$333 flights to Tokyo on new Houston route from budget carrier Zipair
There's a new way to get from the U.S. to Japan — and it's even quite affordable.
Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair announced last week that it would add flights from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) beginning March 4, 2025. The new four-times-weekly flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Zipair will deploy a 290-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that features 18 lie-flat business-class pods and 272 standard economy seats on this route.
While you might not have heard about Zipair before, the carrier's inaugural fare sale will definitely catch your attention. The airline is offering round-trip flights from Houston to Tokyo for as low as $666, or $333 each way. Travelers must book flights by Nov. 30 to take advantage of the sale.
Note that as a low-cost carrier, Zipair charges additional fees for inflight meals, checked baggage, seat selection and more. But even after adding in all the ancillaries, it could be cheaper to fly to Japan with Zipair versus a major network carrier like All Nippon Airways or United Airlines.
Related: Zipair economy vs. business class to Japan: Is the budget carrier worth it?
Better yet, those looking for fancy lie-flat seats also will likely find Zipair's offering to be attractive. Introductory fares start at just under $1,500 each way — a fraction of what a lie-flat bed can cost on a competitor. Zipair's business-class product is comfortable — you get a lie-flat bed in a reverse herringbone configuration — but you need to pay for ancillaries, much in the same way that you would if flying in economy. True to its low-cost roots, you won't even find TVs at each seat (but there is free Wi-Fi).
Zipair's new Houston service will become the carrier's fifth transpacific route, joining service to Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia. (Los Angeles was the carrier's first transpacific destination, and it launched back in late 2021.)
The new flight will depart Houston at 8:45 a.m. and land in Tokyo at 1:50 p.m. the following day, all times local. The return flight will depart Tokyo at 10 a.m. and land in Houston at 6:45 a.m. the same day.
Zipair is the low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines. ANA and United already fly from Houston to Tokyo, so this new route will allow Oneworld-affiliated Japan Airlines to compete on this 6,643-mile route. (In fact, this route will be the longest in the Zipair network.)
If you can stomach paying for all the ancillaries, this new route will certainly make it more affordable to get to Japan. And who knows, if ANA or United match these sale fares, then perhaps you could even fly one of the more established network carriers for the price of the low-cost alternative.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees