ZipAir Review: Is It Worth Flying From Vancouver to Tokyo?

If you have been watching flight prices from Vancouver to Tokyo over the past couple of years, you have probably noticed one airline consistently undercutting everyone else by a significant margin. That airline is ZipAir, and it has quietly become the most talked-about option for Vancouver travellers heading to Japan.

What Is ZipAir?

ZipAir is a low-cost carrier wholly owned by Japan Airlines, operating nonstop Boeing 787 Dreamliners between Vancouver International Airport and Tokyo Narita Airport five times per week. The airline launched North American service in 2020 and arrived in Vancouver in early 2024, immediately disrupting the market with fares significantly below Air Canada, ANA, and Japan Airlines on the same route.

The airline operates a simple two-cabin configuration on its 787 fleet: 272 economy seats and 18 Full Flat lie-flat seats at the front of the aircraft. Both cabins are bare bones by design. Nothing beyond a small carry-on bag is included in the base fare. Everything else, checked bags, seat selection, meals, pillows, blankets, and entertainment, costs extra.

That is the ZipAir model in a nutshell. Strip everything out, price the seat low, and let passengers add what they actually want.

Economy Class: Our First-Hand Experience From YVR

We have personally flown ZipAir economy from Vancouver to Tokyo and came away genuinely impressed for what the fare delivers.

The seats are more spacious than you might expect from a budget carrier. The 787 Dreamliner cabin is noticeably wider and more comfortable than older narrow-body aircraft used on many low-cost routes, and ZipAir's economy seat pitch is reasonable for a nine and a half hour flight. Taller passengers will want to pay for an exit row seat but average height travellers should be comfortable.

The flight attendants were a genuine highlight. Service was friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the flight. This tracks with ZipAir's Japan Airlines heritage, where service quality is taken seriously even in a stripped-down low-cost context. Do not expect the warmth and polish of a full-service Japanese carrier but do expect competent and genuinely pleasant service that puts many full-service Western airlines to shame.

Wi-Fi is free for every passenger on every ZipAir flight. This is genuinely unusual and appreciated on a ten-hour crossing. The connection is reliable enough for streaming, messaging, and light work throughout the flight.

The à la carte food ordering system works well. You order what you want through an app or with cabin crew and it arrives within minutes. The selection is Japanese-influenced and the quality is decent for airline food. Budget $15 to $30 CAD per person for a couple of meals and snacks.

The honest verdict on economy: For the price, ZipAir economy from Vancouver to Tokyo is excellent value. The 787 cabin, the free Wi-Fi, the friendly service, and the nonstop routing make this a genuinely comfortable way to get to Japan. The key is understanding what you are buying. Add your checked bag, a seat selection if you care about where you sit, and budget for meals, and you are still almost certainly paying less than any competing airline on the same route.

The Real Cost of Flying ZipAir Economy From YVR

The base fare looks attractive but the all-in cost is what matters. Here is a realistic budget for one person:

ItemCostBase return fare (current October dates)$858 CADOne checked bag each way$114 x 2 = $228 CADSeat selection return$30 to $80 CADMeals return (estimate)$60 to $100 CADRealistic all-in total$1,176 to $1,266 CAD

Compare that to Air Canada at $1,702 return or ANA at $1,863 return on the same route. Even fully loaded with extras ZipAir saves you $400 to $600 per person return. For a family of four that saving is substantial.

The Full Flat Product: What Other Travellers Say

ZipAir's Full Flat cabin is one of the most unusual products in commercial aviation right now. It features 18 reverse herringbone lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, meaning every seat has direct aisle access, in a product that sits somewhere between premium economy and business class in terms of what is actually included.

What is unique about ZipAir is that the airline has a business class cabin with fully flat reverse herringbone seats. The thing to understand is that this is not actually a separate class of service. Rather you are just paying extra for the seat and there are no other inclusions. There is not even a curtain closed between cabins. Omnisend

That last point is worth dwelling on. The Full Flat cabin has no divider from economy. You are in a lie-flat seat but the experience on either side of you is technically the same airline with the same service model. Meals, blankets, pillows, and amenity sets all cost extra. There is no lounge access, no priority boarding, and no dedicated check-in lane included in the base Full Flat fare.

There are no video screens, though streaming in-flight entertainment is available. You also have to pay for extras such as snacks, blankets, pillows, and other items.

What reviewers say about the seat itself:

The spaciousness of the lie-flat bed on ZipAir is decent and on par with other business class products. The biggest downside is the lack of a mattress pad as the leather material is not the most comfortable to sleep on.

At nearly six feet tall, this is an excellent product for those that value comfort but do not want to pay the high premium cost of a full service business class flight. Comfortable for the whole flight and able to get some rest. Staff were very helpful and the Wi-Fi quality was impressive.

ZipAir Full Flat is really popular so book tickets well in advance. On some routes most Full Flat seats are sold out up to two months ahead.

The consensus from multiple reviewers is consistent: the hard product is legitimately good. The reverse herringbone seat is spacious, fully flat, and comfortable enough for sleep on a ten-hour flight. The soft product is essentially nonexistent. Bring your own entertainment device, buy the amenity set add-on which includes a blanket and inflatable pillow, and order food when you want it.

