Booking your flights aboard Skymark Airlines can save you money. Have been flying Skymark for the past few years and it is more cost effective than taking the train or ferry from Kobe to Kyushu if you are going to Nagasaki. Book early and mid-week to save the most.

This was the first time I had flown on a Japanese airline. I suspected that Japan's world leading customer service might find its way onto its airlines and I was not disappointed with Skymark. Everything about the experience was outstanding. Check-in and luggage check was super smooth and professional. Boarding was only 15 minutes prior to departure and conducted extremely efficiently with window, middle and aisle seats boarding in that order. The aircraft was spotless with each seat being a stylish light beige leather.

Cabin crew were outstanding. Nothing was too difficult. In flight service consisted of tea, coffee, water and a kit-kat!

Drinks and small snacks were available for purchase. This is where the airline really stood out - prices were extremely reasonable. Unlike most airlines that gouge their customers, Skymark were only charging 300 Yen for beer and 100 Yen for soft drinks.

I highly recommend this airline and look forward to using again in the future.

The fares are quite low compared to the Shinkansen and include check-in baggage. Seat selection is also included in the airfare. Staff was friendly and efficient at both check-in and boarding. Seat width and legroom were acceptable (RECARO BL3710 seats). Food and drinks on board are priced quite cheaply. Free Kit Kat on board too.

Exceptional ground staff at the check in at Kobe airport which went out of their way to help check in.

Disclosure: I almost always fly business class and am a bit of a snob about air travel, but I decided that for this short-haul flight I would give relatively low-cost Skymark a try. I was very happy with my choice. Everything from booking to seat selection to screening to boarding and inflight service worked very smoothly. The staff were extremely attentive and happy. The plane was a comfortable Boeing, such a nice change from the wretched regional jets prevalent on similar short-hop routes in the US and elsewhere. I was impressed by the calmly rational boarding process - first window seats, then middle seats, finally aisles - that worked efficiently. While in-flight service was expectedly limited, I was really blown away that one flight attendant stood at the head of the aisle for the entire two hour flight, entirely focused on scanning passengers to see if she could render assistance. Even on first class flights I’ve never seen such devotion to service. It’s a pity that much of Skymark’s business model could never be made to work outside Japan, reliant as it is on social norms in that country: in the US, staff would quit during the first day of training when they were told that they actually had to be nice to the customers.