AFF Review: ZIPAIR 787 “Full-Flat” Business Class (NRT-MNL)

[AFF Editor]

ZIPAIR Boeing 787 “Full-Flat” Business Class Review is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

ZIPAIR Boeing 787 "Full-Flat" Business Class Review

On this flight from Tokyo to Manila, I tried out Japanese low-cost carrier ZIPAIR's version of Business Class - a "Full-Flat" seat with no frills whatsoever.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[eastwest101]

For only $130-ish or so more to get from Zipair Y product to its J herringbone layout, seems like a pretty reasonable price, I am hoping that JQ downguaging its CNS-JPN services to A321XLR's would encourage Zipair to fly to either NRT-CNS or NRT-OOL and that would be a game-changer although the strong AUD at the moment would need to change. I also expect that Zipair might look at maybe NRT-DPS in the future? Inbound tourism into Japan is booming, so this looks to be a reasonable and possibly even profitable med-long range LCC model.

https://www.zipair.net/en/service/seat

The Y class 9 abreast in a B787 with 31" seat pitch does not sound very appealing for longer flights, but that herringbone J class is decent if its priced realistically, which was the case in your flight Matt. I see that they are talking about the next two B788 deliveries having increased seat count in J so its obviously popular.

 

[elanshin]

As my NA friends puts it, Zipair is the first LCC to fly Transpacific direct to Japan from NA. They've never experienced "cheap" Japan flights like we do with say JQ.
So there's huge demand there even for economy and bad timings.

For the Asia routes, the J is the real advantage, in Y, i wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for it especially with a whole host of other LCCs between Japan and it's asian destinations.

I would consider it in Australia if they ever launched an Aus route. Direct-ish flight to Japan in 1-2-1 J seats for the price of QF economy or even PE (guessing) would be appealing.

 

[Carmel Macmillan]

ZIPAIR Boeing 787 “Full-Flat” Business Class Review is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

ZIPAIR Boeing 787 "Full-Flat" Business Class Review

On this flight from Tokyo to Manila, I tried out Japanese low-cost carrier ZIPAIR's version of Business Class - a "Full-Flat" seat with no frills whatsoever.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

This sounds like a fantastic option. I have traveled business class every time I fly overseas since I was 35 ( now 61). I have chronic pain and disturbances in my sleep flare them up.
I don’t drink and only eat small amounts on the plane so as to minimise sleep disturbances.
I would love to know whether other airlines flying from Australia may or do offer this.
Thanks

 

[elanshin]

This sounds like a fantastic option. I have traveled business class every time I fly overseas since I was 35 ( now 61). I have chronic pain and disturbances in my sleep flare them up.
I don’t drink and only eat small amounts on the plane so as to minimise sleep disturbances.
I would love to know whether other airlines flying from Australia may or do offer this.
Thanks

Afaik zipair is the only airline in the world doing this. Air Asia has their angled flat bed which is probably the closest and an airline that does fly out of Aus.

Maybe in the future we may see ANA match JL with AirDo if Zipair does well but for now this is definitely the exception.

 

[Carmel Macmillan]

Afaik zipair is the only airline in the world doing this. Air Asia has their angled flat bed which is probably the closest and an airline that does fly out of Aus.

Maybe in the future we may see ANA match JL with AirDo if Zipair does well but for now this is definitely the exception.

Thank u so much. What a shame

 

[WilsonM]

Afaik zipair is the only airline in the world doing this. Air Asia has their angled flat bed which is probably the closest and an airline that does fly out of Aus.

VietJet also offer angle-flat beds on it's A330s - they're just exAir Asia planes. Technically, Beijing Capital Airlines are a leisure carrier, not low cost, but it is a subsidiary of Hainan airlines with a much lower cost base I guess? They do have lie-flat beds on their A330s as well.

The Y class 9 abreast in a B787 with 31" seat pitch does not sound very appealing for longer flights, but that herringbone J class is decent if its priced realistically, which was the case in your flight Matt. I see that they are talking about the next two B788 deliveries having increased seat count in J so its obviously popular.

I would consider it in Australia if they ever launched an Aus route. Direct-ish flight to Japan in 1-2-1 J seats for the price of QF economy or even PE (guessing) would be appealing.

As much as I think the model makes a lot of sense for those in the know, IMO low-cost carriers can't really charge a premium over others for having a better product - the general audience you're targeting is the price-conscious. It's fine if it's on a relatively uncompetitive route in the low-cost scene - TPAC and non-Air Asia routes are good starts - but if you're competing with Scoot, for example, and they can offer 'J' at 30% less because the footprint is 50% of the ZIPAIR seat, then many would go for that. Hopefully, I'm proved wrong - I think Australia as a market could actually work as frankly, we're a wealthier market than Asia, and there's a serious lack of competition on AUS-JPN, especially as VA's offering is bloody woeful.