How Much Does ZipAir Full Flat Cost From Vancouver?

This is where it gets interesting and where the value proposition gets complicated.

Typically business class flights from Vancouver to Tokyo range from CAD $4,000 to $6,000 return. In contrast, ZipAir's Full Flat seats base fare usually costs between CAD $2,200 and $3,200 return.

ZipAir also has Full Flat fares from Vancouver for approximately $2,460 CAD roundtrip on certain dates, significantly cheaper than competitors offering true business class.

Add the extras you would want for a long-haul lie-flat experience, one checked bag each way at $114, an amenity set including blanket and pillow at roughly $30 to $50, seat selection at $30 to $80, and meals at $60 to $100, and your realistic all-in Full Flat cost from Vancouver is approximately $2,700 to $3,500 CAD return. Still significantly below the $4,000 to $6,000 you would pay for true business class on Air Canada, ANA, or Japan Airlines.

Full Flat vs Aeroplan Business Class: The Points Comparison

Here is where YVRPoints readers need to think carefully before booking Full Flat.

ZipAir Full Flat at $2,700 to $3,500 CAD return is genuinely cheaper than full-service business class. But it is not the same product. There is no lounge access, no meal service, no mattress pad, no entertainment screen, and no curtain separating you from economy.

For comparison, ANA business class from Vancouver to Tokyo on the same route, with a proper meal service, an entertainment screen, a mattress pad, lounge access, and the world-class service ANA is famous for, costs 55,000 Aeroplan points one way at fixed partner pricing. A return trip costs 110,000 Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees of roughly $400 to $500 CAD.

If you can earn 110,000 Aeroplan points through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending, which is achievable within one to two years with the right card combination, the ANA business class experience is substantially more premium than ZipAir Full Flat at a total out-of-pocket cost of $400 to $500 CAD versus $2,700 to $3,500 for ZipAir Full Flat.

The honest take: ZipAir Full Flat makes most sense for travellers who want a flat bed to sleep on, do not have Aeroplan points to spare, and want to spend significantly less than traditional business class. If you are building an Aeroplan balance, save your points for ANA and let ZipAir take you in economy at $858 to $1,100 all-in return.

Who Should Fly ZipAir From Vancouver?

ZipAir economy is ideal for:

Budget conscious travellers wanting the cheapest nonstop option to Tokyo
Families where multiple tickets make cost savings significant
Travellers who can pack light and avoid checked bag fees
Anyone who values free Wi-Fi and a modern 787 cabin over soft product amenities
Travellers building an Aeroplan balance who want to save points for a future premium redemption

ZipAir Full Flat makes sense for:

Travellers who want a lie-flat bed but cannot justify traditional business class prices
Those who do not have Aeroplan points available for an award redemption
Travellers who prioritise the flat bed for sleep and are comfortable with zero soft product inclusions
Last minute travellers when Aeroplan award space is unavailable

ZipAir is probably not your best option if:

You have enough Aeroplan points for an ANA business class redemption
You want lounge access, a proper meal service, or an entertainment screen
You are travelling with large checked bags, as fees add up quickly

Practical Tips for Flying ZipAir From Vancouver

Book bags online in advance. Checked bag fees are significantly cheaper when added during the booking process. Never pay at the airport.

Buy the amenity set. For Full Flat travellers especially, the blanket and inflatable pillow add-on is worth every dollar on a ten-hour overnight flight.

Download content before boarding. There are no seatback screens on any ZipAir aircraft. Load Netflix, download podcasts, and bring your tablet or laptop fully charged.

Choose your seat carefully. The window seats in the Full Flat cabin offer more privacy than the centre pairs. For economy, exit rows offer the best legroom and are worth the selection fee.

Book Full Flat well in advance. Only 18 Full Flat seats exist on each aircraft and they sell out quickly, often two months before departure on popular dates.

Check in online. ZipAir's app and online check-in work well and save time at the airport.

The Bottom Line

ZipAir has genuinely changed the economics of flying from Vancouver to Japan. Before ZipAir's arrival in 2024, the cheapest nonstop option from YVR to Tokyo was typically $1,100 to $1,400 return on Air Canada or ANA. ZipAir now offers nonstop service from $858 return before extras, forcing competitors to lower their prices in response.

For Vancouver travellers, ZipAir economy is the best cash deal available on this route. The 787 cabin is modern and comfortable, the service is better than you might expect from a budget carrier, the Wi-Fi is free, and the savings are real even after adding bags and meals.

The Full Flat product is interesting but nuanced. It offers a genuine lie-flat bed at a fraction of traditional business class prices, but the absence of any soft product means it is a very different experience from what most people picture when they think of business class. For Aeroplan points holders with enough miles for an ANA redemption, the full-service product is a better overall experience at a far lower out-of-pocket cost.

Whatever cabin you choose, ZipAir is worth knowing about as a Vancouver traveller. It is the cheapest way to get to Japan nonstop and it has made Tokyo more accessible than ever before from YVR.

See our current ZipAir deals post for the best available fares right now, and subscribe to YVRPoints below so you never miss a price drop on this route again.