In April 2025, Enzo's Travel Journals returned to Japan (which was done by my mom on my behalf due to my school classes). Jetstar was her airline of choice again, but will this live up again to her expectations? Read more to know.
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| A Jetstar Japan Airbus A320-232 at Narita International Airport. |
This is the second time ETJ featured Jetstar in its flight reviews; the previous was in December 2024. Click here to read my previous Jetstar report.
Notes:
- This is a personal blog on our travel experience and is neither promoted nor endorsed by Jetstar.
- The author of this blog did not board the flights. Rather, my mom represented me due to my school classes.
- Exchange rates between currencies are as of March 2025: 1 Philippine peso = 0.017 USD and 2.6 JPY.
Overview
Jetstar Japan (GK), the subsidiary of low-cost airline Jetstar (JQ), has been serving the Philippine market since 2016, with the launch of its flights from Manila to Tokyo and Nagoya. Since its launch, it has been operating one daily round-trip flights to Tokyo, which this blog focuses. I previously created a blog about this around five to six months ago in late 2024, when they still operated once daily.
But with travel demand to Japan skyrocketing due to the weakening yen, airlines need to cope with the exponential increase of bookings. With almost every flight being sold out, airlines can either increase its frequency or up-gauge its flights from smaller to larger planes. The former is what Jetstar Japan exactly did because it operates solely Airbus A320 planes. Meanwhile, the latter is what Cebu Pacific exactly did, because their larger A330s supplement the A320 family planes they predominantly use.
Jetstar is a multinational low-cost carrier based in Australia, with subsidiaries in Singapore (3K) and Japan (GK). It predominantly operates a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. Jetstar Japan, its Tokyo-based subsidiary, is the main focus of this blog.
Booking process
At the start of 2025, my mom had thoughts of visiting the Japanese capital for the annual Sakura peak travel season. Booked around a month in advance, the round-trip ticket cost $245 (approximately 14,422 pesos, 37,498 JPY). Included in the cost are two add-ons: pre-selected seats for both flights and a 20-kilogram checked baggage allowance for the return flight. My mom booked this directly from Jetstar's website.
For the purpose of frequent flyers on the Jetstar Group, the Starter fare comes with 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage allowance; you can purchase an additional 7 kg if you need two carry-on bags. This makes Jetstar slightly past Cebu Pacific, which only allows one carry-on baggage. Additionally, you have the option to purchase up to 40 kg checked baggage. For more information, visit this link.
Travel requirements
Aside from your passport and travel itinerary, you would also need to fulfill the following requirements to Japan:
Philippines
- eTravel - used for departing Filipino citizens and ALL arriving international passengers. Mobile users can download the eGovPH app, while you can visit the sign-in portal here. For Filipinos, this should be filled up TWICE: for your departing flight and for your arriving flight. You can fill this up within 72 hours from the dates of your flights.
- Travel Tax - as explained earlier, economy class passengers should pay this levy of 1,620 pesos either online (for Philippine-based airlines) or at TIEZA counters at airports.
Japan
- Valid Travel Visa - for the purpose of my Philippine viewers, a visa is required to enter Japan. Visit this site for more details.
- Visit Japan Web - acts like an online arrival card. Arriving tourists are required to create an account in this portal and accomplish the immigration and customs forms before arriving in Japan. You can fill up the arrival form here.
Departing flight: Friday, April 4, 2025
Jetstar operates its Manila flights at Terminal 3; it previously operated its flights at Terminal 1 until 2023.
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| There were not many people at Jetstar's Manila check-in counters at Terminal 3. |
My mom arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport before 22:00 the previous evening. After paying the travel tax of 1,620 pesos per passenger. With one suitcase lined up for the plane's underbelly, the check-in process was as quick; it took just FIVE MINUTES to finish this process. Immigration was also quick as well, and my mom made it to the boarding gates in no time.
