BIZARRE! The World’s Cheapest Business Class: Is ZipAir Worth It?

• Airline: Zip Air
• Class: Business & Economy
• Route: Seoul (INC) to Manila (MNL) via Tokyo (NRT)
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

What happens when you strip away the champagne, multi-course fine dining, and even the entertainment screen from a lie-flat business class seat? You get Zipair, Japan’s most bizarre budget airline and a subsidiary of Japan Airlines flying an all-Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.

I put their low-cost model to the test across two flights: first in Economy from Seoul to Tokyo, and then up front in their bare-bones Business Class from Tokyo to Manila. Here is the unscripted truth on whether the world’s cheapest business class is actually worth your hard-earned money.

The Price and Hardware

For just $100, my first leg in Zipair’s 3-3-3 configured 787 Economy Class was a genuine surprise.. For a low-cost carrier, the physical comfort punches well above its weight:

• Generous Legroom: Far more spacious than your standard budget setup..
• Seat-Back Pockets: Intact and useful, a feature many modern low-cost airlines remove to save weight.
• The Highlight: A built-in universal power outlet tucked right underneath the foldable tray table.

Seamless Digital Perks

What truly makes Zipair stand out is its tech integration. Once in the air, you get free onboard Wi-Fi. From your phone or tablet, you can access streamable movies and seamlessly order paid snacks and drinks right to your seat. For a hundred bucks, this was a rock-solid, impressive short-haul experience.

Part 2: Business Class — Tokyo Narita to Manila

For my 4-hour flight onward to Manila, I upgraded to the front cabin for just $250]. Sitting in a lie-flat reverse herringbone seat for peanuts is unheard of, but it comes with some fascinating compromises.

The Bizarre Missing Screen

Stepping aboard the premium cabin, the very first thing that hits you is what isn’t there: the screen is completely missing. There is zero traditional seat-back inflight entertainment. Instead, everything is designed to be streamed directly to your own personal devices using their complimentary Wi-Fi. While the leather seats feel slightly dated compared to modern next-generation suites, getting a full lie-flat bed at this price point is pure luxury.

A Shocking Cleanliness Fail

Japan is legendary for being one of the cleanest, most spotless countries on earth. That’s why I was genuinely shocked by the condition of my business class seat: it was filthy. The black leather surfaces were covered in dust and leftover crumbs from previous flights. It was a surprising and disappointing oversight for a Japanese carrier.

Bare-Bones Amenities & Dining

Because this is an à-la-carte budget model, you don’t get traditional luxury perks:

In-Flight Ordering: Using their digital Wi-Fi portal to order snacks mid-flight (I bought a fresh waffle) worked flawlessly, reminding me of the golden era of Norwegian Airlines’ long-haul low-cost service.

The “Amenity Kit”: Instead of a designer washbag, I was handed a plastic bag containing slippers, a blanket, and a DIY inflatable neck pillow.

Pre-Ordered Dining: I pre-ordered a pork cutlet sandwich accompanied by two bottles of water.  It was just “all right”—honestly, Air Japan served a much better version when I reviewed them last year.

The Lavatory & The Crew

In classic Josh Cahill fashion, I had to conduct the mandatory l00 review and thankfully, the bathroom was absolutely spotless, passing the blue test with flying colors.

As for the cabin crew, they exhibited the classic Japanese service style: immaculately groomed, extremely polite, and heavily focused on their duties. However, the service felt very distant, robotic, and lacked that warm, personalized human touch you often get on carriers like Starlux or Singapore Airlines.

Zipair is a fascinating, highly digitalized airline that knows exactly what it is. If you judge it by the standards of a legacy full-service carrier, you will be disappointed by the lack of screens, basic food, and à-la-carte amenities.

However, judging it for what it actually is a budget airline, it gets high marks. Getting a lie-flat seat, free internet, and a peaceful sleep on a 4-hour flight to Manila for under $300 is an absolute steal. Would I be comfortable flying this bone-dry basic product on a 14-hour haul across the Pacific? That depends entirely on how cheap the ticket is. But for regional and medium-haul routes, Zipair is an incredible value proposition.

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This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!