All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - ANA to open four new lounges by summer 2012

Good news for those of us who fly NH domestically: they are planning to open four new lounges (including an update to the currently-closed lounge at OKA), three of which will be open by April 1. The announcement in Japanese can be found here (https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/11a-166.html).

OKA (Naha): 2012/2/25 (increasing from 64 to 85 seats)
KOJ (Kagoshima): 2012/3/1 (increasing from 56 to 70 seats)
KMJ (Kumamoto): 2012/4/1 (increasing from 26 to 43 seats)
OKJ (Okayama): mid-August 2012 (50 seats)

Okinawa:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/image/11a-166-1.jpg

Kagoshima:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/image/11a-166-2.jpg

Kumamoto:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/image/11a-166-3.jpg

Okayama:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/images/11a-191-3.gif

It's great news but would it hurt them to be a little less efficient and a little more aesthetic? Those aren't just clean lines and rows, those are virtually hospital waiting rooms.

It's great news but would it hurt them to be a little less efficient and a little more aesthetic? Those aren't just clean lines and rows, those are virtually hospital waiting rooms.

I think pretty much all NH domestic lounge has the same design and also with pathetic offerings, drink and rice crackers, but the most important thing for the Japanese is a sizeable smoking room inside the lounge

I think pretty much all NH domestic lounge has the same design and also with pathetic offerings, drink and rice crackers, but the most important thing for the Japanese is a sizeable smoking room inside the lounge

I heard that the OKA lounge is having its smoking room removed for added capacity, and I suspect the others may be too small for a dedicated smoking room in the lounge.

Really, they tend to be just a place for free booze--and with the number of SFC holders out there, who can blame ANA for not spending much money on food? If even half the stories on 2ch are true, they'd be crazy to...

I heard that the OKA lounge is having its smoking room removed for added capacity, and I suspect the others may be too small for a dedicated smoking room in the lounge.

Really, they tend to be just a place for free booze--and with the number of SFC holders out there, who can blame ANA for not spending much money on food? If even half the stories on 2ch are true, they'd be crazy to...



Most of the domestic lounge smoking room is usually occupied 1/4 the size of the entire lounge, and you can also see the smoking area is more crowded than the non-smoking area. If there is no smoking room inside the lounge, then the lounge will definately be less crowded, considered the amount of smokers in Japan ! :p

I don't think there are that many SFC holders compare to US carriers actually sell lounge membership, on top of it some credit cards as well as priority pass offer lounge access as well, NH don't even have those two groups of people. At least all UA/CO/US domestic lounge still have several real snacks or continental breakfast in the morning, rather than pretzel sticks only.

The OKA was still boarded up this morning when I left.

I updated the post with seating information.

ANA announced that they are going to renovate the ITM and KIX (domestic) lounges this summer, with the KIX lounge to open in the beginning of June and the ITM lounge in the beginning of August. The announcement is Japanese is here (https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/11a-191.html).

KIX: Closes 10 April, reopens by early June 2012; increases from 60 to 90 seats with power at every seat
ITM: Closes 5 May, reopens by early August 2012; increases to 400 seats with power at every seat; renovated smoking room

Itami:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/images/11a-191-1.gif

Kansai:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/images/11a-191-2.gif

I updated the main post with information on the new OKJ lounge.

ANA announced that they are going to renovate the ITM and KIX (domestic) lounges this summer, with the KIX lounge to open in the beginning of June and the ITM lounge in the beginning of August. The announcement is Japanese is here (https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/11a-191.html).

KIX: Closes 10 April, reopens by early June 2012; increases from 60 to 90 seats with power at every seat
ITM: Closes 5 May, reopens by early August 2012; increases to 400 seats with power at every seat; renovated smoking room

Itami:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/images/11a-191-1.gif

Kansai:
https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/images/11a-191-2.gif

Simple, elegant, modern and stylish. I love the ANA lounges!

Simple, elegant, modern and stylish. I love the ANA lounges!

I just wish they had more food! One cannot live on packets of snack mix and beer alone...

I just wish they had more food! One cannot live on packets of snack mix and beer alone...

I don't drink beer, so I'm relegated to Snack Mix and Green Tea! I really wish they had some snacks (at least like at KIX International)

Good point, ANA lounges really do have very poor food. Haneda intl. isn't bad but Narita is very poor.
I wish they were more like the NZ lounges

Good point, ANA lounges really do have very poor food. Haneda intl. isn't bad but Narita is very poor.
I wish they were more like the NZ lounges

The international lounges are one thing, but the domestic lounges are another thing entirely...

KIX: Closes 10 April, reopens by early June 2012; increases from 60 to 90 seats with power at every seat
ITM: Closes 5 May, reopens by early August 2012; increases to 400 seats with power at every seat; renovated smoking room



ITM lounge close for 3 months ?

Since both floors have sitting area and drink stations already in place, would that be wise just close the 1st floor to renovate and keep the 2nd floor open ? Or vice versa ? What are they thinking ?


Simple, elegant, modern and stylish. I love the ANA lounges!

Are you seriously love a lounge just with nice decor but only offer you drinks and rice crackers ? :confused:


Good point, ANA lounges really do have very poor food. Haneda intl. isn't bad but Narita is very poor.
I wish they were more like the NZ lounges

I think you are confused with NH international and domestic lounges. OP is talking about domestic lounges, and none of the NH domestic lounges offer any food at all, rice crackers only.