Flight information
Route map
An announcement regarding the flight's thirty-minute delay was relayed to us in advance (around six hours before), pushing back the departure time from 02:50 to 03:20. Boarding started at 02:51 at Gate 112. The boarding process was smooth and orderly enough.
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| JA24JJ, a 2018-built Airbus A320-232, took my mom on this red-eye flight. |
The aircraft used for this flight is a 2018-built Airbus A320-232, registered JA24JJ. This aircraft arrived as flight GK 43 from Narita. Jetstar Japan operates an exclusive fleet of Airbus A320 planes powered by two IAE V2500 turbofan engines.
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| The seat looks good and comfortable, with great legroom. |
Jetstar’s seats are 18 inches wide and have a pitch of 28 to 29 inches. There are no bottom seat pockets, where the safety card and the magazines would be usually placed, but a compact pocket on top of the seat. This, in turn, results in greater legroom.
The plane took off from Manila at 03:56, an hour and six minutes behind schedule.
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| Magazine cover of Jetstar's in-flight magazine for April, May, and June 2025. It features Japanese actress Yuumi Kawai. Let's review the magazine! Unfortunately, Japanese characters dominate it, which we, foreign tourists, couldn’t understand. PRO-TIP: Although you remain offline during your flight, you can still use Google Translate to translate the magazine’s text; just simply download the language you want to translate and you’re good to go. |
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| Jetstar Cafe's menu (first page) |
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| My mom's early morning snack: a cup of noodles and an orange drink! |
Less than an hour into the flight, my mom bought a light snack. Although they do sell hot meals on board, these are, like Cebu Pacific, only available for pre-order. For 750 Japanese yen (288 pesos, $4.89), my mom bought one cup noodles and an orange drink.
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| A bright horizon ahead as the sun rises. |
For the rest of this flight, my mom took a short nap as the sun began to rise.
Nearly four hours later, the plane started its descent to Narita International Airport in Japan. One positive factor I noticed in this flight is that a few minutes before descending, the cabin crew announces the remaining time before the fasten seatbelt sign would be switched on, alerting passengers (especially those that are yet to go to the lavatory) in advance. Soon after, the plane landed before nine o'clock.
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| The plane barked beside a Fukuoka-bound Jetstar A320 at Narita Terminal 3 |
Narita has three terminals. Jetstar operates its Narita flights out of Terminal 3. She disembarked at a remote gate before a short bus ride to the terminal. T3 is designed for low-cost carriers; as such, there are no jet bridges, and the design is simpler than the two other terminals. This reduces facility costs, reportedly up to 40% on international flights from Narita.
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| A poster welcoming tourists to Japan at Narita T3 |
For first timers, stepping in at a low-cost terminal like this could make you feel quite unsatisfied once you step out of your plane; hence, for those going to Japan for the first time, you may want to check your airline's arrival terminal (for flights to Narita) before proceeding with your booking (use this link); otherwise, you would be surprised. Jetstar, Philippines AirAsia, Jeju Air, and Peach Aviation are some of the airlines operating at Terminal 3.
After an express train ride to Tokyo, my mom stayed there for three days.
Return flight: Sunday, April 6, 2025
After three days in Tokyo, it was time to return home.
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| Some figures of the popular Pikachu behind an aesthetically artistic T3 sign. |
Following an express train ride from Japan's capital Tokyo, to Narita, my mom went to the check-in counters. Initially, she used a self-service machine to check her baggage, but airport staff redirected passengers to the physical counters. Since Terminal 3 is the hub of Jetstar Japan, lines were extremely long, as it includes other passengers traveling to other flights operated by GK as well.
