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Our family’s first-ever visit to Japan (Osaka, Nara, and Tokyo; full recap coming soon!) coincided with our first foray into the overseas budget-airline niche market. Zipair, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, had just introduced a route from San Jose International Airport to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, with unbeatable promotional fares as low as $420 roundtrip for adults, and $200 for my kid!
The catch?
This base fare—essentially a pared-down basic economy—covers nothing more than your seat. You’re expected to pay for everything else a la carte: checked bags, food, blankets, movies, playback devices, and yes, even water. I was surprised they didn’t charge us to use the bathroom…
While my family hadn’t had much luck with budget airlines in the past, we decided to give this one a try. Japan is widely known to produce quality products with impeccable service, so we trusted that a Japanese airline could make even a budget long-haul a pleasant experience, and we were not disappointed.
Read on to learn about our Zipair experience and find out why you might consider flying a budget airline on your family’s next visit to Tokyo.
Click to jump ahead to
About Zipair
Zipair is a subsidiary of Japan Airlines that launched in 2019, but which, due partially to the COVID-19 pandemic, only began shuttling passengers to and from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport in late-2020. So it still feels a bit novel and has a lot of room to grow.
The airline offers budget fares and currently operates U.S. routes through Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Jose, with a San Francisco route that launched summer 2023.
The World Airline Awards names it 6th among the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airlines of 2022, but customer reviews here and on TripAdvisor range from horrible to amazing, so you’ll have to be the judge!
COSTS TO CONSIDER
All prices listed in USD
- Airfare: $650+/adult, less for children age 0-6
- Checked bag fee: $30+/bag
In-Flight Add-Ons
- Meals: ~$10
- Drinks: ~$2-$6
- Snacks: ~$3+
- Blankets, slippers, eye masks: ~$20
Factors to Consider When Booking a Flight on Zipair
Ticket Prices Are the Lowest of the Low
As mentioned above, we scored direct flights from San Jose to Narita for under $500 each for the adults and even less for my five-year-old. I was even eyeing business class lie-flat seats, which were offered at the unheard-of rate of $1,000. Unfortunately, we couldn’t follow through with my wish since Zipair doesn’t allow children under 8 years of age to sit in their business class seats.
Traveling during the winter season, and on a new route, also helped drive down the cost of our fares. Even so, when looking at last-minute flights for tourist-heavy cherry blossom season, roundtrip flights on Zipair still cost $400 less than the next-cheapest airlines at the time of this writing.
Kid-Friendly Fares & Perks
One of the biggest pluses I’ll give Zipair is that they offer reduced fares for children ages 0-6 and allow you to choose seats together free of charge! This means it doesn’t cost you extra to ensure you and your child are sitting next to one another. I chose a window and middle seat for my child and myself at the front of our section.
Zipair seems to be ahead of the curve when compared to other airlines who are only just now providing added flexibility to their passengers with young children.
You Get What You Pay For, i.e., Nothing
It took a bit of Googling and researching Zipair’s website to understand what was included in our fare. At the end of the day, go in with no expectations. Nothing is included except your seat. I saw our flight attendants tell more than one passenger that even water has a price onboard, so plan accordingly.
In addition, I’d recommend doing a side-by-side comparison of the non-negotiable amenities you’re expecting on a flight. Depending on how you like to travel, it might make financial sense to go with a more traditional and comprehensive airline ticket.
You Pay Only for What You Use
One of my life’s values is to reduce waste, and Zipair’s model fits in perfectly with that. By not providing the same freebies that other airlines do, Zipair forces me to be intentional about what I use, otherwise I agree to pay for it!
For example, if you or your kid don’t enjoy airplane food, you can bring your own, and you don’t have to feel the guilt of “wasting” your provided inflight hot meal.
That’s not to say I don’t recommend the inflight food, because Zipair does provide some decent food options. You’re paying for the convenience of having a hot meal waiting for you on the plane, which for some is worth the money.
