I Flew Vanilla Airlines Once — And That Was More Than Enough - LocalNomads: Free Digital Nomad Guides, Tips & Guidance

The Japanese low-cost carrier, Vanilla Airlines, merged with Peach Aviation in 2019, and the two have been operating together ever since. If you are thinking about flying with them, do note that passengers often have mixed reviews about their service. Some regard it as satisfactory, while others have serious issues. I have traveled with them in the past, and here’s my honest review of the entire travel experience.

Let’s delve into what it was like to fly with Vanilla Airlines.

What is Vanilla Airlines

Originally, Vanilla Airlines was a Japanese low-cost airline owned by All Nippon Airways (ANA). However, it merged with Peach Aviation (another ANA-owned airline) in 2019 to be more effective. Technically, Vanilla Airlines doesn’t exist anymore; it’s referred to as Peach Aviation now, but we will use Vanilla Airlines for the purposes of this article.

With their headquarters in Japan, Vanilla Airlines (now Peach Aviation) offers domestic flights and international flights alike. Vanilla used to be based at Narita Airport. Peach Aviation has its headquarters in Osaka.

Either way, their cabins consisted of vanilla air seats that were further distinguished in simple and “relaxed seats”; the latter was allocated that title because of higher comfort and extra legroom.

Is Vanilla Airlines Safe?

One of the most important questions that passengers have before booking a flight with Vanilla Airlines is whether it’s safe. Personally, my flight didn’t face any problems or serious issues. While I wouldn’t regard it as my “best experience”, I didn’t have to worry about safety during my trip. Even when it operated as a sole carrier, passengers seldom had negative reviews about the “safety” element.

Now, Vanilla Airlines (essentially Peach Aviation) is recorded to be safe. In fact, they have a 4-star rating on Styrax, which further instills potential customers’ trust in the airline. The airline focuses on safety and deems it one of its main priorities. With their regular and thorough checks, it’s safe to depend on them.

Physical safety aside, there have been some complaints regarding their management of personal data. We recommend that you pay extra attention to their cookie policy and select the “manage consent” button. Be wary if they ask to access device information.

Food Included Aboard Vanilla Airlines

Previously, when Vanilla Airlines was an independent low-cost carrier, it did not offer any complimentary food or beverages on its flights. However, not many LLCs do that, so it wasn’t that much of a con. Although they offered in-flight purchases and passengers could buy snacks/beverages of their choice. Naturally, the prices were high, and fliers were recommended to bring their own food items on the plane.

Peach Aviation doesn’t offer complimentary food service either, but several passengers purchase food onboard. I am personally not a fan of airplane food, but from the looks of it, everything looked nice. I also noticed that they had a lot of variety for a low-cost carrier; you can find anything from egg yolks to vanilla ice cream (pun intended). If you opt for airplane food, you won’t be disappointed by Peach Aviation’s in-flight menu.

However, the problem here was the in-flight service. The flight attendants were unnecessarily slow. I always give the benefit of the doubt, considering the cabin crew is usually packed, but in this case, the staff was simply untrained. They were very forgetful, and I am sure it affected several passengers’ flight experience.

Vanilla Airlines Baggage Policy

Vanilla Airlines used to allow 20kg of checked baggage for free and incur additional fees for anything that exceeded that.

Peach Aviation, on the other hand, only allows checked baggage as a “paid option”. When I booked my flight, I saw that passengers are allowed to bring one carry-on and one personal item with them (these are included in the base fare). However, you must note that the dimensions, size, and weight requirements are very specific, and they charge an extra fine for even the tiniest discrepancies. Your personal item and carry-on bag can weigh a maximum of 10kg together.

Thankfully, I didn’t have a problem in this regard, and everything went smoothly. My travel partner and I, each paid extra for our respective checked bags, and made sure to comply with the predetermined baggage policy specifications. The checked bag has a weight limit of 20kg. You can find the aforementioned details on their website.

Vanilla Airlines Cancellation Policy

My main problem with this airline arose during this stage. Usually, I book my flights after due contemplation and only purchase a ticket when I am 100% sure. However, during my experience with Vanilla Airlines, a family emergency erupted at the last minute, and I couldn’t possibly travel on the predetermined date.

Vanilla Airlines was not helpful at all during this process and made the emergency much worse. The customer support staff is neither responsive nor professional. Even when they did reply, their response time was slow, and their knowledge was barely sufficient.

At first, I tried changing my flight date, but it incurred an unreasonable amount of fee (it varies as per your specific ticket details). My ticket was not refunded, and I had to pay a cancellation fee.

Is Vanilla Airlines Worth It?

As a budget traveler and a digital nomad, Vanilla Airlines caught my attention because of its routes and affordable ticket prices. However, after considering the entirety of my flight, I would say that no, Vanilla Airlines was not worth it for me.

While the fares are cheap, a lot of other low-cost carriers have similar (sometimes even better) deals as well. There are a lot of competitors in the market, and I would say that vanilla’s peers offer a better experience than theirs.

The in-flight experience is extremely uncomfortable, and the cabins are not well-designed; even the “supposedly” better seats are cramped and tight with limited padding, making it impossible for passengers to sit back and relax.

Unfortunately, the bad customer service and terrible flight experience are not worth the low cost of the ticket. I would much rather pay a few more bucks and have a stress-free travel experience. To put it simply, Vanilla Airlines (Peach Aviation) fails to compete with its peers, and it’s the official definition of unmet potential.

Vanilla Airlines FAQs

What is the Wifi like on Vanilla Airlines?

Unfortunately, the in-flight entertainment system (including wifi) is not satisfactory. This may vary based on your route, specific aircraft, and service provider. For instance, Airbus A may have a different service than some other aircraft in the fleet.

Why did Vanilla Airlines merge with Peach Aviation?

Vanilla Airlines, a Japanese airline, was owned by ANA. In 2019, they decided to merge it with another one of their airlines, known as “Peach Aviation”. This was done in order to streamline operations and operate more effectively. Vanilla Airlines is not a separate entity anymore.

Are Vanilla Airlines and Vanilla Sky the same?

No, Vanilla Airlines was a Japanese airline that doesn’t exist as a separate entity anymore. It operates under the name of Peach Aviation. However, Vanilla Sky is a different airline, still operational.

Are Vanilla Airlines cheap?

Yes, as a low-cost carrier, you can depend on Vanilla Airlines to offer cheap and affordable fares. You can travel to your preferred destination while staying on a tight budget.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I think we can say that Vanilla Airlines does not provide what you expect it to. While you cannot expect extraordinary service from a low-cost carrier, there are some things that should be present regardless of the ticket price. For instance, the customer service and staff training can be a lot better, even as per the standards of a budget airline.

I suppose you can have a good experience flying with Vanilla Airlines if you understand the scope of their business practices and acknowledge that they won’t go above and beyond (even in business class). Make sure to manage your expectations accordingly if you decide to opt for them.