Japan’s Airline Peach Aviation Flight Review | Travel Guide

9:40 PM, Tennoji Station in Osaka.
Today’s flight is with Peach Aviation, a low-cost carrier (LCC).
This journey is a 1-hour and 5-minute flight from Osaka to Fukuoka.
I’ll be flying on a one-way ticket purchased during a sale for just ¥2,999.

First, I’ll take a train from Tennoji Station to Kansai Airport.
I bought a ticket to the airport (¥1,060) from a vending machine.
After checking the timetable, I headed to Platform 15/16.

The train to the airport is called the “Kansai Airport Rapid Service.”
It splits at Hineno Station: the front four cars (Car 1–4) go to Kansai Airport, while the rear cars continue toward Wakayama as the Kishuji Rapid.

To avoid mistakes, I boarded the frontmost car, Car 1.
It takes about 50 minutes from Tennoji to Kansai Airport.
When I boarded, the train was crowded with commuters, so I stood for about 40 minutes.

At Hineno Station, about 90% of the passengers got off.
I finally got a seat for the last 10 minutes to Kansai Airport.

At 10:52 PM, I arrived at Kansai Airport.
The platform was spacious and had an open feel.
The ticket gates are on the second floor, so I used the nearby escalator.

Kansai Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for ANA and JAL flights, and Terminal 2 exclusively for LCCs.
Since I’m flying with Peach, I’ll head to Terminal 2.
It’s a bit further away, so I need to take the free shuttle bus.

Right after exiting the ticket gate, I saw a signboard:
“Left T1 / Right T2.”
I followed the direction to T2 and spotted the Aero Plaza — a large building with hotels and restaurants.

The Terminal 2 shuttle bus stop is located in front of the Aero Plaza on the first floor.
It was only about a one-minute walk from the gate.

I arrived at the bus stop for Terminal 2.

According to the timetable, buses run every five minutes.
I barely had to wait before one arrived.

The arriving bus was a Mercedes-Benz articulated bus called the “Citaro G.”
It featured colorful seats and a spacious interior.
A sign at the articulated section warned, “For your safety, please do not stand here.”

There were hardly any passengers at this hour — I had the whole bus to myself.
It was a quiet, relaxing 7-minute ride to Terminal 2.

I didn’t book a hotel this time. Instead, I spent the night on a bench inside Terminal 2.
Since I got such a cheap flight ticket, I decided to save money this way.

Check-in starts at 5:30 AM.
The terminal was surprisingly comfortable thanks to good air conditioning, even at night.
It was also quiet with very few people around.

There was a soft guidance chime for the visually impaired playing periodically, but it wasn’t too loud.
I found an available bench, laid down, and managed to get some rest.

5:37 AM — I woke up.
My body ached a bit, but I actually slept better than expected.
I brushed my teeth and quickly freshened up.

The airport was still quiet with only a few people around.

I printed my boarding pass at a self-service kiosk and checked my luggage at the counter.
Then I passed through security and headed to the gate.

After clearing security, I entered the waiting area.
I checked the gate number on my boarding pass and looked for it.
Each corridor had large, clearly visible gate numbers.

This time it was Gate 96.
Following the signs, I reached the gate and sat on a bench to wait for boarding.

At 7:06 AM, the boarding announcement played:
“We’ll now begin boarding for passengers seated in window seats A and F in the rear of the aircraft, along with their companions. Please proceed to the gate.”

I had a window seat in the rear section.
Following the instructions, I slowly walked down the corridor.
Passengers in the rear boarded first, followed by those in the front rows.

Before I knew it, a long line had formed behind me.
The previously quiet area was now bustling with people.

It seemed there was a delay, and we were stuck in the corridor for about five minutes.
Eventually, the line began to move, and I scanned my boarding pass at the gate.
Finally, I stepped outside toward the aircraft.

Peach’s aircraft is instantly recognizable by its fuchsia color — a unique shade between pink and purple.
It has a cute, distinctive look that sets it apart from other airlines.
Among the rows of white planes in the distance, it really stands out.

After passing through the gate, passengers walk to the aircraft on foot.
There’s a crosswalk along the way, and airport staff were present to guide us.

Due to a technical issue, our departure was delayed by about 10 minutes.
It might seem minor, but on flights, delays often result in extra paperwork and safety checks, ultimately leading to over 40 minutes of delay.

After a while, the cabin attendants stood in the aisle to demonstrate the use of oxygen masks and life vests.
Once the instructions and announcements were complete, each attendant walked through the cabin to check passengers’ seat belts.

With all preparations done, the aircraft slowly began taxiing toward the runway.

At 7:48 AM, we took off from Kansai Airport.
The original schedule was 7:00, so we departed 48 minutes late.
I’ve flown Peach several times before, but this was my first time experiencing such a long delay.
Given the earlier confusion and technical issues, I briefly thought the flight might be canceled — so I was relieved when we finally lifted off.

The plane quickly reached cruising altitude.
Tray tables and in-flight services became available.
Soon, we broke through thick clouds, and the view changed dramatically.
A clear blue sky and the stratosphere stretched out beyond the window — it felt like another world.
Below was a white, glowing blanket of clouds. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery for a while.

As the landing announcement played, the cabin instantly shifted to arrival mode.
Passengers folded away tray tables and returned seatbacks to their upright positions.
Outside the window, cityscapes and roads gradually came into view as the aircraft gently descended.

At 8:47 AM, we landed at Fukuoka Airport — about 42 minutes behind schedule.
As the wheels touched down, the slats and flaps on the wings adjusted to help reduce speed.

A cabin announcement followed:
“We have landed at Fukuoka Airport. Please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is turned off.”
“Our departure was delayed by 35 minutes due to maintenance and paperwork. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

Although they announced a 35-minute delay, the actual arrival was 42 minutes late.
It felt a bit off, but I was just glad we arrived safely.

Once the seatbelt sign turned off, everyone stood up at once and rushed into the aisle.

Everyone was eager to disembark — the aisle quickly filled with people, leaving no room to move.

The door opened, and the line began to slowly move.
But I had trouble finding a gap to merge into the flow.

I tried to time it just right, but couldn’t find an opening.
I stood there wondering, “Did everyone hold it in to use the bathroom or what?”

After watching passenger after passenger exit from the rear, the crowd finally thinned out.
I was able to join the line and exit the plane.

After exiting the plane,
I headed to the baggage claim area.
Suitcases began appearing on the carousel one after another.

I spotted mine, picked it up, and exited the airport.

This flight with Peach was meant to be a one-hour journey through the sky.
But due to a technical issue, we experienced a major 40-minute delay.
I’d heard that delays aren’t uncommon with LCCs, but experiencing one firsthand was still stressful.
If I had a tight schedule, it could have caused serious trouble.

The lesson learned: **always build in extra time when planning a trip**.

Still, Peach remains a budget-friendly travel option.
I’ll likely continue flying with them in the future.

This major delay was unusual — in my experience, delays are usually just around 10 minutes.

As for the seat space, it didn’t bother me as much as I expected.
It’s about the same as a 4-seat row bus.

Peach makes air travel easy and accessible — a reliable travel partner.