I did miss having a free checked bag and a blanket since it was chilly onboard. Instead, we used the coats we had already planned to bring for our winter trip. But it still felt weird to watch the flight attendants pass out prepaid items to some passengers and skip over our seats because we did not pay for extras. That’s how they get ya—stay strong!
Beware of Strict Baggage Requirements
Based on my research on reddit, Zipair can be pretty stringent about the weight of carry-ons and checked bags. If you can travel really light, then you can save a great deal of money.
Traveling as a group of four, we assumed we’d have to purchase at least a couple checked bags for the trip and factored that into our cost ahead of time. Between three adults and a little one, we were able to consolidate our belongings into two checked bags (23kg each for $120 total), and the combined weight of our carry-on and personal items to 7kg per person.
You might be able to sneak by with a couple extra kilos in your personal items, but they did weigh our carry-ons at check-in when we departed from Narita, so that’s a consideration.
Unlike some other airlines, Zipair allows carseats and strollers to fly free with kids six-and-under.
BYO or Order Food A La Carte
on Your Own Time
Since we boarded our flight knowing we’d be charged for food and drinks, we made preparations to bring snacks, on-the-go-meals, and multiple bottles of water in our carry-ons to last us through the 10-hour flight to and from Narita.
We packed slightly more than we would for a normal flight (check out our flying with young kids guide here!) but were also open to purchasing food and drinks on the flight. We (i.e., my five-year-old) was able to pick things we actually wanted to eat off of the inflight menu, rather than getting a prescribed meal option.
Zipair serves hot meals, instant ramen, snacks, desserts, juice, wine, beer, and coffee, none of which cost me an arm and a leg like I’d expected. And the items were delivered to our seats when we were hungry and awake, instead of during a set mealtime. Such a plus!
Pro tip: bring empty water bottles through security but make sure you fill them before you get on the flight.
Enjoy Free (but spotty) WiFi Onboard
Passengers order food and amenities on the plane using the onboard WiFi. This means that you have to bring a smart phone or device onboard to be able to order. Service was spotty, but great when it did work for texting and sending emails.
To connect, your device will detect the WiFi but you have to follow a couple extra steps to actually get connected. Make sure you follow directions on the placards in your seat pocket.
Sit in Typical Basic Economy Comfort
Zipair’s 787-8 aircrafts provide so-so legroom and seat widths, but are not unlike other economy long hauls we’ve ridden. While our seats at the front of the section provided ample legroom, the arm rests could not be raised and my child couldn’t get into a comfy sleeping position in her little square of seat space. If I had read the fine print at the bottom of this page I would’ve known that. Whoops.
If traveling with an infant, Zipair provides safety seats.
What Others Are Saying
In some online reviews, people have complained that Zipair’s customer service can be lacking, or even non-existent.
Another person complained about Zipair’s seeming lack of humanity not providing a refund when they were forced to cancel their flights due to illness.
I noticed a few other families on our Zipair flights, with a mix of Asian folks and white tourists. Overall, flying on a budget airline is certainly not for every family, but when the circumstances are right it could make for a very rewarding and affordable option.
Zipair, similar to our home favorite airline Southwest, is definitely an exception to the rule when it comes to budget airlines. As long as prices stay competitive, Zipair will certainly be our family’s preferred option when it comes to flying to and from Tokyo.
Although we had a good experience, Zipair didn’t completely convince me to always go with a budget airline; it could mean more of a headache for us in other aspects. As long as you’re okay with that, and make sure to read the fine print, then congrats! You just saved yourself a lot of cash!
Based on our review and your family’s travel style, would you book a flight with Zipair? Let us know in the comments!
Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.
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For anyone considering Zipair Flex Biz service package, I would like to share my terrible experience. The Flex Biz package allows for changes and cancellations. The process as described by Zipair is (grammatical errors are left unaltered as this is a copy paste from their site)
1. Purchase Flex Biz package at the time of booking
2. While cancellation, please contact the Contact Center through email or chat.
3. Receive voucher information via email
4. When making your next reservation, please contact the contact center through email or chat.
There is a 3% fee for the voucher and it is valid for 180 days from issue date. These are stated on their website.
