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Language: English | 日本語
In August 2026, the four of us (with two kids in the first year of junior high and fifth grade) flew ZIPAIR from Narita to Bangkok.
In this review I cover the Standard seats, the in-flight Wi-Fi, checked baggage and check-in on the Narita–Bangkok route, using the numbers we actually measured or paid. This review covers only the Standard seats on the Narita–Bangkok route; it does not cover ZIP Full-Flat or other routes.
ZIPAIR review: our family of four would fly it again
Our answer: ZIPAIR stays our first choice for the next trip to Bangkok.
| Item | What we thought |
|---|---|
| Seats (Standard) | Good enough for the price. But I did not sleep much on the flight home |
| In-flight Wi-Fi | Very comfortable. 128.6 Mbps at its fastest, 2.3 Mbps at its slowest |
| Checked baggage | Adding 30 kg was the right call. We will add it again |
| Seat selection and meals | We added neither |
We booked the ZIP STANDARD VALUE fare: JPY 27,232 per person, the same for adults and kids. With taxes and airport fees it came to JPY 31,704 per person (Find a hotel on Agoda) (outbound, flight ZG051 departing Narita at 17:00).
ZIPAIR seats: Standard is fine for the price, but I could not sleep on the way back
According to ZIPAIR, a Standard seat has a pitch of about 79 cm and a width of about 43 cm. Sitting in one, my impression was “good enough for the price.”
On the flight home, though, I could not find a comfortable position and did not sleep much. I will not go as far as “amazingly comfortable for a low-cost carrier.” Still, for Narita to Bangkok, it is within what our family can accept.
ZIPAIR Wi-Fi: 128.6 Mbps over Starlink
The best thing about ZIPAIR was the in-flight Wi-Fi. A feeling is not a number, so I ran speed tests.
After takeoff it was 128.6 Mbps. I did not expect a number like that in the air. There were slower stretches during the flight, when it fell to 2.3 Mbps. Even then, we could keep messaging and watching videos.
To connect, you just scan the QR code on the card at your seat. There are no seat-back screens, but when you connect your own device to the ZIPAIR page, a list of movies comes up. There were titles for kids too.
If your kids are old enough to use a phone or tablet, just handing them a tablet keeps them busy for hours. The titles probably change over time, so connect on the day and check.
ZIPAIR baggage: 30 kg saved us on the way home
We added 30 kg of checked baggage. On the outbound flight it was JPY 4,200 per bag.
In Bangkok, our souvenirs from Big C and the Chatuchak market grew quite a bit. In the end, the problem was not the weight but fitting everything into the suitcases. Still, not having to worry about weight during the trip was a relief.
→ Samsonite durability compared with RIMOWA: the C-lite 94L (the suitcases we use, in Japanese)
ZIPAIR seat selection and meals: we added neither
We did not pay for seat selection. This time our family ended up seated close together, but that does not mean families always sit together without it. Our kids are in fifth grade and the first year of junior high, so we thought it would be fine if they sat a little apart.
We did not add meals either. Next time, too, our default is no seat selection and no meals, but 30 kg of baggage.
Bringing food instead of ZIPAIR meals: from the 7-Eleven after security
Instead of in-flight meals, we bought rice balls (onigiri), tea and snacks (chocolate) at the 7-Eleven after the security check and brought them on board. On our August 2026 trip to Bangkok, we ate what we had brought on the plane, and there was no problem. We did not buy anything from the onboard sales.
Bringing food and drinks on board: what ZIPAIR and Scoot officially say (as of October 2026)
- ZIPAIR: its “onboard rules” page (in Japanese) says, “As a rule, you may not drink alcoholic beverages that you brought on board yourself.” We could not find any notice refusing food you bring, either on that page or on the in-flight meals page (in Japanese)
- Scoot: its meals page (in Japanese) says, “Please refrain from consuming food and drinks brought from outside on board” (our Scoot review)
Rules can change, so check the official information before you fly.
ZIPAIR check-in: finding the counter at Suvarnabhumi took a while
ZIPAIR online check-in: self check-in machines at Narita
On the way out, we finished ZIPAIR’s online check-in in advance and used the self check-in machines at Narita Airport.
ZIPAIR’s check-in counter is on the 4th floor, North Wing, of Narita Terminal 1 (per the ZIPAIR official website, as of September 2026).
Check-in at Suvarnabhumi: the counter was hard to find
On the way home, we reached Suvarnabhumi Airport about three and a half hours before departure. The check-in signs were confusing, and it looked as if both the C counters and the K–L counters were listed. The ZIPAIR website only says “4th floor of the terminal” and does not give the counter letters (as of September 2026).
So our family split up: I waited by the C counters, and my wife and the kids by the K–L counters. About three hours before departure, it became clear where to go. This was on August 29, 2026, and it does not mean the counters are always in the same place. Check the airport signs on the day.
After check-in, one last Thai tea before security
After checking in, we did not go straight to security. We had one last Thai tea of the trip at ChaTraMue. The order was: arrive at the airport → wait split between C and K–L → ZIPAIR check-in → Thai tea at ChaTraMue → security and immigration → boarding.
Around the E gates after security, we could buy a 500 ml bottle of water for 20 baht. It was a late-night flight, so we were glad to have drinks before boarding.
When our family’s plans changed on ZIPAIR: we skipped the outbound flight and kept the return
On this Bangkok trip, my wife and our son had to join us later because of his school club activities. The two of them did not take the ZIPAIR outbound flight and flew on a different one. Even so, all four of us flew home together on ZIPAIR.
We had booked a non-refundable fare, and the JPY 67,608 for the two outbound seats and their baggage was not refunded. We could keep the return flight because we checked with the booking site and at the airport. Do not simply skip your outbound flight on your own judgment. The order in which we checked is written up here.
→ If you skip the ZIPAIR outbound flight, what happens to the return? What we confirmed with Agoda and at the airport (in Japanese)
From now on, we will compare not only the fare but also when the kids’ schedules will be fixed and the cancellation terms before we book.
ZIPAIR review summary: choose it for the Wi-Fi and the 30 kg baggage
- Standard seats are fine for the price. I found it hard to sleep on the flight home
- The in-flight Wi-Fi reached 128.6 Mbps at its fastest. Keeping the kids entertained was no problem
- Add the 30 kg baggage. Skip seat selection and meals
- If your plans might change, check the fare’s cancellation terms first
More from this Bangkok trip:
- What we packed for 7 nights in Bangkok with kids: two suitcases were enough (in Japanese)
- Is Agoda legit? What went wrong in about 10 family bookings
- mikizin in English: all English pages
We booked our ZIPAIR tickets on Agoda
Check the fare conditions (whether you can cancel) on the booking screen.
Affiliate links.