SFO Sakura Lounge
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 490
SFO Sakura Lounge
I last flew SFO-HND in Nov and used the JAL Sakura lounge in SFO. In a word, it is a dump. Slim selection of bad food; crowded; basically depressing. I thought UA set the standard for underperforming airline lounges, but this lounge managed to be even worse than UA. What is strange is that the JAL lounges in Haneda were the opposite. Lovely, great food, nice showers, great wifi. In a word excellent.
Has there been any improvement in what was a dismal SFO lounge. I would go to the other One World Cathay lounge at SFO but it is not open late enough to really work for the JAL flight.
Has there been any improvement in what was a dismal SFO lounge. I would go to the other One World Cathay lounge at SFO but it is not open late enough to really work for the JAL flight.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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As the SFO flight is expected to move to the daytime Haneda slots, I wonder if they are planning to switch to the CX lounge completely. But there seems to be no plan to update Manila either, and the above description could be of that lounge as well.
#4
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
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Posts: 16,332
Probably will switch to BA instead of CX when the lease expires
#6
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,820
Cathay lounge is open (they said open 24 hours!), but only sandwiches, coldd drinks, coffee, tea and chips (can't remember if there was wine I was only there a few minutes) - said they were open for Alaska - anyway no hot food, no noodles, etc. Still IMHO much better than the claustrophobic JAL lounge
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,354
Any recent reports for this lounge?
It looks like the BA lounge opens after the NRT flight departs, and the CX lounge remains closed, so there are no OW alternatives available in Terminal A, although one could access the Admirals Club, given the connector to Terminal 1.
Wondering if the JL lounge is worth a visit as compared to say the Admirals Club, or even the AF lounge (priority pass) or VS lounge (Amex lounge).
It looks like the BA lounge opens after the NRT flight departs, and the CX lounge remains closed, so there are no OW alternatives available in Terminal A, although one could access the Admirals Club, given the connector to Terminal 1.
Wondering if the JL lounge is worth a visit as compared to say the Admirals Club, or even the AF lounge (priority pass) or VS lounge (Amex lounge).
Last edited by work2fly; Jun 9, 2022 at 3:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW, NYC, SIN, KUL, CGK, LON
Programs: AA EXP, AA5MM
Posts: 391
Any recent reports for this lounge?
It looks like the BA lounge opens after the NRT flight departs, and the CX lounge remains closed, so there are no OW alternatives available in Terminal A, although one could access the Admirals Club, given the connector to Terminal 1.
Wondering if the JL lounge is worth a visit as compared to say the Admirals Club, or even the AF lounge (priority pass) or VS lounge (Amex lounge).
It looks like the BA lounge opens after the NRT flight departs, and the CX lounge remains closed, so there are no OW alternatives available in Terminal A, although one could access the Admirals Club, given the connector to Terminal 1.
Wondering if the JL lounge is worth a visit as compared to say the Admirals Club, or even the AF lounge (priority pass) or VS lounge (Amex lounge).
I ended up using the AAdmirals Club. BA wasn't open. AF is average. VS only opens at 2pm contrary to what the online hours say.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA EP, Marriott Gold
Posts: 109
Lounge is still lackluster. Flew SFO to HND the end of May. Ended up using the Admirals club. Would have loved to try the Alaska lounge, but alas, it was in a different terminal....
#11
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,503
I last flew SFO-HND in Nov and used the JAL Sakura lounge in SFO. In a word, it is a dump. Slim selection of bad food; crowded; basically depressing. I thought UA set the standard for underperforming airline lounges, but this lounge managed to be even worse than UA. What is strange is that the JAL lounges in Haneda were the opposite. Lovely, great food, nice showers, great wifi. In a word excellent.
Has there been any improvement in what was a dismal SFO lounge. I would go to the other One World Cathay lounge at SFO but it is not open late enough to really work for the JAL flight.
Has there been any improvement in what was a dismal SFO lounge. I would go to the other One World Cathay lounge at SFO but it is not open late enough to really work for the JAL flight.
Possibly it's worse since nothing is self service, and the "food" is a sad cold bento box with cello-wrapped white bread sandwiches as the feature. Some karraage (fried chicken pieces) and a couple eda mame. Staff super friendly and welcoming but they are given nothing to work with. Entire lounge features two tiny windows; otherwise just boring beige walls.
Usually it's not lucky to be delayed but this JAL flight was delayed 90 min today so I'm typing this at the excellent BA Galleries Lounge, which opens at 13:30, too late for the normal JAL departure time of 13:40. Ordered a bacon cheeseburger (other options were impossible burger and a vegetarian cheesy pasta) along with a nice strawberry-rhubarb shortcake with vanilla ice cream. Made to order. Lovely drinks options. Nothing fancy but a very pleasant atmosphere with huge windows and super friendly staff.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
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Posts: 7,574
Since this old thread is now awaken, I have couple of questions:
1. How far is the Admirals Club to the JL (normal) boarding gate(s), in terms of time?
2. Flying JL and am AA EXP, do I have access to AF/KLM lounge (I had gone there when I flew QR).?
TIA.
1. How far is the Admirals Club to the JL (normal) boarding gate(s), in terms of time?
2. Flying JL and am AA EXP, do I have access to AF/KLM lounge (I had gone there when I flew QR).?
TIA.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,820
Admirals club is in domestic terminal,Jl is in international- not close
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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No access to the Air France lounge. QR may use it as their contract lounge, but that does not mean anything for a JAL passenger. But you can seemingly buy a walk up pass for 59 USD, if the lounge is open at the JAL flight hours.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,132
The Admiral's Club is in T2, JAL departs from the A gates in the international terminal. Kind of opposite ends of the airport. SFO claims that only T1 is connected airside to the A gates of the international terminal. I recall walking airside from 2 to 1 for an AA flight departing from Delta land, but I don't know if that is still possible. Probably a good 20 minute walk depending on specific gate if terminals 1 and 2 are still connected.
No access to the Air France lounge. QR may use it as their contract lounge, but that does not mean anything for a JAL passenger. But you can seemingly buy a walk up pass for 59 USD, if the lounge is open at the JAL flight hours.
No access to the Air France lounge. QR may use it as their contract lounge, but that does not mean anything for a JAL passenger. But you can seemingly buy a walk up pass for 59 USD, if the lounge is open at the JAL flight hours.