Here is my experience.
1. On July 18 2024, I purchased 3 round trip tickets with Flex Biz package from LAX to NRT for Dec 2024.
2. On July 24, I decided to extend the stay in Japan so I requested a change in return flight (via their contact center) from NRT to LAX to extend 2 more days.
3. On July 25, I received a responses stating that I will be refunded only the taxes I paid. I replied stating that I should be reimbursed for the whole amount since I purchased the Flex Biz package.
4 On July 25, Zipair responded stating that they will reimburse the whole amount less the 3% voucher fee. They also stated that I can rebook my return trip using the voucher. I understood these terms and advised Zip air to proceed.
5 On July 27, I received an email asking what language I prefer for the voucher. Keep in mind that all the correspondence is conducted in English and I am emailing an email address specifically dedicated to English. I replied that I prefer English. Seemed like a delay tactic.
6 On July 29, I received the voucher. Zipair does not allow vouchers to be used on the online booking process. You must book via email. I immediately requested a booking for the flight I wanted using the voucher.
7 On July 31, I sent an email asking about the status of the new booking as I never received any response to my new booking request. I sent additional email for the next few days requesting the same. I also used the chat service to ask about the status. No one can help. All they said was that it was escalated and they will get back to me once booking was completed. I asked how long it may take. They were unable to answer so I waited another few days. I asked daily on the status of the request as I wasn’t sure if they even received my request. No one could help. THEY DO NOT HAVE A PHONE NUMBER!!!
8 After numerous chat sessions and emails, they finally responded on Aug 5. They will book the flight but they wanted an ADDITIONAL $484 for the new flights after deducting the voucher. At the time of my initial request for a new booking, the price for the flight was $520pp. By the time Zipair finally processed the rebooking, the price had increased to $651pp. The price increased to this level 1 or 2 days before they finally rebooked. They also asked for my credit card information which I clearly included in my original rebooking request. I wondered whether they were delaying the process even more so that they can charge more when the price increases again. I didn’t understand why I should have to pay extra for THEIR DELAY in processing the booking. Considering the slow response on their side I was more than frustrated and opted to just accept the extra charge.
I have not taken the flight yet so I cannot comment on the actual flight but it makes me wonder… If what they say is true that there is insufficient staff to rebook a ticket in a timely manner, what other processes have been compromised? I hope aircraft maintenance and safety is not one of those compromised as I will be flying in December.
What a tough situation! Kudos to you for getting through these complications–must have been so stressful to deal with. I hope Zipair hears this feedback and doesn’t put other customers through the ringer!
Thank you for all of the useful information! We booked bulkhead seats (LAX-NRT) and your photos are so so helpful! Knowing the armrest lifts up in between 19DE was our best case scenario as I’ll be sitting there with my younger kid and my older kid will feel like they have their own thrown next to us lol. It was also super helpful to see that the pocket provided were also large enough to hold snack/essentials.
I know the galley is in between the two sets of restrooms in the middle of the plane but did people cross in front of you to get from aisle to aisle? I’m worried about keeping a bag and inflated footrest there during the flight.
Hi Marie, Thanks for your comment! Haha, yes, your older kid will definitely be living large 😀 We were on one edge of the plane so didn’t have any issues with folks crossing in front of us. Since the galley area is just ahead, folks would pass through there, rather than directly in front of the seats and passengers seated in 18/19. Hope you all enjoy your trip!
Hi! Thank you for this awesome write-up 🙂 I was wondering if you might know whether ZIPair allows inflatable beds for toddlers, the kind that extends into leg space? I emailed customer service but haven’t heard back, and I can’t seem to find this info anywhere else. Or maybe there’s a relatively comfortable sleep option for toddlers on airplanes that I don’t know about? Would appreciate any guidance you might have, as a seasoned traveler!! 🙂 thank you!
