Just made my 1st trip EWR/NRT on CO.

Plesently surprised by the 777 and service to/from. I am used to the Asian carriers with AVOD and hard shell seats, but CO was not bad. Still, I think they are no better then regular business on JAL.

My real question/comment is on the lounges in NRT. I was directed to the JAL lounge that was just through customs (to the right) and down the escalator. This was perhaps the worst lounge that I have ever been in. Hardly any snacks or drinks, no wireless but there were a good selection of newspapers. This was obviously not JAL's FC lounge, so my question is: 1) are there any other lounges that we can use there that are better, 2) since we are buying BF, shouldn't CO arrange for a FC lounge?

Any other tips on this route would be appreciated since I will be doing this route regularly now.

Wireless Internet is available at that lounge, but you need to ask ladies at the desk.
They will give you a scrach-off card which unveil random user name and password for one day use. Once you enable your laptop wireless and launch the browser, you can tupe in them.

JAL still flies 3-class aircraft on many destination so they separate First class lounge from Business class, and CO'c BF is considered as Business class.
They change lounge location (lounge assignment to CO BF customer) time to time, so next time you moght be told to go to different lounge - but still Business class lounge.

There is no other lounge CO customer can use in Tereminal 2, at this moment. Even P Club member can't use that JAL lounge - it is BF customer only by rule or contract, but once before when I didn't clear mileage upgrade waitlist, I asked check-in agent if I can use my P-club card to get in there, then she (JAL employee) asked a supervisor (CO employee), and he said OK, but no guest allowed.

Northwest World Club is at terminal 1 beyond security, so no way to use.
IIRC the airline gate/terminal assignment shuffle is going on at NRT, in several years range, and at the end all Skyteam carriers will be on the same terminal. I don't know when. (2010 ?)

Hope this helps...

Thanks - interesting about the wireless. No excuse on the snack/beverage front.

I heard that CO would be in Terminal 1 sometime in 2007.

You are right - I just found NRT website about relocation - it says CO/CS and DL are "Scheduled to move to North Wing, Terminal 1 in spring 2007."

http://www.bigchange-naa.jp/en/airline.html

So it will happen sooner than I thought.

Anyway, more than likely BF pax will use NW WC - and PC member with Y ticket can use lounge officially with guests. ^

Yes, the NW lounges are very nice

Used them when changing planes after geting an invite one time, and when I treated myself to Business seat using miles. Back to coach on the way back, so no lounge access then

EmailKid

Does Continental ever run a BF sale on flights to NRT? Aside from shortly after 9/11 (I think it was coach only), I don't recall ever seeing a sale, but I don't check often enough, so I could have missed it if a sale occurred.