Travellers can visit two of the world's top Asian travel destinations for the price of one (and no, it isn't because they are located beside each other's land border).
Trips to the Philippines from Vancouver can cost hundreds of dollars less thanks to an ultra-cheap flight to Japan that went into service in 2024.
Japan Airlines' basic carrier, Zipair, revolutionized the route connecting Tokyo with Vancouver, offering jaw-dropping fares on direct flights starting in March 2024.
Now, travellers planning to visit the Land of the Rising Sun in 2025 can score round-trip, direct flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) for as little as $757 in September with Zipair. Flights must be booked separately to get this price, otherwise, they cost slightly higher ($773).
According to Google Flights, this price is considered "low" for economy tickets, priced at an astonishing $1,068 cheaper than usual.
Unfortunately, travellers hoping to visit the destination sooner will only find prices as low as $900, while most of them cost over $1,000.
Cheap tickets for direct YVR to MNL flights are few and far between
Travellers who routinely fly from Vancouver to Manila face soaring ticket prices year-round.
Unlike on the Japan route, a new, low-cost carrier hasn't been introduced to quell skyrocketing costs on the main Philippines route. According to Google Flights, the average round-trip flight from YVR to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) costs $1,500 to $2,300.
Several tickets are available for around $1,200 to $1,400 if you are flexible with your travel dates but you may have to endure a lengthy stopover for the cheaper options.
However, travellers looking to score two bucket-list destinations in one can cut the cost of a ticket to Manila by several hundred dollars.
Fly to Japan and the Philippines from Vancouver for the price of one
By flying to Tokyo first, travellers save at least a couple hundred dollars on their trip to the Philippines (in terms of flight prices, the accommodation, cuisine, and entertainment in Japan is notably steeper).
For example, a one-way Zipair flight departs YVR for NRT on Tuesday, Sept. 9 and costs $411 booked directly through the airline. According to Google Flights, this price is considered "low" for economy or $200 cheaper than usual (see slides two and three).
The next one-way flight from NRT to MNL is on Wednesday, Sept. 17 with Jetstar and costs as little as $126 when booked through a third-party supplier (costs vary depending on which one you book). The flight costs $140 directly through Jetstar. According to Google Flights, this price is considered "low" for economy or $36 cheaper than usual (see slides four and five).
The flight from MNL back to NRT is with Philippines AirAsia on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and costs $95 when booked through third-party supplier kiwi.com. If you prefer to book directly through the airline, it only costs $2 more ($97). According to Google Flights, this price is considered "low" for an economy ticket or $58 cheaper than usual (see slides six and seven).
The fourth and final flight on the itinerary from NRT back to YVR with Zipair departs on Sept. 30 and costs $344 through booking.com or $346 directly through the airline. According to Google Flights, this price is considered "low" for economy or $264 cheaper than usual (see slides eight and nine).
The four flights added together (booked with the lowest available options) works out to $976.
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