ZIPAIR Point Club Plus Worth It: Fees, Benefits and Savings

ZIPAIR Point Club Plus costs 5,000 yen (about $33) per year and gives members 1,000 ZIPAIR Points plus a 30% discount on checked baggage bought online. For travelers checking even one bag each way on a long-haul route, the baggage savings alone typically exceed the annual fee, making it worth it for anyone who checks bags regularly.

ZIPAIR built its loyalty program differently from most airlines. Instead of rewarding flight distance with status tiers, the JAL-owned budget carrier created a cash-like points system split into a free tier and a paid upgrade. That paid tier  ZIPAIR Point Club Plus  has become a genuine point of confusion for travelers trying to figure out if a 5,000-yen annual fee actually pays for itself.

What Is ZIPAIR Point Club Plus?

ZIPAIR Point Club Plus is the paid upgrade to ZIPAIR’s free Point Club loyalty program. For a 5,000 yen annual fee (tax-free), members receive 1,000 bonus ZIPAIR Points and a 30% discount on checked baggage purchased online. Membership requires first joining the free Point Club and registering a credit card for automatic annual renewal.

Here’s how the two tiers compare, according to ZIPAIR’s official membership page:

Sporting goods are excluded from the baggage discount, and the discount only applies when baggage is purchased online  not at the airport counter.

How Do ZIPAIR Points Work?

ZIPAIR Points operate on a fixed 1 point = 1 yen exchange rate, unlike traditional airline miles that fluctuate in value depending on route and redemption type. Points can be used toward flight tickets, checked baggage, seat selection, and in-flight purchases, and they’re credited or deducted immediately after each transaction.

This fixed valuation is actually one of ZIPAIR’s biggest advantages over conventional mileage programs. You never have to guess whether redeeming points now or saving them for later gets better value  1,000 points will always be worth exactly 1,000 yen, whether you spend it on a ticket, a seat upgrade, or a snack during the flight.

Unlike most loyalty programs, ZIPAIR Points aren’t earned by flying. You only earn them through enrollment bonuses or by converting JAL Mileage Bank miles.

ZIPAIR Points Transfer: How Do JAL Miles Convert to ZIPAIR Points?

JAL miles convert to ZIPAIR Points at rates between 1:1 and 1:1.5, depending on how many miles you redeem at once. Members must first link their ZIPAIR ID with their JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) number, after which conversions happen instantly through the ZIPAIR website.

The exchange rate improves as you redeem larger mile increments:

You can also mix increments. For example, redeeming 18,000 miles as one 3,000-mile block, one 5,000-mile block, and one 10,000-mile block yields 8,000 points at the 1:1 rate plus 15,000 points at the 1:1.5 rate  a total of 23,000 points.

The conversion also works in reverse: ZIPAIR Points convert to JAL miles at a flat rate of 2 points per 1 mile, in increments of 2 points. Note that this reverse rate is considerably less favorable than converting miles to points, so it only makes sense if you have points you won’t otherwise use before they expire (points are generally valid for one year).

How Much Do You Actually Save With Point Club Plus?

ZIPAIR Point Club Plus typically pays for itself after checking just one or two bags on a round-trip long-haul flight. On trans-Pacific routes where checked bags run approximately $87 each way, the 30% discount saves around $26 per bag  meaning a single round trip with one checked bag nearly covers the $33 annual fee outright.

Here’s the math broken down:

The catch: route matters. On shorter intra-Asia routes (Seoul, Bangkok, Manila), baggage fees run lower, so the 30% discount yields smaller savings per bag  often closer to 9–13. On these routes, you may need three or four checked bags across a year of travel to recoup the fee, which lines up with the more cautious “worth it after 4+ bags” guidance you’ll see from some outlets covering short-haul ZIPAIR routes specifically.

Choose Point Club Plus if you fly long-haul ZIPAIR routes and check at least one bag each way per trip. Skip it if you fly short-haul Asian routes infrequently or travel carry-on only  the free Point Club gives you the same point-earning and redemption flexibility without the upfront cost.

American Express and ZIPAIR: What’s the Actual Connection?

American Express has no direct transfer partnership with ZIPAIR Points or JAL Mileage Bank for U.S.-issued cards. Amex Membership Rewards points cannot be converted into ZIPAIR Points. The connection between the two is limited to using an Amex card as a payment method for ZIPAIR purchases, including the Point Club Plus annual fee.

This is worth clarifying because confusion is common here. While American Express has an extensive airline transfer partner list (including carriers like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines), JAL and ZIPAIR are not among them for U.S. cardholders. If you’re holding Membership Rewards points hoping to fast-track ZIPAIR savings, the direct transfer route doesn’t currently exist  your best path to extra ZIPAIR Points remains converting JAL miles earned through flying or JAL-affiliated spending.

Are There Amex ZIPAIR Offers?

