Nov 15, 2025, 5:51 am
Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
Domestic
Diamond Premier Lounges
Available at
Haneda (2 one in both the north and south wing)
Itami
Sapporo Shinchitose
Fukuoka
Naha
Access requirements are either a first class flight, emerald status, or JGC 6 Star Status. For first class passengers, OW connecting rules will apply, connecting to or from a same day long haul flight in first class will also grant access even if the domestic flight is not in first class.
The lounges offer light snacks with a local flair, particularly in Naha it is quite local. There is a summer ice cream theme running, with ice cream being offered from 10:30 and 16:30 while stock lasts. Don't expect a meal from the lounge
Hot and cold drinks, draft beer, shochu (awamori in Naha), gin, whisky, red white and sparkling wine.
Sakura Lounge
Domestic Sakura Lounges are available at
Sapporo Shinchitose, Sendai, Narita, Haneda (2, north and south wing), Komatsu, Osaka Itami, Okayama, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha (2, main lounge and by the bus gates)
Additionally contract lounges are available at
Aomori, Nagoya Chubu, Osaka Kansai, Miyazaki, Kumamoto.
Access requirements are JAL Global Club, Sapphire status, Emerald status, or under the OW rules for same day connection to or from a long haul business class flight.
The lounge offers very limited snacks (おつまみ), hot and cold drinks, and draft beer.
It is possible to buy access to the domestic Sakura Lounges for 3,000 yen paid in cash only. The lounge in Haneda require pre booking, Itami is available for all flights, Shinchitose and Fukuoka only Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10:00 and 15:00, Narita only for flights before noon.
Only the Diamond Premier Lounges in Haneda and the South Wing domestic Sakura Lounge offers showers.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/service/lounge/
International
First class lounges:
JAL operates three first class lounges, one in each Haneda and Narita, and one in Frankfurt. Acess is standard OW, a first class flight, JAL Diamond, JGC Premier, JGC 6 Star Status, or Oneworld Emerald in general. Connecting from or to a long haul flight first class flight (over 5 hours) from or to a short haul flight (less than 5 hours) will also give access.
Other destinations will offer access to a Oneworld partner lounge or a contract lounge.
Narita and Haneda offers sushi, Haneda from morning until 23:00, but the Sushi Tsurutei space is only open from 07:30 to 11:30 but sushi cm also be ordered in the dining area. Narita offers sushi from 07:30 to 11:30 and again 15:00 to 20:00.
All food is order via your phone and tablet by scanning the QR code on your table and your boarding pass.
Both Haneda and Narita has shoe shine service from John Lobb. Haneda from 07:30 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 22:00. Narita opening hours currently not listed on the website.
JAL's Salon offer a selection of Japanese whisky and gin, hand drip coffee, and other drinks.
The Frankfurt first class lounge is more akin to a separate area in the lounge for first class passengers than an actual first class lounge. Though it does offer a step up from the Sakura Lounge. This lounge closes May 19th when JAL moves to T3. New lounge options are not announced yet. Likely contract.
Sakura Lounges
JAL operates Sakura lounge in Haneda, Narita, Nagoya Chubu, Honolulu, Bangkok, and Frankfurt. The current T2 lounge in Frankfurt closes May 19th when JAL moves to T3.
Access is for JAL Global Club, Sapphire, and Emerald. Standard OW connecting rules will apply, connecting to or from a same day long haul flight (over 5 hours) in business class will also grant access when connecting to and from an international short haul flight (under 5 hours)
Other destinations will offer a Oneworld partner or a contract lounge.
The Narita Sakura lounge has rooms with day beds. But the use time is limited to two hours. They can also be used from the first class lounge.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/service/lounge/
Diamond Premier Lounges
Available at
Haneda (2 one in both the north and south wing)
Itami
Sapporo Shinchitose
Fukuoka
Naha
Access requirements are either a first class flight, emerald status, or JGC 6 Star Status. For first class passengers, OW connecting rules will apply, connecting to or from a same day long haul flight in first class will also grant access even if the domestic flight is not in first class.
The lounges offer light snacks with a local flair, particularly in Naha it is quite local. There is a summer ice cream theme running, with ice cream being offered from 10:30 and 16:30 while stock lasts. Don't expect a meal from the lounge
Hot and cold drinks, draft beer, shochu (awamori in Naha), gin, whisky, red white and sparkling wine.
Sakura Lounge
Domestic Sakura Lounges are available at
Sapporo Shinchitose, Sendai, Narita, Haneda (2, north and south wing), Komatsu, Osaka Itami, Okayama, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha (2, main lounge and by the bus gates)
Additionally contract lounges are available at
Aomori, Nagoya Chubu, Osaka Kansai, Miyazaki, Kumamoto.
Access requirements are JAL Global Club, Sapphire status, Emerald status, or under the OW rules for same day connection to or from a long haul business class flight.
The lounge offers very limited snacks (おつまみ), hot and cold drinks, and draft beer.
It is possible to buy access to the domestic Sakura Lounges for 3,000 yen paid in cash only. The lounge in Haneda require pre booking, Itami is available for all flights, Shinchitose and Fukuoka only Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10:00 and 15:00, Narita only for flights before noon.
