I used the F check-in lounge on Jan 21. It felt like a very exclusive experience. At first, I went to where the F counters were previously located and saw that they had turned that area into a frequent flier-exclusive check in zone for diamonds and premiers, but no signs for F. I identified myself to an agent as an F passenger, was verified as such on the agent's tablet device by last name and destination, and was then escorted to the big, solid, wooden-looking door that serves as the entrance to this sanctum. The agent explained that although the formal opening was to be Jan 24, the lounge is already operating in "pre-opening mode."

In the lounge, my checked bag was taken from me and tagged, and my boarding pass printed and my bag claim check was affixed to my boarding pass. I was asked if I wanted to be brought through security immediately or to wait, and I asked for a few minutes to finish my bottle of water. There are no washrooms in the F check-in lounge, which was very quiet. I was not offered any refreshments or oshibori. After I drank my water, I was escorted to a private security channel where I was attended to by the security folks with the usual patience, courtesy, and pleasantness of Japanese airport security, and they have the new machines so I was not required to take out my laptop/iPad or my liquids. I was the only person in the security lane at the time. The private security channel exits into the regular security area post-scanners and pre-immigration gates.

Overall, this is a nice improvement to the F experience.

In the F lounge, I will also add that Sushi Tsurutei is open and operating and the Red Lounge shoe shine is now back up and running. I think JAL is rebooting their F operation, and I sense a renewed level of service-mindedness across the ground and inflight experiences. F flight attendants have been for example more attentive recently to tidying up a passenger's seat when a passenger is in the lavatory -- I actually think this is too much of a good thing. I usually have left my seat in exactly the condition I would like it when I return to it, and I don't want to come back to my seat to find my blanket refluffed and my seat belts adjusted.