Amex ZIPAIR offers occasionally appear as targeted statement credit promotions within individual American Express accounts, similar to other Amex Offers tied to specific merchants. These are not permanent benefits and vary by cardholder, so availability should be checked directly in your Amex app or online account rather than assumed.

If you see a ZIPAIR-specific Amex Offer in your account, it’s typically a limited-time statement credit for spending a minimum amount on ZIPAIR tickets or services  unrelated to Point Club Plus membership itself. These offers stack on top of whatever ZIPAIR Points or discounts you already qualify for, making them worth checking before booking.

Can You Book ZIPAIR Through Chase Travel?

ZIPAIR tickets are sold primarily through ZIPAIR’s own website, and Point Club Plus benefits  including the baggage discount and points earning  only apply to bookings made directly through ZIPAIR. Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not have a direct transfer partnership with JAL Mileage Bank or ZIPAIR Points.

If you book ZIPAIR flights through a third-party portal like Chase Travel, you risk losing access to member-exclusive pricing on baggage and the ability to apply ZIPAIR Points toward your purchase. For anyone enrolled in Point Club Plus, booking directly on zipair.net is the only way to guarantee the 30% baggage discount and points accrual apply to your reservation.

Who Should Join ZIPAIR Point Club Plus?

• Frequent trans-Pacific travelers checking at least one bag each way see the fastest return, often breaking even within a single round trip.
• JAL Mileage Bank members with miles sitting unused can convert them into ZIPAIR Points at favorable rates (up to 1.5 points per mile) and use the Plus membership to stretch those points further on baggage.
• Families or groups booking multiple checked bags multiply their savings fast  two round-trip travelers each checking one bag can save over $100 combined.
• Budget-conscious long-haul flyers who already plan to check bags will find the discount outweighs the fee almost immediately.

Occasional short-haul flyers or strict carry-on travelers are unlikely to see enough baggage volume to justify the fee and are better served by the free Point Club tier.

Potential Drawbacks and Limitations

• Non-refundable fee: If you cancel mid-year, ZIPAIR does not prorate or refund the unused portion of your annual fee.
• Online-only discount: The 30% baggage discount applies solely to bags purchased online in advance  not at airport check-in counters.
• No flight-based earning: You can’t earn ZIPAIR Points simply by flying; points only come from enrollment bonuses or mile conversions.
• Automatic renewal: Your card is charged before the renewal date unless you actively cancel, so mark your calendar if you don’t plan to continue.
• Sporting goods excluded: Specialty baggage like golf bags or ski equipment doesn’t qualify for the discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does ZIPAIR Point Club Plus cost?
ZIPAIR Point Club Plus costs 5,000 yen per year (tax-free), roughly $33 USD at typical exchange rates. The fee is charged automatically to your registered credit card before each annual renewal date.

Is the ZIPAIR Point Club Plus fee refundable if I cancel?
No. ZIPAIR’s official terms state that annual fees are non-refundable, even if you cancel partway through your membership year. Your free Point Club membership remains active after cancellation.

How many ZIPAIR Points do I get for joining Point Club Plus?
New Point Club Plus members receive 1,000 ZIPAIR Points, credited only on first-time enrollment. This is separate from the 100 points awarded for joining the free Point Club.

Does the baggage discount apply at the airport check-in counter?
No. The 30% checked baggage discount only applies to bags purchased online through the ZIPAIR website while logged in as a Plus member, not to bags added at the airport.

Can I pay the annual fee using JAL miles instead of a credit card?
Yes, indirectly. You can convert JAL miles into ZIPAIR Points first, then use those points to cover the Point Club Plus annual fee, since ZIPAIR Points are an eligible payment method for membership fees.

What’s the exchange rate between JAL miles and ZIPAIR Points?
Redeeming miles in 3,000 or 5,000-mile increments converts at 1 mile to 1 point. Redeeming in 10,000-mile increments improves the rate to 1 mile to 1.5 points.

Can ZIPAIR Points be converted back into JAL miles?
Yes. ZIPAIR Points convert to JAL miles at a fixed rate of 2 points per 1 mile, in increments of 2 points  a less favorable rate than converting miles to points.

Do I need a credit card to join Point Club Plus?
Yes. ZIPAIR requires a registered credit card to enroll in Point Club Plus, since the annual fee is charged automatically before each renewal date unless paid with points.

Can I use an American Express card to pay for ZIPAIR Point Club Plus?
Yes, Amex cards work as a payment method for the membership fee itself. However, Amex Membership Rewards points cannot be transferred into ZIPAIR Points or JAL miles.

Does Point Club Plus include priority boarding or lounge access?
No. ZIPAIR’s official program documentation confirms Point Club Plus benefits are limited to points earning and the 30% checked baggage discount  it does not include boarding priority, lounge access, or seat upgrades.