JAL first arrival lounge and updates to HND launch
 

JAL Press Release: http://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/201009/001619.html (in Japanese)
Asahi somehow beats JAL on posting the English version: http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009030402.html

- Reduced MCTs
- New JAL First and Sakura lounge, and first-ever arrival lounge in international terminal
- Renovated JAL Diamond and Sakura lounge in domestic terminal. Can pay to access Sakura with online reservation
- Improved check-in counters for JAL F and JGC
- Campaigns for CDG and SFO flights, overseas wifi rental, baggage-free check-in
- New boarding gates
- Possible express security lane for JMB Sapphire and JGC members (info missing in English version of press release, can someone confirm the Japanese version indeed says so please?)
- HND flights schedule (TSA flight departs 3 hours earlier, removed new HND-China flights from schedule)

You can refer to my blog posting for more details for now. (at least until JAL uploads the English version of the press release)

Is the arrival lounge at HND or NRT? An arrival lounge in NRT would be great.

Should be at HND only, since this announcement is specific to the new HND operation.

It is HND only. Main reason for the arrival lounge is the early arrivals of long-haul flights.

Here are more/bigger pictures of the new lounge: http://www.jal.co.jp/inter/lounge/topics/2010_09/

Silly question because i couldnt find the answer easily but do JAL elites only get access if flying Y or OW elites too?

departure lounge access? Yes, JMB Sapphire or above and JGC can access the lounge when flying on JAL or OW carriers
Arrival lounge? No idea. Rules haven't been announced.

Was after arrival lounge info but guess i shall have to wait.

No info yet...I am hoping it's only for JMB elites flying on JL-coded flights...maybe plus OW Emeralds, C & F pax on JL flights. The NRT Sakura lounge is getting more and more crowded, can't imagine how crowded it's gonna be once BA moves to T2

More/Bigger pictures for the new HND Domestic lounges: http://www.jal.co.jp/dom/lounge/topics/2010_09/

I hope they actually put some food in the Diamond lounge instead of just snack packs.

I think it will only have snack...but didn't say what kind

Arrival lounge eligibility
 

For comparison, ANA says on its site linked below that, as like at Narita, the arrival lounge of Haneda entertains AMC elites, SFC and business class pax but NOT *G member.

ANA Haneda New International Terminal (in English).
http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/int/promoti...eda/#int-index

Let's see how JAL would elaborate and decide on this.

Not sure if NH rules will change to let UA's elites in once their ATI has been approve. I am so not looking forward to these two ATI applications :p

I don't understand why they're renovating the domestic lounges at HND. There's nothing wrong with the current lounges, which were just remodeled a few years ago. Seems like a waste of money. JAL should direct its capital spending to areas where it's really necessary (like on new business class seats, an area where JAL lags behind ANA and most other airlines)...