【October 7, 2026 update】 ZIPAIR has announced its first-quarter 2027 charter plan:
- A 787-8 will fly Tokyo Narita–Las Vegas, one flight on January 5.
- A 787-8 will fly Tokyo Narita–Orlando on February 24 and March 1, 6, and 11, four flights in total.
These are charters, not a new scheduled route (the planned Toronto scheduled service is unaffected). They are sold mainly through tour operators, but individual bookings are expected to open in late November on ZIPAIR’s website, when anyone can buy directly.
On the dates, the Vegas flight sits at the tail of Japan’s New Year holiday. The Orlando flights line up with the Emperor’s Birthday holiday on February 23 and university spring break, aimed at off-peak Disney demand.
【October 6, 2026 update】 ZIPAIR will launch nonstop Toronto YYZ – Tokyo Narita NRT flights in 2027, three times a week and year-round. Toronto becomes ZIPAIR’s second Canadian destination after Vancouver. The date tickets go on sale is still to be announced. (The news comes from Toronto Pearson Airport’s official Instagram. ZIPAIR has not published a press release on its own site.)
🇯🇵 ZIPAIR
ZIPAIR (IATA code ZG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines. It is a medium- and long-haul low-cost carrier with its hub at Tokyo Narita (NRT). The company was founded in 2018 and flew its first service in June 2020, the first Japanese LCC to operate medium- and long-haul international routes. The fleet is all Boeing 787-8 (eight aircraft at the start of 2026). Each aircraft has 18 fully lie-flat business seats and 272 economy seats.
A few basics:
- It is a low-cost carrier, so fares are low. The lie-flat business seat can also be a good price (note that you must be over 7).
- Tickets cannot be refunded or changed.
- Wi-Fi is free. Everything else costs extra: seat selection, food and drinks, a blanket, checked bags, and so on.
- Carry-on is enforced strictly. Bags are weighed, and the limit is 7 kg.
Route network (October 2026)
Every route starts at Tokyo Narita:
- North America: Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando
- Asia: Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (launches October 20, 2026; approval still pending)
- Coming soon: Toronto (2027, three flights a week)
The Vancouver route operates three times a week and adds flights in peak season. Check the airline’s flight search for the exact schedule.
What business and economy look like
ZIP Full-Flat (business class, lie-flat)
- 18 seats, 78 inches of pitch, a real lie-flat bed. The price is often a bargain: change the dates and a one-way can come in under USD 1,000.
- There is no entertainment screen. Bring your own tablet or phone (free high-speed Starlink is there to use).
- Children aged 7 and under cannot sit in this cabin.
- Even in business class, meals, checked bags, and seat selection are all extra, and there is no lounge.
Standard (economy)
- 272 seats, a standard LCC seat, with ordinary legroom.
- The same rule: meals, checked bags, and seat selection all cost extra.
How the fees work: why the fare is cheap
The base fare includes only a 7 kg carry-on (enforced strictly, and bags are weighed). Everything else is optional:
Checked bags (per piece, 30 kg maximum, up to 5 pieces per journey):
| Direction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Narita → North American cities | ¥11,000 |
| North America → Narita | USD 85 |
| Vancouver → Narita | CAD 114 |
| Honolulu → Narita | USD 58 |
| Narita → Seoul / Taipei / Bangkok / Singapore | ¥4,000–6,000 |
Buy it on the website in advance. The airport counter adds a service fee. If adding items one by one is a nuisance, the Value Bundle (seat selection + one meal + 1 checked bag, about $85 one way) costs less than buying them separately.
Meals: pre-order on the website. Japanese bento, sandwiches, and similar run $8–12 each. Buying on board means fewer choices. Regular passengers say the food is nothing special, and eating after you land is fine.
Other extras: an amenity kit with slippers, a neck pillow, an eye mask, and similar items is about ¥2,500–3,000. Seat selection on its own is about $32.
Changes and refunds: the base fare is essentially non-refundable and non-changeable. Read the fare rule before you pay.
Free Starlink Wi-Fi
The first aircraft was fitted in February 2026, and the whole fleet was finished in spring 2026. ZIPAIR is the first airline in Asia with Starlink across the fleet, and it is free. That matters on a long flight.
Loyalty: ZIPAIR Point Club
Point Club is ZIPAIR’s points membership. It is not a traditional airline elite ladder. There is no silver or gold. The website states two tiers clearly: a free regular membership, and Plus at 5,000 yen a year.
