Quick summary
Royal Jordanian roundtrip fares from Montreal (YUL) to Amman run $850–$1,050, saving $200–$400 per person versus identical 787-8 flights from JFK ($1,100–$1,400), Chicago O’Hare ($1,150–$1,450), or Detroit ($1,080–$1,350). US travelers positioning to Montreal on Delta or Air Canada for roughly $140–$160 roundtrip still net $90–$250 in real savings per ticket.
The fare gap stems from lower Canadian airport departure taxes and a favorable USD-to-CAD exchange rate, not from route differences. Savings multiply for couples and families, but West Coast positioning costs above $300 erase the advantage entirely.
US travelers booking Royal Jordanian to Amman are overpaying by $200–$400 per person compared to the same airline, same Boeing 787-8, same route—departing from Montreal instead. YUL-AMM roundtrips price at $850–$1,050 as of February 2026. The identical flight from JFK: $1,100–$1,400. From Chicago O’Hare: $1,150–$1,450. From Detroit: $1,080–$1,350.
The savings are structural, not seasonal. Canadian airport departure taxes run approximately CAD 50–70 versus USD 100+ in US segment-based fees. With the exchange rate at 1 USD = 1.35 CAD, Montreal fares carry a built-in discount that persists year-round. Air Traveler Club’s fare analysis across Royal Jordanian’s five North American gateways confirms the YUL advantage holds across economy and business class for summer 2026 peak travel, the period when Jordan demand—and US gateway pricing—peaks hardest.
The positioning math that makes it work
A roundtrip positioning flight from the US East Coast to Montreal costs $140–$160 on Delta or Air Canada. JFK to YUL takes 1 hour 45 minutes. That $150 investment against a $350 fare gap leaves $200 in your pocket—per person. For a family of four, that’s $800 in net savings on the same aircraft, same service, same destination.
This gateway strategy mirrors the positioning logic our Continental Hop Trick for North America uses to unlock cheaper long-haul fares from West Coast hubs—except here, you’re hopping north instead of west.
| Gateway | RJ Roundtrip Fare (USD) | Positioning Cost RT | Net Savings vs Local |
|---|---|---|---|
| YUL–Montreal | $850–$1,050 | $0 (direct) | Baseline |
| JFK–New York | $1,100–$1,400 | $140 | $110–$250 |
| ORD–Chicago | $1,150–$1,450 | $160 | $90–$240 |
| DTW–Detroit | $1,080–$1,350 | $130 | $100–$220 |
| DFW–Dallas (May 2026) | $1,200+ | $250+ | Negative (–$100) |
The pattern is consistent: East Coast and Midwest travelers save $90–$250 net after positioning. The new Dallas route launching May 2026 with 4x weekly 787-8 service breaks the math—positioning from DFW to YUL runs $250+, wiping out the fare gap.
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Why Canadian taxes create a permanent discount
The fare gap isn’t a pricing glitch. It’s tax architecture. US international departures carry layered segment taxes exceeding $100 per passenger on Middle East routes. Canada’s Airport Improvement Fee at YUL runs CAD 50–70—roughly $37–$52 USD at current exchange rates. That structural difference flows directly into the ticket price.
Royal Jordanian operates 3 weekly Canada departures and 26 weekly US departures from Amman, according to Royal Jordanian’s official gateway information. The carrier uses the same Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (270 seats) on all North American routes. No aircraft downgrade, no service difference, no routing penalty. The only variable is which country’s tax regime applies to your ticket.
Royal Jordanian’s quiet North American expansion
RJ carried 3.7 million passengers in 2024 with JD 11.8 million profit, and is adding Dallas-Fort Worth as its fifth US gateway in May 2026. The airline now operates 29 weekly North American frequencies from Amman—a network density that surprises travelers who think of it as a niche carrier.
The exchange rate amplifies the advantage. At 1 USD = 1.35 CAD, every Canadian-dollar-denominated fee effectively costs Americans 26% less. This isn’t a temporary currency fluctuation—the USD-CAD spread has favored US travelers consistently since 2022.