Only the Diamond Premier Lounges in Haneda and the South Wing domestic Sakura Lounge offers showers.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/service/lounge/
International
First class lounges:
JAL operates three first class lounges, one in each Haneda and Narita, and one in Frankfurt. Acess is standard OW, a first class flight, JAL Diamond, JGC Premier, JGC 6 Star Status, or Oneworld Emerald in general. Connecting from or to a long haul flight first class flight (over 5 hours) from or to a short haul flight (less than 5 hours) will also give access.
Other destinations will offer access to a Oneworld partner lounge or a contract lounge.
Narita and Haneda offers sushi, Haneda from morning until 23:00, but the Sushi Tsurutei space is only open from 07:30 to 11:30 but sushi cm also be ordered in the dining area. Narita offers sushi from 07:30 to 11:30 and again 15:00 to 20:00.
All food is order via your phone and tablet by scanning the QR code on your table and your boarding pass.
Both Haneda and Narita has shoe shine service from John Lobb. Haneda from 07:30 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 22:00. Narita opening hours currently not listed on the website.
JAL's Salon offer a selection of Japanese whisky and gin, hand drip coffee, and other drinks.
The Frankfurt first class lounge is more akin to a separate area in the lounge for first class passengers than an actual first class lounge. Though it does offer a step up from the Sakura Lounge. This lounge closes May 19th when JAL moves to T3. New lounge options are not announced yet. Likely contract.
Sakura Lounges
JAL operates Sakura lounge in Haneda, Narita, Nagoya Chubu, Honolulu, Bangkok, and Frankfurt. The current T2 lounge in Frankfurt closes May 19th when JAL moves to T3.
Access is for JAL Global Club, Sapphire, and Emerald. Standard OW connecting rules will apply, connecting to or from a same day long haul flight (over 5 hours) in business class will also grant access when connecting to and from an international short haul flight (under 5 hours)
Other destinations will offer a Oneworld partner or a contract lounge.
The Narita Sakura lounge has rooms with day beds. But the use time is limited to two hours. They can also be used from the first class lounge.
https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/service/lounge/
The Great Japan Airlines Lounge Thread
Jan 7, 2026 | 1:52 pm
#16
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 17,144
Jan 7, 2026 | 4:37 pm
#17
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
Just flew home from Frankfurt to CLT.
Went to the Sakura Lounge and was kinda underwhelmed
OW Emerald flying business and First Class section not even mentioned
The regular part of the lounge was pretty stereotypical with no real touches that would let you know it was a Japanese airlines facility other than some photos of old JL planes on the wall. No sake, No Japanese cuisine, etc
Better than the main terminal, for sure, but don't go there expecting a similar experience to Narita or Haneda
Went to the Sakura Lounge and was kinda underwhelmed
OW Emerald flying business and First Class section not even mentioned
The regular part of the lounge was pretty stereotypical with no real touches that would let you know it was a Japanese airlines facility other than some photos of old JL planes on the wall. No sake, No Japanese cuisine, etc
Better than the main terminal, for sure, but don't go there expecting a similar experience to Narita or Haneda
The very famous Japanese cuisine of curry should have been available. But otherwise I don't know what is on the menu these days.
Feb 5, 2026 | 4:41 am
#18
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
The February version of the filet of pork in the first class lounge. Very yummy.
The Baron Rothchild champagne has been replaced with Ayala Brut Majeur. I don't think I have seen that as an option before. Very good. The Joseph Perrier remains.
The Baron Rothchild champagne has been replaced with Ayala Brut Majeur. I don't think I have seen that as an option before. Very good. The Joseph Perrier remains.
Feb 7, 2026 | 7:47 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: United, AA, KrisFlyer
Posts: 192
Flying out of SFO in about a month on JAL. The lounge there is, to put it blunty, sad. We hop over to the Cathay Lounge, which is a pretty good lounge (at least by US Airport standards). Anyone have a better option out of SFO A gates?
Feb 7, 2026 | 3:21 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 19,250
I think all SFO terminals are now connected airside so you can walk between the terminals once past security with no need to go through security checks.
Alaska in T1 gets good reviews iirc
BA in the A gates is fine but may have capacity restrictions for oneworld customers. Have not been to SFO for years so no recent lounge experience
Not sure what the lounge JAL uses mainly now since the JAL lounge closed in 2023 iirc
Regards
TBS
Feb 7, 2026 | 3:34 pm
#21
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
Hi,
I think all SFO terminals are now connected airside so you can walk between the terminals once past security with no need to go through security checks.
Alaska in T1 gets good reviews iirc
BA in the A gates is fine but may have capacity restrictions for oneworld customers. Have not been to SFO for years so no recent lounge experience
Not sure what the lounge JAL uses mainly now since the JAL lounge closed in 2023 iirc
Regards
TBS
I think all SFO terminals are now connected airside so you can walk between the terminals once past security with no need to go through security checks.