How the two tiers compare
| Item | ZIPAIR Point Club | ZIPAIR Point Club Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free | 5,000 yen a year (Japanese consumption tax not included) |
| Points | Earn and use ZIPAIR Points | Earn and use ZIPAIR Points |
| Extra benefit | None | 30% off checked bags |
| How to join | An email address is enough | You must already be a regular member and register a credit card |
| Validity | Not specifically stated | 365 days from the application date |
| Renewal | Not applicable | Renews automatically each year |
The Plus checked-bag discount has a few limits: you must be logged into your membership and do it on the website; it applies only to checked bags; sports equipment is excluded; and the annual fee is 5,000 yen before tax.
How to join
Regular membership: register an email on the website → open the signup-link email → follow the link and fill in your details → done. FAQ
- There is no age limit and no country-of-residence limit. An email address is enough. You can only sign up on the website.
Plus: become a regular member first, then upgrade. You need to register a credit card and pay the annual fee (by credit card, or with ZIPAIR Points already in the account). Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners Club, and Discover.
How to earn ZIPAIR Points
The membership page only says that “members can earn and use ZIPAIR Points.” It does not list the full earning rules. The methods the page does name are:
- JAL Miles can be converted into ZIPAIR Points (link your JAL Mileage Bank number on the ZIPAIR website; the conversion is also done on the ZIPAIR website, not on JAL’s site);
- Ponta Points can also be converted into ZIPAIR Points;
- Converted points can be used to pay the Plus annual fee.
How to use ZIPAIR Points
- Website products and services: from 1 point;
- Points also work for onboard purchases, but you must link your membership to the booking before you board: in the app, sign in and choose “Confirm Booked Flight”; on the website, go to “Confirm / Change Reservation” and choose “Confirm Reservation.” You cannot set this up once you are on the plane;
- If you do not have enough points, you can split the payment: points are used first, and the rest can only be covered by credit card;
- When you buy a ticket, points are applied in this order: fare → taxes and other charges → add-on services.
Cancellations and refunds
- Products and services bought with points can generally be cancelled on the website, with one exception, the Tokyo–Seoul route: if any part of the ticket was paid with points, you cannot cancel it directly on the website and have to contact customer service;
- There is no blanket promise that points come back. It depends on the refund policy of what you bought;
- If a ticket paid with points plus a credit card has a cancellation fee, the fee is split in proportion to what each method actually paid. Paying with points does not let you skip the cancellation fee.
The Plus annual fee and automatic renewal
- Plus is valid for 365 days and renews automatically each year. The card is charged one week before the renewal date (Japan time);
- If you have enough points, you can pay the annual fee with points. If automatic renewal fails, the website suggests registering a valid credit card, or converting JAL Miles or Ponta into points to pay. Payment status updates in the early hours of the next day.
Leaving the programme
- Both regular membership and Plus can be cancelled on the website. After you leave Plus, regular membership stays;
- The Plus annual fee is not refunded. It is prepaid, and leaving early does not produce a prorated refund for the time left.
Practical takeaway
If you only want the points features, the free regular membership is enough. Plus is worth it only if you often buy checked bags, the 30% discount covers the 5,000-yen annual fee, and you can accept automatic renewal. Remember three catches: 1) the Plus annual fee of 5,000 yen renews automatically; 2) leaving early does not get a refund; 3) if you cancel a ticket bought with points, refunds and cancellation fees still follow the original rules.
One more reminder: flying ZIPAIR does not earn JAL miles directly. JAL miles can only be converted one way into ZIPAIR Points, and then used inside the ZIPAIR programme.
Who ZIPAIR is for
- Bargain lie-flat hunters: a 787 lie-flat seat for under 1,000, in exchange for no meal, no lounge, and no service. Bring your own tablet.
- Vancouver to Tokyo: nonstop at a low-cost fare. In the off-season, one-way economy under USD 300 is common.
- Travellers with little luggage and low expectations: if 7 kg of carry-on covers everything, ZIPAIR was built for you.
Not a fit: families with a child aged 7 or under who want business class (they are not allowed), anyone counting on earning miles, and anyone who thinks “I paid for business class, so I should get business-class service.” ZIPAIR’s logic is that you pay for the seat, and everything else is bought as you need it.
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