ZIPAIR Baggage Policy (2026): Fees, Limits & How to Save

The ZIPAIR baggage policy follows a fully unbundled model. ZIPAIR, the low-cost long-haul airline owned by Japan Airlines, flies Boeing 787s from Tokyo Narita to the US West Coast, Canada, Hawaii and Asia. Its fares include 7 kg of cabin baggage and nothing else — every checked bag is sold separately, and the price depends on the route and when you pay.

Because the flights are long, most travelers do need luggage. The good news is that ZIPAIR's fees are transparent and predictable; the key is buying before you reach the airport.

ZIPAIR Cabin Baggage: 2 Bags, 7 kg

You may take two cabin items free of charge: a main bag of up to 55 x 40 x 25 cm and a smaller item of up to 45 x 35 x 25 cm. Both together must not exceed 7 kg. Items that cannot fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, such as large musical instruments, are not accepted in the cabin.

Seven kilograms is very little for a transpacific trip, which is why ZIPAIR sells a cabin upgrade.

The +8 kg cabin upgrade

Through Manage Booking you can add 8 kg to your cabin allowance, for 15 kg total. It must be bought at least 24 hours before departure and cannot be bought at the airport. Example prices per flight:

What happens if your cabin bag is over 7 kg

Without the upgrade, an overweight cabin bag is checked at the airport. You pay the full checked-bag fee for the route plus the ¥1,000 airport administration fee. On Narita–Los Angeles, a 10 kg cabin bag found at check-in costs ¥11,000 + ¥1,000 = ¥12,000, while the upgrade bought online would have cost ¥5,000. Anything over 15 kg cannot go in the cabin at all.

ZIPAIR Checked Baggage Fees

ZIPAIR charges per piece, not per kilogram. Each bag may weigh up to 30 kg and measure up to 203 cm in total; heavier or larger bags are not accepted as standard baggage, apart from eligible sports equipment. You can check up to five pieces.

Because pricing is per piece, one 28 kg bag costs the same as one 8 kg bag. Consolidating into fewer, heavier bags (up to 30 kg) is the main way to save. Bags must be dropped at least one hour before departure; self bag-drop machines at Narita are usually faster than the counter.

Upgrade or checked bag?

If you need up to 15 kg in total, the cabin upgrade is cheaper than a checked bag on every route. If you need more than that, a checked bag of up to 30 kg gives far more capacity for the price. Two travelers can each take 7 kg (or 15 kg with upgrades) rather than one person checking a bag.

How to Add Baggage After Booking

1. Go to zipair.net and open Check Reservation with your booking number and last name.
2. Select the baggage option and choose extra pieces or the +8 kg cabin upgrade for each flight.
3. Pay by card and confirm the new allowance in your confirmation email.

Checked bags can be added until check-in closes, but buying online avoids the ¥1,000 airport fee. At the airport ZIPAIR accepts credit, debit and prepaid cards and UnionPay QR — not cash.

Sports Equipment and Free Items

Golf bags, skis, snowboards, surfboards and bicycles are accepted as checked items up to 32 kg, and may exceed 203 cm within ZIPAIR's accepted size combinations. They count toward the five-piece maximum and have their own fees — for example ¥7,000–8,000 from Narita to Honolulu or San Francisco for golf and ski gear up to 200 cm, and ¥11,000–13,000 for bicycles or surfboards over 200 cm. Equipment must be packed in a protective case.

Your own stroller, child car seat and one wheelchair are checked free and do not count as pieces. Borrowed or rented equipment is charged as normal baggage.

Restricted Items and Pets

• Liquids: 100 ml containers in one clear 1-liter bag in the cabin.
• Lithium batteries and e-cigarettes: cabin only.
• Not allowed: fireworks, bleach, paint, self-heating meals and non-toiletry aerosols.
• Pets: not carried in the cabin or hold. Only assistance dogs are accepted, in the cabin, with advance notice.

If you connect to JAL or another airline, its allowance applies to that flight; see our Japan Airlines baggage guide.