Low-cost airline ZIPAIR will soon provide passengers with more options for traveling to Japan.
The airline has just announced the addition of a new flight route between Tokyo and the U.S.
ZIPAIR, which already services 3 U.S cities, will begin flying between Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and San Francisco International Airport this Summer.
Flight Details
ZIPAIR’s new route will launch on June 2, 2023, and operate 5 times each week.
- The new nonstop route is between Narita International Airport in Tokyo (NRT) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
- Flights are scheduled for each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from June 2, 2023 – October 27, 2023.
- Flying time is just over 11 hours when flying west from SFO – NRT, and just under 9.5 hours when flying east from NRT – SFO.
- Asia-bound flights will depart San Francisco at 5:00 pm and arrive in Tokyo at 8:05 pm the following day.
- U.S.-bound flights will depart Tokyo at 9:35 pm and arrive in San Francisco at 3 pm.
- ZIPAIR uses Boeing 787-8 aircraft with a 290-seat layout.
Perks Of Flying ZIPAIR
ZIPAIR, which is a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, launched in 2018 and has since established itself as a low-cost option in Asia and the U.S.
Currently, ZIPAIR has flights operating out of 7 other cities, including Los Angeles, San Jose, Honolulu, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, and Seoul.
As the airline continues to expand, we can expect more connections between the two continents.
When flying ZIPAIR, passengers are allowed a total of 15.4 pounds of carry-on luggage and can choose between standard economy seats or full lay-flat seats.
Each flight has complimentary WiFi and a contactless inflight experience, meaning meals and goods can be ordered through a personal smartphone or tablet.
How Do The Fares Stack Up?
When comparing flights between ZIPAIR and other airlines using Google Flights, ZIPAIR comes in as the cheaper option.
Using the summer dates of June 30 – July 9, we found the following fares between San Francisco and Tokyo.
- ZIPAIR – $959 round trip
- ANA – $2,595 round trip
- United – $2,595 round trip
- Japan Airlines – $2,765 round trip
Fares for ZIPAIR’s Full-Flat seats are comparable to the price of economy seats on other airlines and come in at around $1,400 per leg for flights this summer.
Passengers can also take advantage of deeply discounted fares for children who are 6 years old or younger.
Under 6 fares between San Francisco and Tokyo Narita start at just $91 each way. Checked bags, meals, and seat selection are all available to passengers for an extra fee, meaning passengers only pay for the services they want to take advantage of.
A Good Time To Visit Japan
Traveling to Japan will become easier starting next month.
On May 8 the country will lift all COVID-19 travel restrictions and requirements, making vacations to Tokyo, Kyoto, and other popular spots throughout the country much easier.
When the restrictions end, visitors will no longer need to show proof of three vaccine doses or proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.
The country only recently eliminated mandatory mask requirements on March 13, although mask-wearing is still a common practice in much of the country.
Japan was also one of the countries that took the longest to reopen their borders to international tourists, only welcoming them back in October of 2022.
The upcoming changes mean that in the coming weeks, travel will return to normal after three years of compromise due to the pandemic.
