Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel to and from Japan had been cheaper and affordable to budget-conscious tourists like us. Three budget carriers namely Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia and Jetstar Asia used to service the busy routes to Japan from Manila/Cebu/Clark. Throughout the pandemic, only Cebu Pacific (and Philippine Airlines) have maintained limited flights in these routes.
But with the easing of travel restrictions and lifting of the ban on travel for tourism to Japan, these airlines have resumed their flights back to pre-pandemic levels with one new carrier joining the foray into low-cost Japan-Manila route:
Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest air carrier, offers the most flights and frequency to Japan among the budget airlines. It flies to Tokyo (Narita), Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka from Manila (NAIA). You can book through its website or using the CEB app. You can also book through accredited travel agencies. Other travel booking apps like Trip.com, Kiwi.com, Bravofly, etc are legitimate third party sites but they have limited flexibilities. When booking online, you have the option to pay by Credit/Debit cards, E-wallet apps like GCash/Maya and over-the-counter at 7-11 stores.
If you are a light traveler, you can just bring your small cabin baggage and a small hand carry. Please be careful with the prescribed dimension and also the weight of your bags to avoid additional fees and of course inconvenience. For checked baggage, you are allowed up to two bags at 20 or 32kg each.
You can either pre-book or make add-ons before your flight. This includes additional baggage, seats, travel insurance, and inflight meals. It`s always cheaper to pre-book these add-ons.
TIP: While CEB`s planes are relatively new, some of their units have seats which are non-reclining and legroom has become smaller. For added convenience, please bring a travel pillow. But if the flight is not full, they do allow you to lie down on vacant rows. Also, choose the aisle seat so you can easily stretch up down the aisle.
We have tried Jetstar a few times on our flight to/from Nagoya, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Yangon. While they are not as popular as local budget carriers, they are actually cheap and reliable. They operate flights from NAIA Terminal 3 (as of 16 April 2023). They have recently resumed flights to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka from Manila (NAIA). They have recently launched their booking app for your convenience. Tip: Sign-up as member for promo updates and quick booking.
They remain to be the cheapest carrier going to Japan pre-pandemic servicing Tokyo and Kansai until 2022. They fly to Tokyo and Osaka Kansai from Manila and recently, opened their Cebu-Tokyo flight. Make sure to sign-up on the Air Asia app for a smooth booking experience.
ZipAir is the low-cost carrier of Japan Air Lines (JAL). It began operating Tokyo-Manila-Tokyo flights last July 1st and operates daily flights. Many reviews so far suggest positive feedback as it offers more comfy seats with bigger leg room, head rest and consistent on-time departure and arrival ratings. It`s also equipped with USB/charging ports and phone/tablet holders. But the game changer though is that if offers FREE WiFi connection onboard and from a first-hand account, it works well. Rates range from Php8,000-10,000 per way even when you book days before your flight. Pretty cool start!
Fares to Japan
While flights have returned to normal, airfares and flight costs are expected to go up partly due to the high demand, fuel prices and hikes in local fees. However, CEB had been offering frequent promos, mostly its base fare on international flights. Jetstar and AirAsia on the other hand is offering regular promotional fares. The newest player ZIPAIR offers some stable pricing which is an advantage especially for suddent travel plans. Please check their websites or social networks for updates.
Is it safe now to fly despite the risk of Covid-19?
UPDATE: The Japanese government has waived all entry restrictions to the country regardless of vaccination history.
We share the view of the authorities that it is now safe to travel given the prevailing protocols and policies in place. Also, airlines have now implemented Covid-related precautions. But of course that could be sweeping and may not re-assure all people, especially those who love traveling. We think that public conveyance protocols and your personal protection should go together. When we say personal protection, we mean vaccinations and health conditions.
So if you have any plans of going abroad anytime in the near future, you have to first consider the following: Are you fully vaccinated? Do you have a pre-existing condition? Are you still capable of air travel and public commuting? If the answer is yes then chances are you are ready to go. But that’s only the initial step. Preparation is the key for any eventuality or unforeseen circumstances related to your health and safety.
Is travel insurance necessary?
It is not a requirement for entry to many countries like Japan but it is definitely IMPORTANT. While we want you to travel on budget, we don’t want you to end up spending more or putting your family in a stressful situation for any untoward incident throughout your trip. We heard about horror stories of tourists being stuck abroad. Remember, hospitalization and/or repatriation in Japan is expensive. So consider it as a rolling investment more than an expense. Not to mention, current insurance products offer a wider range of coverage from medical intervention and repatriation to flight delays/cancellation, and lost baggage.
We used to avail the travel insurance offered by Pacific Cross. The rates depend on your destination and length of stay. CEB and AirAsia also have their own in-house insurer and offer affordable rates and decent coverage. You might want to find a product that covers COVID-19 related illnesses. [TBC)
TARA SA JAPAN 