Visiting Japan On A Budget? ZIPAIR To Launch New Route From This Major US City
As recently reported, Japan is about to remove all COVID travel restrictions, making it easier for travelers to visit. Now, for anyone on a budget, a new route will be introduced to American travelers on the low-cost airline, ZIPAIR. Read on to find out more about saving money on your trip to Tokyo.
ZIPAIR introduces new flight route between Tokyo & San Francisco
The low-cost airline, ZIPAIR, already services three US cities but is adding a new route. In fact, this summer, the airline will start flying between Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Meanwhile, the airline uses Boeing 787-8 aircraft, accommodating 290 passengers.
About the new route
ZIPAIR’s new route launches on June 2, 2023, and will operate five times every week. Meanwhile, flights are scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from June 2, 2023, through October 27, 2023.
Flights take slightly over 11 hours flying west from SFO to NRT, and around 9.5 hours flying east from NRT to SFO. The flights leave San Francisco at 5 pm and arrive in Tokyo at 8:05 pm the following day. Returning home, flights depart Tokyo at 9:35 pm, arriving in San Francisco at 3 pm.
About ZIPAIR
Launched in 2018, ZIPAIR. a subsidiary of Japan Airlines has established itself as a low-cost option for visiting Asia and the US. Meanwhile, the airline currently has flights out of seven other cities. These include Los Angeles, San Jose, Bangkok, Honolulu, Manila, Seoul and Singapore. As ZIPAIR continues to expand and offer new routes, there are likely to be more new connections between the US and Asia.
Passengers flying with ZIPAIR are allowed a total of 15.4 lbs of carry-on luggage. Moreover, they can choose between standard economy seats or full, lay-flat seats for ultimate comfort. Onboard services include complimentary WiFi and a contactless in-flight experience, where meals and other goods can be ordered via a personal smartphone or tablet.
Comparing ZIPAIR’s rates
When running a comparison between ZIPAIR and other airlines using Google Flights, it comes up as the cheaper option. Looking at June 30 to July 9, the fare between San Francisco and Tokyo comes up at $959 round trip in ZIPAIR.
A similar journey with United costs $2,595 round trip, while Japan Airlines costs $2,765 round trip. Meanwhile, ZIPAIR’s full-flat seats can be compared to economy seats on other airlines and cost around $1,400 per leg this summer.
Visiting Japan gets easier
As reported, Japan will lift the balance of its COVID travel restrictions on May 8. Naturally, this will make trips to Tokyo and other popular cities much easier for travelers. Meanwhile, visitors will no longer be required to provide vaccination proof or a negative COVID-19 test.
Learn more about ZIPAIR from their official website here.