Alaska in T1 gets good reviews iirc
BA in the A gates is fine but may have capacity restrictions for oneworld customers. Have not been to SFO for years so no recent lounge experience
Not sure what the lounge JAL uses mainly now since the JAL lounge closed in 2023 iirc
Regards
TBS
Feb 7, 2026 | 7:43 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2025
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Programs: JGC Premier, LSP 4 Star
Posts: 41
I haven't been through SFO since the new Alaska Lounge opened. Reading mixed reviews. Anyway, SFO for me has always been a gate-side restaurant airport—so many options and usually much more space than a cramped lounge. SFO design must fundamentally lack space for good lounges? I'd rate Cathay Pacific best but even that isn't quite up to their normal standards.
Feb 7, 2026 | 8:52 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 4,536
I used the AA lounge at SFO a couple years ago, because I saw such bad reviews for the BA lounge. The food was uninspiring, but the lounge was very uncrowded, peaceful, clean, and reasonably attractive (with good tarmac views), so I was perfectly satisfied.
Feb 19, 2026 | 4:45 pm
#24
Original Poster
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
Today's sushi selection in Narita. Tuna (akami), squid (yariika) and a futomaki. The tuna was very good for akami, did not miss a toro variant.
Mar 22, 2026 | 3:25 am
#25
Original Poster
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
Quite a few new options at the Narita first class lounge this past Friday.
Penne with cured ham, bamboo shoot, and a touch of matcha powder.
Arabiata with pancetta and egg plant
Slow cooked Hida Beef
Warabimochi and matcha ohagi
Penne with cured ham, bamboo shoot, and a touch of matcha powder.
Arabiata with pancetta and egg plant
Slow cooked Hida Beef
Warabimochi and matcha ohagi
Mar 23, 2026 | 2:47 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO and SNA/LAX
Programs: JL JMB Diamond 1.4 MM, UA 1P 1.2 MM
Posts: 242
Flying out of LAX. Was upgraded to F. Wife and kids still in business. Any chance the Qantas F lounge allows all of us in or is the rule still just one guest even if pax 3 and 4 are kids?
Mar 23, 2026 | 7:30 pm
#27
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,488
Mar 23, 2026 | 11:35 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2025
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Programs: JGC Premier, LSP 4 Star
Posts: 41
Pretty sure it was the wheelchair and "traveling with grandma" plus me not even asking if he could come in. Always loved that lounge and liked it even more after that.
I see you are Diamond. I guess you didn't get the partner status match perk for your wife? If so, then obviously all 4 could enter no problem. Maybe give it a try with the kids behind you and wave them off to one of the nice AA lounges?
Mar 24, 2026 | 11:52 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO and SNA/LAX
Programs: JL JMB Diamond 1.4 MM, UA 1P 1.2 MM
Posts: 242
About a year ago flying in PE on JL LAX-HND, I (Emerald) got my mom (no status) and son (21 yr old, Sapphire) both in. She was in a wheelchair. My son "escorted" us to the counter and I said I'd like to enter with my mom as a guest and confirmed just one and said to my son "see you at the gate". I walked in with my mom and a few minutes later, he came in and said the guy got him and let him in 😅
Pretty sure it was the wheelchair and "traveling with grandma" plus me not even asking if he could come in. Always loved that lounge and liked it even more after that.
I see you are Diamond. I guess you didn't get the partner status match perk for your wife? If so, then obviously all 4 could enter no problem. Maybe give it a try with the kids behind you and wave them off to one of the nice AA lounges?
Pretty sure it was the wheelchair and "traveling with grandma" plus me not even asking if he could come in. Always loved that lounge and liked it even more after that.
I see you are Diamond. I guess you didn't get the partner status match perk for your wife? If so, then obviously all 4 could enter no problem. Maybe give it a try with the kids behind you and wave them off to one of the nice AA lounges?
Apr 17, 2026 | 11:31 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Kanagawa
Programs: JAL Global Club, ANA Super Flyers
Posts: 556
First time up in the HND F lounge on an outbound F flight. Im a lowly JGC member so normally Im over in the Sakura Lounge. It might be hard to go back to that.
The tuna is pretty good. Do also grab the shrimp soup they have available for order. Drinks-wise Ive been sipping on the Joseph-Perrier champagne and Royal Brackla 12. Ill wander up to The Salon when it opens later this afternoon.
The RED Suite has been a nice escape from the hustle and bustle just outside. Ive been chit-chatting with the shoe shiner and picking up some tips. After he finished working on my dress shoes he offered to brush and clean my sneakers. Who am I to say no to that?
I was also a fan of how seamless the check-in process for F was through the subtly marked doors in the departure area. Tags for my carry-on with my name on it were already ready to go.
The tuna is pretty good. Do also grab the shrimp soup they have available for order. Drinks-wise Ive been sipping on the Joseph-Perrier champagne and Royal Brackla 12. Ill wander up to The Salon when it opens later this afternoon.
The RED Suite has been a nice escape from the hustle and bustle just outside. Ive been chit-chatting with the shoe shiner and picking up some tips. After he finished working on my dress shoes he offered to brush and clean my sneakers. Who am I to say no to that?
I was also a fan of how seamless the check-in process for F was through the subtly marked doors in the departure area. Tags for my carry-on with my name on it were already ready to go.