On July 2, 2024, JAL’s low-cost offshoot ZIPAIR started charging passengers for changing seats once onboard. Depending on the type of originally assigned seat, the charges range from 300 yen (1.86 USD) to 8,000 yen (49.53 USD).
The new fee, which the airline says “allows customers to spend their time on board even more comfortably,” is applicable even to passengers switching from one ZIP Full-Flat seat to another. The onboard seat change charges are as follows for flights to and from Tokyo Narita:
- Seoul: 300 yen from full-flat to full flat / 1,500 yen from standard to exit or front row / 500 yen from standard to other standard non-exit/front row
- Bangkok, Manila, Singapore: 1,000 yen / 4,000 yen / 1,300 yen
- Honolulu: 1,500 yen / 6,000 yen / 2,000 yen
- Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Vancouver: 2,000 yen / 8,000 yen / 2,700 yen
Credit and debit cards are the only accepted payment option and to change the assigned seat, the passenger needs to ask the cabin crew to confirm which seats are available and pay the required fee.
Aside from now charging passengers to change seats within the same class, ZIPAIR also allows onboard upgrades from standard to full-flat seats subject to availability. The upgrades can be purchased through ZIPAIR’s portal accessible via onboard wi-fi and cost 10,000 yen for flights to/from Seoul; 20,000 yen for Manila; 40,000 yen for Bangkok and Singapore; 50,000 yen for Honolulu; and 70,000 yen for destinations in North America.
