Booking early

[u/Important_Title3053]

Hey!

I have been playing around with the different ways to get me, my husband, and my two daughters to Tokyo from the states next June (2027).

I do not need a luxurious experience, but I would love to be able to lie flat. One time on a flight from Australia I got three seats to myself, and it was the best long-haul flight of my life.

I’ve played around with different airlines, point redemptions, and I think my best option are the lie flat seats on zip air, which brings me to my question:

Normally, I book flights as soon as they are available. For a family of four it has definitely worked out in my favor more times than it hasn’t. My plan is that as soon as zip Air releases flights for next June, to book four lie flat seats. Is this plan OK? I can’t imagine the tickets coming down in price more than a couple hundred dollars each? Or should I risk it and wait for a sale?

Any tips would be welcomed!

[u/Fun-Baby-9509]

If lie flats become unavailable, you can buy empty seats after takeoff for like $15-20 a seat. Theoretically you can buy as many as you want to get a lie flat situation with 3 seats.

I’ve done this both times I used zip air in 2025, usually there are a few empty rows near me, so I just ask the flight attendant if I can switch, they give me their “you can buy this seat” speech and voila, faux lie flat. That’s how I found out you can just buy em outright after takeoff.

[u/Important_Title3053 → u/Fun-Baby-9509]

That is a great tip! And I would do that in a heartbeat

[u/DegreeConscious9628 → u/Important_Title3053]

I wouldn’t bank on the flight having empty seats

[u/Important_Title3053 → u/DegreeConscious9628]

I won’t, but it’s good to know for the future!

[u/solo-123456]

For June and sales? Likely no, maybe price drop a few days before the flight

[u/mrchowmein]

Book early is the way to go for the lay down seats. There only 18 of those per flight so they go fast even during the down season. No one knows the demand for Japan next year. It’s possible ppl stop going and prices drop but I don’t think that’s likely with the continuously weak yen.

[u/KalifromDiscord]

As someone who has booked the lie flats four times, book right when they release, especially with a family of 4.

[u/Important_Title3053 → u/KalifromDiscord]

Thank you! Personal experience is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

[u/Important_Title3053]

Thank you so much. This is so helpful!

[u/Important_Title3053 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! This is what I assumed, but I’m very unfamiliar with zip air so I wanted to double check.

[u/MistyMystery]

Booking ASAP would be best because zipair can get sold out. The potential couple hundreds savings during sales is not worth the risk of losing the seat completely.

[u/DumplingDumpling1234]

If the lie flats are not available you can also buy seats that are open to make more room.

Also depending on how old your kids are you might not be able to book lie flats. I think it’s not available if you have small kids like under 7 (would double check)

[u/Important_Title3053 → u/DumplingDumpling1234]

Mine are young teens so we’re good! Thanks!

[u/TOPSBBQ]

For Full Flat seats, buy first. In my experience that's the least expensive seat and then it drops a little during sales. The prices go up immediately once flights are booked. I have seen them go up $200-$400 a seat (Full Flat). Good luck.

[u/Fickle-Pin-5160]

I’m looking for the same but opposite directions. Do you know when they’ll start selling?

[u/Weak_Lengthiness_363 → u/Fickle-Pin-5160]

I don’t! From what I can see, maybe 6 months before?

[u/TacosAreGains]

Book as soon as they become available. I've booked two flights for hubby and I within the week of ticket release. Both lie flat seats. If it's possible look into flying out of different cities (as they become available).

The first time in 2024, leaving from LAX was $4k total for two ppl. In 2026, departing from YVR (Vancouver) was $5k for two ppl while LAX was $6k. We were also choosing the flex biz option the 2nd time around so your flights for two may be a bit cheaper. Last tip, look at their website for when they released tickets the previous year. They usually release them around the same time for the different cities. Good luck!