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| Narita Terminal 3's pre-departure area. |
The problem came after immigration. My mom was carrying her hand-carry bag within the 7-kilogram limit. After immigration, you can take this opportunity to shop at the last minute (especially when you want to bring home something, which we call as "pasalubong"); my mom did just that, buying dozens of chocolate bars from Royce that were given away to her friends (and some of my friends in school). The items that you buy from those shops are not usually weighed by the airline, but it did not fair enough this time, according to her. To her surprise, Jetstar WEIGHS YOUR EXTRAS to ensure that you still comply with the hand-carry weight limit. Unfortunately, it exceeded the 7-kilogram limit, necessitating a penalty of $52 (around 3,077 pesos, 8,000 yen). But instead of paying, my mom opted to check-in those souvenirs instead, since she had 8 kilograms more to fill up her 20-kg prepaid allowance for checked baggage.
Flight information
Route map
The aircraft used for this flight is a 2013-built Airbus A320-232, registered JA22JJ. This was previously operated by Vueling, and leased by Jetstar Pacific (Jetstar's former Vietnam affiliate) until 2016.
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| JA22JJ takes my mom back to the Philippines from a sojourn trip in Japan. |
Boarding commenced at past 19:00, and passengers were bussed from the terminal to the plane. Soon after, pushback commenced at 19:40, and the plane took off at 20:14.
My views on the seat and the magazine in the previous flight apply to this flight as well. But, the difference is the snacks.
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| The apple pie and a milk tea drink served as my mom's evening snack for this flight. |
For 500 Japanese yen (20 pesos, $0.3), you can buy a "snack combo": just choose one snack and one drink. She bought an apple pie and a bottle of milk tea.
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| The plane at the tarmac of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. |
For the rest of this flight, my mom took a short nap. The flight went ahead without any hitches. The plane then started descending to Manila, and she landed at 00:01, twenty-one minutes behind schedule.
Watch my trip report of this flight on YouTube: This discusses each detail comprehensively.
Verdict
Timing and frequency
Since April 3, 2025, Jetstar flies twice daily to Tokyo from Manila and back. One flight leaves before 01:00 (GK 40), while the other flight leaves before 03:00 (GK 42). Both red-eye flights are four hours long. The return flights, meanwhile, leave before 20:00 (GK 41) and 22:00 (GK 43). Jetstar's flights are good for those who want to start early and maximize your days in Japan. My mom would choose a midnight or pre-dawn flight to maximize her short three-day spring visit, then choose an evening flight back.
Overall service
Overall, Jetstar offers you a decent low-cost service that you can afford to enjoy. However, the problems came about only during the check-in process for the return flight, hence, the lower rating for the check-in aspect.
Nonetheless, Jetstar offer a decent service you can find in some low-cost carriers. Although the Japanese have a reputation of being on time (most of the time), this trip report shows that not all things may go to plan, especially when it is not right on schedule. But anyway, Jetstar offers the best schedule for you if you want to be an arriving early bird in Japan. However, for those still choosing low-cost carriers, Cebu Pacific or AirAsia offers the best timings if you want an afternoon hotel check-in in Tokyo.
Positive indicators
- Clean aircraft
- Comfortable seats
- Friendly and nice-looking flight attendants
- Delicious light snacks and good food choices
Points for improvement
- Jetstar should clarify the baggage guidelines during pre-boarding procedures, so that no passenger will be surprised if there would be a surprise weighing of bags.
- They should also minimize delays in its flights to ensure sustained customer satisfaction.
Ratings
I rate each aspect of the flight in a scale of 1 to 10.
Departing flight (April 4)
- Check-in - 9.4/10
- Punctuality - 7.5/10
- Seat - 9.6/10
- Light snacks - 9.2/10
- Crew - 9.6/10
- Price - 9.5/10
- OVERALL - 9.1/10
Return flight (April 6)
- Check-in - 4.0/10
- Punctuality - 8.5/10
- Seat - 9.6/10
- Light snacks - 8.9/10
- Crew - 9.6/10
- Price - 9.5/10
- OVERALL - 8.4/10
Overall, ETJ rates this round-trip journey an 8.8 out of 10 points. This is lower than the 9.1 points I gave in December 2024.
For more updates, visit my blog site and subscribe to my YouTube channel, Enzo's Travel Journals!
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