ZipAir Business Class Seats Upgrade

ZipAir does not offer a business class seat but rather a “ZIP Full-Flat.” As its name suggests, it offers a fully lie-flat seat providing the basic experience of business class, including a flatbed, space, and privacy, but no free amenities associated with it, such as food and beverages, lounge access, and an amenity kit. Each additional service is offered separately because the budget long-haul carrier tries to keep prices low in order to stay affordable.

If you are looking for a comfortable lie-flat experience flying over the Pacific Ocean at lower prices compared to those charged by legacy carriers, knowing how to purchase and use a ZipAir Business Class (Full-Flat) upgrade might help you cut back your expenses and get some real rest even on a long-haul flight.

ZipAir Full-Flat Seat: What You Are Getting

The only aircraft operated by ZipAir is the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with the Full-Flat seats and the main economy cabin. The premium cabin consists of a 1-2-1 seating configuration, including just several Full-Flat seats, while the economy includes a 3-3-3 seating configuration.

Seat specifications:

• Seat pitch: about 42 inches
• Seat width between armrests: about 20 inches
• Fully flat bed length: about 76 inches
• Configuration: 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone
• Individual digital controls for the seat on the armrest, lighting control, and window dimmer

Since all the seats in the reverse herringbone arrangement are pretty much the same, selecting one is simply a matter of personal choice — window seats are ideal for solo flyers, middle seats will do for couples, seats away from the galleys and lavatories (mid-cabin seats) will be quieter.

Ways to Get into ZipAir Business Class (Full-Flat)

There are several options available to you, depending on how early you are planning to book your trip:

1. Reserve a Full-Flat seat right at the time of purchase. The easiest way to ensure that you will have a lie-flat seat on your flight is to purchase the Full-Flat fare class through ZipAir’s official site.

2. Upgrade on the day of departure at the check-in desk. ZipAir provides the possibility to upgrade from the regular seat to Full-Flat on the day of departure on selected routes (Seoul – Incheon, Singapore, Bangkok, and Honolulu). New airports will be added in the future. Prices for this kind of upgrade vary depending on the route (shorter flights – 10,000 yen and longer ones – much higher prices).

3. Upgrade during the flight. If there are some unoccupied seats, it is possible to purchase an upgrade during the flight using the onboard ordering system. This method is quite impulsive because it is not always possible since it all depends on how many people board the flight. It is also important to mention that this upgrade is not always possible on shorter routes (Tokyo-Seoul).

4. Same-day upgrades sales. Moreover, ZipAir started selling same-day, space-available upgrades at other departure airports apart from the originally launched ones.

Considering that there are only a few cabins and some routes such as Narita-San Francisco are usually sold out weeks/months before, it would be advisable to book the flight early rather than upgrading.

What’s Included in ZipAir Business Class

Because of its unbundling policy, ZipAir’s basic Full-Flat ticket includes only the seat itself. Here is what’s extra and available for purchase separately:

• Seat selection charge (Full-Flat too)
• Meals, either ordered in advance or on board, depending on flight route
• Checked baggage
• Baggage in cabin upgrade
• Amenities kits, blankets and pillows
• Access to the lounge and priority boarding/check-in/baggage

Additionally, the company provides bundle packages that include some of these items but offer a more favorable total rate than paying for each item separately. The plus side here is that the in-flight Internet access is complimentary, as well as serves as a gateway to the airline’s own entertainment platform because of the lack of seatback TVs.

Reasons People Opt for ZipAir Full-Flat Over Business Class

This one is simple; you get a full lie-flat bed on an overnight trip for a tiny fraction of what airlines charge in their traditional business-class sections. This will be great for those who do not necessarily require a fancy dining experience, access to lounges before take-off, and an amenity kit. Instead, people simply desire to have a good place where they can sleep during their flight.

This is particularly important when there are few premium cabin rewards flights available at high mileage cost.

How to Ensure a Smooth Full-Flat Traveling Experience

Here are some of the Tips for a Smoother Full-Flat Experience to ensure that you have an easy travel experience and do not have any uneasiness or stress during your trip.

• Book the seat selection in advance in case you need to book a certain row; seats in the front rows and emergency exit rows can be booked up to 48 hours before the flight, whereas advance seat selection closes 24 hours before the flight.
• Opt for a service package deal in case you want a meal, seat selection, and luggage all together; it is cheaper than purchasing these individually.
• Carry your own eye masks, neck pillows, or even a light blanket in case you wish to avoid paying for onboard facilities.
• In case you are traveling on a route with upgrades available, enquire about their availability from the cabin crew soon after the flight commences as the self-service ordering system depends on real-time seat availability.

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