Hi Wendy! Did you ever hear back from Zipair about your question? We actually did use an inflatable rectangular footrest for my little one for the duration of the flight, except for takeoff and landing. Unless there’s a written policy for it, I think it’s up to the discretion of the flight attendants.
And if your little one can fit one of those inflatable beds, by all means go for it! I think my kid is a little too tall now, so we’ve had to do some weird maneuvering! The footrest helps sometimes, and more recently I’ve landed on having her sleep diagonally, with her head in the far corner of her seat and her legs resting on my quads. We do what we gotta do in economy 😆 Hope you find something that works well for you and your fam!
Thank you for your response! I still didn’t hear from ZipAir, and I don’t know what sleep option to go with, but the diagonal position sounds doable in case seat extenders aren’t allowed!
Hello Angelica,
Thanks so much for the tips of zip air. I have a question regarding the arm rest. Can we raise the arm rest all the way up if we choose backseat zone? I read that you at the very front seat so the arm rest can not rise at all.
Hi Marisca! Based on Zipair’s website: “Seats having Non-Movable Armrests : 18ABC, 19DEG, 18HJK, 46ABC, 45DEG, 46HJK, 55AB, 55JK(However, seats between 19DE and 45DE have Movable Armrests.)”
Great write up, thanks!
HI! Do they give free hot water? Do they split apart families with children in their teens?
Hi a! From what I understand, Zipair (like all airlines) will do their best to seat your party together, but that is not a guarantee for full flights unless you purchase seats ahead of time. It otherwise seems to be guaranteed for kids 6 and under to be assigned seats with at least one caregiver. Hope that helps!
Hi Angelica. I just booked a flight for early September travelling to San Francisco from Tokyo on Zipair. I found your story and information much better & more complete than the information I found on the actual airline’s website so A Big Overall Thanks for all of your efforts, etc. I’ve traveled on quite a few budget-types of airlines in the past and had pretty good success/outcomes, so am hoping that Zipair will be on par or better than the others. Have a good one, and again Thanks very much for sharing all of your airline information and tips.
Hi Tim,
So glad you found the review helpful—I tried to include everything my family and I wish we’d known before we flew, so it’s great to hear your feedback. Wishing you a pleasant flight and safe travels!
Thanks for the review! Super random question, is there a usb plug on the seat to keep your device charged during the flight?
Hi Rebecca, I believe the seats do have USB and plug sockets available; I was definitely able to charge my laptop and phone during the flight—not sure what I would’ve done without them!!
i just booked Seoul to San Jose (via Tokyo). Half the price of the best reasonable flights (< 15 hours) on Expedia. Be interested to see how it goes. I booked regular seat but the Premium in flight package for the longer segment. are there movies or any in flight entertainment? gonna download stuff off Netflix just in case..
Hi Pedro! It’s always a good idea to have some back-up entertainment in your back pocket (we downloaded a couple Netflix movies ourselves), but it looks like Zipair does offer some inflight entertainment that can be accessed with your own phone/device. Can’t speak to the quality of the entertainment/connection. Would love to hear how your flight goes!
I want to book cheap flights leaving San Francisco round trip for 2 to Tokyo
Story of my life 😀 I hope you find a good deal!
Hi Angelica!
Thank you so much for the tips about Zipair! I am considering taking them to go back to Japan from San Francisco with my kids (6 and 2) this summer.
Which amenities did you buy? Did you buy them when you purchase your tickets? My younger son probably don’t need any carry or or check in luggage, but it adds automatically for 3. I wonder if I should just select non-amenities and add it as a la Carte by calling them?
Hi Yukari,
Great questions! We didn’t book any amenities at the time of our booking, but added our checked luggage prior to our flights by “Managing Your Booking” on Zipair’s website with our confirmation number and purchasing there. You could also call them, but the website was intuitive enough. We purchased snacks and drinks from the air, but if any of the hot meals sound yummy to you, definitely reserve at least a few days in advance 🙂 If you end up taking Zipair, would love to hear how your trip goes!