Hmm ok perhaps my mistake... was assuming that NH lounge in Narita would be considered international but perhaps not?

I think you are confused with NH international and domestic lounges. OP is talking about domestic lounges, and none of the NH domestic lounges offer any food at all, rice crackers only.

Not that it's much use to non-DIAs, but the domestic Suite Lounge at HND has soup, bread, and cookies. There used to be sandwiches, but they were "enhanced" away...

Hmm ok perhaps my mistake... was assuming that NH lounge in Narita would be considered international but perhaps not?

It is, but this topic is about domestic lounges as ORDnHKG noted.

Oops, I'm planning a trip to Kansai in mid-May. Thant means I won't have any domestic lounge to use at that time in neither KIX nor ITM. :(

ANA announced that they are going to renovate the ITM and KIX (domestic) lounges this summer, with the KIX lounge to open in the beginning of June and the ITM lounge in the beginning of August. The announcement is Japanese is here (https://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12-0103/11a-191.html).

KIX: Closes 10 April, reopens by early June 2012; increases from 60 to 90 seats with power at every seat
ITM: Closes 5 May, reopens by early August 2012; increases to 400 seats with power at every seat; renovated smoking room

The announcment in english, https://www.ana.co.jp/topics/notice120124/index_e.html,
mentions you can at least get 500 ANA miles compensation for each occasion unless you are a Bronze service member.

ANA quietly made changes to the previous announcement, noting that they are going to renovate the lounges at SDJ (Sendai) and KMQ (Komatsu) this fall. As with the other lounges, Premium Class passengers will then be able to use both of these lounges. When more details are released I will post them here.

Heard recently from ANA staff that there will be a true ANA lounge in SJC for the launch of the SJC -> TYO early next year.

Previously there was discussion about them 'renting' use of an existing lounge which evidently they've decided against.

Heard recently from ANA staff that there will be a true ANA lounge in SJC for the launch of the SJC -> TYO early next year.

Previously there was discussion about them 'renting' use of an existing lounge which evidently they've decided against.

Wow, that is news. If so, that would be their first and only international lounge. Last I heard the airport operator, not NH, was planning to ask for bids from companies to build and operate a lounge (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2012/03/sjc-plans-to-resurrect-passenger-lounge.html) that NH would then rent.

Here's a PDF from the city of San Jose detailing the bid, complete with proposed floor plans (https://www.bidsync.com/DPXViewer/Lounge_Presentation.pdf?ac=auction&auc=1915864&rndid=1359964&docid=5208081).

NH has announced the opening dates for the refurbished ITM and new OKJ lounges:

ITM: August 1, 2012 (Wednesday)
OKJ: August 9, 2012 (Wednesday)

NH will also be offering some special drinks in these lounges on a limited-time basis.

ITM:
KONISHI Ginjo Hiyashibori sake (until Feb 2013)
Yamadanishiki ANNAROCK Genshu sake (until Feb 2013)
Carnet Rouge beer (until Sep 2012)

OKJ:
Yuzu Honey non-alcoholic beverage (until Feb 2013)

http://www.ana.co.jp/pr/12_0709/12-054.html

I'm sitting in the new OKA lounge now, and it is TINY! And because it is tiny, it feels very crowded. It's hard to believe the old lounge was even smaller.

And most of the seats seem to be the tiny kind that are crammed up against a counter running the length of the wall or window. There are also a number of "bar stool" seats crammed close together. I see now how ANA increased lounge capacity. They packed in the seats like sardines!

Quick update: both the ITM and OKJ lounges have (re)opened.

ANA quietly made changes to the previous announcement, noting that they are going to renovate the lounges at SDJ (Sendai) and KMQ (Komatsu) this fall. As with the other lounges, Premium Class passengers will then be able to use both of these lounges. When more details are released I will post them here.

ANA announced that both the SDJ and KMQ lounges will close on September 10 and will reopen by the end of November. Both will continue to be non-smoking.

https://www.ana.co.jp/topics/notice120124/image/120813/lounge_perth.jpg

The Hiroshima (HIJ) lounge will also undergo renovations starting on 1 October and lasting until mid-January 2013. Like the new KMQ and SDJ lounges, HIJ will also remain non-smoking throughout.

With all the Domestic Lounge improvements, it will be nice to see ANA upgrade the NRT C and Suite Lounges.

With JAL improving their First and Sakura Lounges at Narita and increasing their offerings, ANA needs to keep up!

With all the Domestic Lounge improvements, it will be nice to see ANA upgrade the NRT C and Suite Lounges.

With JAL improving their First and Sakura Lounges at Narita and increasing their offerings, ANA needs to keep up!

Is it confirmed that NH is making improvements at NRT? If so, is there a schedule posted?

Is it confirmed that NH is making improvements at NRT? If so, is there a schedule posted?

NH is not making any changes to its lounges at NRT as far as I know.

NH again quietly announced that they will be upgrading the MYJ (Matsuyama) lounge. The lounge will close on November 12, 2012 and reopen by early March 2013. As with most of ANA's other upgraded lounges, MYJ will remain non-smoking.