The Oneworld award seat advantage
Montreal doesn’t just save cash fares. It unlocks Oneworld alliance award availability that US gateways can’t match. During peak summer 2026, when JFK and Chicago show zero award seats on Royal Jordanian, YUL frequently displays 10+ weekly award-eligible departures through American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
The disparity exists because US routes carry heavier paid demand, leaving fewer seats released to partner award programs. Montreal’s lower overall demand means RJ allocates more inventory to Oneworld partners. For travelers sitting on AA or Alaska miles, this is the difference between redeeming at 40,000 miles roundtrip in business class versus seeing “no availability” for the entire summer. Our analysis of US airport savings patterns shows similar award availability gaps on transpacific routes when comparing secondary gateways to congested hubs.
Three scenarios where Montreal positioning fails
The strategy has clear boundaries. Ignoring them turns savings into losses.
- West Coast departures kill the math. Positioning from LAX or SFO to Montreal costs $300+ roundtrip. Against a $350 fare gap, net savings drop to $50 or less—not worth the 5+ hours of additional travel time each way.
- Large families face baggage creep. Delta and Air Canada charge $25–$40 per checked bag on positioning flights. A family of five with two bags each adds $250–$400 in fees, potentially erasing the entire fare advantage. Carry-on-only positioning preserves the savings.
- Separate tickets carry connection risk. Your positioning flight and Royal Jordanian ticket are unrelated reservations. If Delta delays your NYC-YUL flight, Royal Jordanian has zero obligation to rebook you. Build a minimum 4-hour buffer between flights, or arrive in Montreal the night before.
US citizens entering Canada need a valid passport. No visa is required, but an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) costing CAD 7 (~$5 USD) is mandatory if arriving by air on a connecting itinerary that touches Canadian soil. Apply at eta.gc.ca before departure.
How to search and book the routing
Use Google Flights’ multi-city tool to price the full itinerary. Enter Leg 1: your US city to Montreal. Leg 2: Montreal to Amman on Royal Jordanian. Leg 3: Amman to Montreal. Leg 4: Montreal to your US city. Compare the total against a direct booking from your US gateway.
Book the Royal Jordanian legs directly through rj.com for Oneworld earning credit and full change/cancellation protections. Book positioning flights separately on Delta or Air Canada—and consider using Delta SkyMiles or Aeroplan points (5,000–10,000 miles roundtrip) to eliminate the positioning cost entirely, pushing net savings to the full $200–$400 per person.
Pricing searched February 18, 2026. Fares are dynamic and typically valid within a 30-day window. Summer 2026 departures (June–August) show the widest gaps due to peak US demand inflation.
Questions? Answers.
Does Royal Jordanian fly nonstop from Montreal to Amman?
Yes. RJ operates nonstop YUL–AMM service on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same aircraft used on all US routes. Montreal receives 3 weekly departures from Amman.
Do I need a Canadian visa to position through Montreal?
US citizens need a valid passport and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) costing CAD 7 (~$5 USD), applied online at eta.gc.ca. No visa is required. Processing is typically instant.
Can I use frequent flyer miles for the positioning flight?
Yes. Delta SkyMiles or Air Canada Aeroplan awards for US–Montreal run 5,000–10,000 miles roundtrip in economy. Using miles eliminates the $140–$160 positioning cost, making the full $200–$400 fare gap pure savings.
Is Royal Jordanian’s baggage policy the same from Montreal and US cities?
Uniform across all North American gateways: one free checked bag at 23kg in economy, two in business. The policy follows Oneworld standards regardless of departure country. Confirm current allowances at rj.com before booking.
How will the new Dallas route affect this strategy?
Royal Jordanian launches DFW–AMM in May 2026 with 4x weekly 787-8 service. However, DFW fares are projected at $1,200+ roundtrip, and positioning from Dallas to Montreal costs $250+. The net result is a loss of roughly $100 versus booking DFW direct. The Montreal strategy remains strongest for East Coast and Midwest travelers.
What happens if my positioning flight is delayed and I miss the Royal Jordanian departure?
Nothing good. Separate tickets mean Royal Jordanian has no obligation to rebook you. Build a minimum 4-hour buffer between your positioning arrival and RJ departure, or fly to Montreal the night before. Travel insurance covering missed connections on separate tickets is strongly recommended.
