toronto departures may save $100-150.
Search Vancouver → London flights →Sydney, Australia
Airlines: Air Canada (via connecting), Qantas (via connecting), Cathay Pacific (via HKG)
Flight time: 16h+ (1 stop)
Cheapest months: February, March, May, November
No direct flights exist from Vancouver to Sydney, but connecting through Asian hubs (Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo) can offer good value. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is often the cheapest option. Remember: Australia's summer is Canada's winter, so January-February means warm weather at both ends.
Search Vancouver → Sydney flights →Flying from Vancouver?
Search live prices from YVR to any destination. Compare all airlines and find the cheapest fare.
Search Flights from Vancouver →About this guide
Prices reflect typical deal fares seen in 2026 for round-trip flights from Vancouver International (YVR). All prices in CAD. Actual fares change daily. SkyScoutTravel earns a commission when you book through our links at no extra cost to you.