Jetstar Japan, the largest low-cost carrier in Japan, recently commenced the first of its flights to Manila, its third international destination. On March 16, 2015, it flew its Manila to Tokyo (Narita) inaugural flight, which I took along with airline officials and members of the media.
I arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 about an hour and a half before the flight, and I was quite surprised there was still a line at check-in. As it turned out, the first flight was full, giving the airline a great start. On the queue were mostly a mix of Filipino and Japanese passengers, and I actually talked to a Filipino couple who took advantage of the 1,998 PHP promo fare the airline had in celebration of Jetstar Japan’s entry into the Philippine aviation market.
All of us who were checking in were given a nice surprise—a goodie bag with a Jetstar selfie stick and some Japanese souvenirs. Adding to the excitement was Jetta, the airline’s mascot, who was there to greet passengers queued up and indulge them for photo ops.
Granted that the flight is among the few that leave NAIA Terminal 1 late at night, both immigration and security checks were thankfully brisk.
We waited briefly for boarding to start, and once again, Jetta was there to send us off. There was a minor hitch that pushed our departure a bit late, but we took off as soon as everything was clear.
Usually expensive fares have prohibited me from taking a Japanese airline to Japan, so I was extra giddy to be flying with one for the first time. And I was in awe as the announcements and safety demo were done in Japanese in English—by an all-Japanese cabin crew.
The flight was uneventful in the hands of competent flight crew, and of course, the advantage of flying red-eye was that I was able to sleep despite being excited to arrive. It did help that I was booked on a legroom seat upfront, so I was able to stretch my legs comfortably.
We safely arrived at Narita International Airport Terminal 3, which is the newest among the airport’s terminals. It showcases a beautifully clean and sleek design—impressive even when it’s meant solely for low-cost carriers. And another thing to love about it is its simple layout that makes the arrival process straightforward from landing to baggage reclaim.
As I’ve written prior, the major advantage of flying from Manila to Tokyo (Narita) with Jetstar Japan is the scheduling. Flights from Manila arrive in Tokyo at around six in the morning, while flights from Tokyo depart for Manila at night, allowing full days for shopping and sightseeing. Also, the schedule is ideal for connecting flights to Jetstar Japan’s extensive domestic flight network.
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Jetstar Japan flies up to 7x weekly from Manila to Tokyo-Narita and Nagoya, and it flies up to 4x weekly from Manila to Osaka to complement Jetstar Asia’s 4x weekly service. The lowest fares to Japan may be booked at jetstar.com. Follow Jetstar Asia on Facebook and Twitter for promos and updates. |
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