 

[TomVexille]

Apparently these seats are not available to children under the age of 6

 

[DirectConnect]

For only $130-ish or so more to get from Zipair Y product to its J herringbone layout, seems like a pretty reasonable price, I am hoping that JQ downguaging its CNS-JPN services to A321XLR's would encourage Zipair to fly to either NRT-CNS or NRT-OOL and that would be a game-changer although the strong AUD at the moment would need to change. I also expect that Zipair might look at maybe NRT-DPS in the future? Inbound tourism into Japan is booming, so this looks to be a reasonable and possibly even profitable med-long range LCC model.

https://www.zipair.net/en/service/seat

The Y class 9 abreast in a B787 with 31" seat pitch does not sound very appealing for longer flights, but that herringbone J class is decent if its priced realistically, which was the case in your flight Matt. I see that they are talking about the next two B788 deliveries having increased seat count in J so its obviously popular.

The whole model of having an OOL/CNS-NRT service is to allow as many connections from Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide ect into these northern ports to allow for a fuller B788 to continue its journey. Its more time efficient than say back tracking from Sydney to Melbourne to Tokyo. ZipAir, lacking any onward connections would crumble on CNS/OOL routes very quickly, as barely if any of the current JQ services from CNS/OOL had locals on board (part of the reason why JQ moved OOL to BNE, to attract more locals). ZipAir thus could only sustain themselves in Sydney which is already competitive with at maximum, 5 daily services. Or Melbourne which has 2 at most.

ZipAir is wholly owned by Japan Airlines which is making grounds in terms of market share in both Melbourne (which has been consistently had an extremely high all year load factor of 90%+) and as of recent, a B77W service into Sydney. I dont think they would want to split up potential seat bookings across more flights which at the end of the day reflects onto JL's Financial Reports at the end of the FY.

A 9 abreast config in a 787 is 17.2" of width. The width of the "Best" economy class products (10 abreast of Qatar and Emirates B77W) is 17" and the A321neo XLR's seat width in Economy is 18", in that regard I'd rather take the A321.
I havent seen people complaining about Air Canadas, British Airways, United, American Airlines or Air Frances seat pitch of 31" on long flights. In fact, Air Canadas Y product is the exact same as Jetstars Y in Economy on their 787 products.

 

[moa999]

It's interesting that JAL chose to go alone with the new ZipAir brand rather than renting/ using the established Jetstar brand (Jetstar Japan is 1/3 JAL, 1/3 Qantas and then some external investors), even if Qantas didn't want ownership (don't think JQi has great returns)

And of course the airline has had a small rebrand on the tail, since Russia decided to make painting 'Z' on equipment a thing.

It seems like it's more like AirAsiaX (good hard product, but economy soft product), rather than Jetstar International which can actually provide some decent food & bev in it's Business (cough StarClass) product.

 

[elanshin]

The whole model of having an OOL/CNS-NRT service is to allow as many connections from Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide ect into these northern ports to allow for a fuller B788 to continue its journey. Its more time efficient than say back tracking from Sydney to Melbourne to Tokyo. ZipAir, lacking any onward connections would crumble on CNS/OOL routes very quickly, as barely if any of the current JQ services from CNS/OOL had locals on board (part of the reason why JQ moved OOL to BNE, to attract more locals). ZipAir thus could only sustain themselves in Sydney which is already competitive with at maximum, 5 daily services. Or Melbourne which has 2 at most.

ZipAir is wholly owned by Japan Airlines which is making grounds in terms of market share in both Melbourne (which has been consistently had an extremely high all year load factor of 90%+) and as of recent, a B77W service into Sydney. I dont think they would want to split up potential seat bookings across more flights which at the end of the day reflects onto JL's Financial Reports at the end of the FY.

A 9 abreast config in a 787 is 17.2" of width. The width of the "Best" economy class products (10 abreast of Qatar and Emirates B77W) is 17" and the A321neo XLR's seat width in Economy is 18", in that regard I'd rather take the A321.
I havent seen people complaining about Air Canadas, British Airways, United, American Airlines or Air Frances seat pitch of 31" on long flights. In fact, Air Canadas Y product is the exact same as Jetstars Y in Economy on their 787 products.

I could see a NRT - WSI route pair for Zipair. Still "Sydney" but would be a lot more competitive as a LCC vs JQ (direct tokyo vs one stop) for leisure travellers and also not eat into the premium route for JL.

 

[aikman]

There are currently zero carriers on NRT-SYD so it is an opportunity for Zipair to own that route.