Image provided by: Vanilla Air

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have become a global sensation due to their low fares. While LCCs already operate domestic flights as well as international flights, they finally began service to Hakodate Airport on February 19, 2017.

Vanilla Air is the first low-cost carrier (LCC) to operate in Hakodate. The biggest appeal of LCCs is, of course, their low fares. You can travel from the Tokyo metropolitan area to Hakodate in Hokkaido for about the same price as taking a train to the suburbs, and in just about 1 hour and 40 minutes. In this article, we will explain Vanilla Air's routes to Hakodate Airport.

<Table of Contents>
1. What is Vanilla Air?
2. Flight information and fare plans to Hakodate Airport
3. What are the disadvantages of Vanilla Air?
4. Access between the city center and Narita Airport
5. What other airlines operate flights to Hakodate?
6. Osaka route now also in service!
7. Summary

Vanilla Air is a low-cost carrier (LCC) based at Narita International Airport, formerly operating as AirAsia Japan. It became Vanilla Air in 2013 and continues to operate under that name today. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of ANA, a major Japanese airline. You can also use ANA miles for award tickets.

In addition to domestic flights, they also operate routes to East Asian destinations such as Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Hakodate route operates from Narita Airport. There is one round-trip flight daily, and until March 25th, flights mainly depart Narita in the 11:1 AM hour and depart Hakodate in the 3:14 PM hour. From the 26th, the flight schedule will change, with flights departing Narita at 12:55 PM and arriving at 14:35 PM, and flights departing Hakodate at 16:50 PM and arriving back in Narita at 18:30 PM.

Vanilla Air's main fare plans are "ComiComi Vanilla" and "Simple Vanilla." There is also another plan called "WakuWaku Vanilla," but it is offered irregularly, so it's like a bargain sale; you never know when it will be available.

Fares are variable and change daily. Unlike major airlines, there are no fixed fares that are set a certain number of days in advance. For example, a "ComiComi Vanilla" flight from Narita to Hakodate that costs around 7,000 yen two months in advance might cost over 20,000 yen on the day of departure. Fares increase as the number of available seats decreases.

Additionally, plans with lower fares than the standard plan, such as "Wakuwaku Vanilla," and plans that offer discounts for groups of three or more, may appear. Therefore, if you're aiming for the cheap fares that are the biggest attraction of LCCs, checking their website is a must.

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) offer different services compared to major airlines. Vanilla Air offers two basic fare plans: "ComiComi Vanilla" and "Simple Vanilla." The main difference between the two is the services provided. With the lower-priced Simple Vanilla and WakuWaku Vanilla plans, checked baggage and seat selection incur additional charges. Cancellations are also not permitted.

The "ComiComi Vanilla" fare includes all these services. You can check in carry-on baggage up to 20 kg. However, while seat selection is free for standard seats, there is a charge for Relax seats, which offer more legroom than standard seats. Cancellations are possible, but a fee will apply.

4. Access between the city center and Narita Airport

There are several ways to get to Narita, including trains, buses, taxis, and private cars. Train options include the Skyliner, Access Express, Keisei Main Line, Narita Express, and JR lines. The Skyliner takes just 36 minutes from Nippori Station and costs 2,470 yen for adults. From Narita, you can get a Skyliner Value Ticket for 2,200 yen, which is a great deal.

 

5. What other airlines operate flights to Hakodate?

Besides Vanilla Air, there are other airlines operating flights to Hakodate Airport from Haneda. These include the major airlines ANA and JAL, as well as Air Do, which is headquartered in Hokkaido. You can carefully consider the fare plans and your destination to choose the airline that best suits your needs.

 

6. Osaka route now also in service!

In addition to Narita, a Hakodate route will also begin operating from Kansai International Airport in Osaka on March 18th. Both ANA and JAL operate one flight per day from the Kansai area to Hakodate. Both flights depart from and arrive at Itami Airport, so now there are more airports available to use.

7. Summary

This article covered Vanilla Air, Hakodate's first low-cost carrier (LCC). Hakodate is said to have become more accessible since the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, but this new airline should make it feel even more familiar. It might even be easier to visit from the Kansai region!

<Isaiah>
HP:https://www.vanilla-air.com/jp/
Headquarters: Located inside Narita International Airport Terminal 2
Phone: 0570-6666-03

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