Originally Posted by
Siambob
If anyone is taking the ANA flight from Narita to San Jose and is traveling business class or is a star alliance gold member or has a United Club membership card, be informed that the club at the San Jose airport does not grant access to arriving passengers transferring to domestic Star Alliance flights.
I arrived in business class and I am United Premier Gold and I have a United Club paid membership and I was informed at the club that only passengers departing on an international ANA flight could get free lounge access.
Prior to taking this trip I confirmed on the ANA website that there was an ANA lounge at the San Jose airport and the website clearly states that they have a lounge. The website also clearly states that Star Alliance Gold members have access to the lounge, but this just isn't true at all for arriving passengers. It's very misleading and it probably causes a lot of frustration for both the passengers and the lounge staff.
Also the ANA website implies that it is their lounge, but actually it is not owned by ANA and is a privately run lounge for profit.
While I'm sure you had certain expectations about using the lounge at SJC, as was told to you, in principle lounges are provided for departing passengers only. In special circumstances (e.g. arrival lounges) access is provided for arriving passengers, but the only arrival lounge accessible to NH passengers is at NRT. I can't imagine this sort of confusion is a regular occurrence.
Access to The Club is also available via day passes or
three different lounge programs should you require arrival access in the future.
Also, to be clear, the
lounge page clearly states the "Owner" as "Airport Lounge Developments", not ANA. ANA-owned and operated lounges clearly state "ANA" as the owner (
example).