Throughout my journey to Japan by way of Mongolia, I had the prospect to take a look at a number of lounges at Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3, previous to my Japan Airways A350 top notch flight to New York. I spent essentially the most time within the Japan Airways First Class Lounge, which is the lounge for top notch passengers and oneworld Emerald members.
I hadn’t visited this lounge in a few years, and albeit it was considerably nicer than I remembered. I actually like this lounge, although I’m conflicted as as to whether I simply actually prefer it, or adore it.
On the plus facet, this lounge is huge, and incorporates a number of distinct seating and eating ideas. The foods and drinks choice is phenomenal, the views are nice, and the lounge has a lot of facilities. On the similar time, the lounge can get tremendous busy throughout peak hours, and lacks the exclusivity or customized service of lots of the world’s high top notch lounges. It’s undoubtedly one of many higher oneworld Emerald lounges on the market, although.
Let’s get into the evaluate, after which I’m curious to listen to what y’all consider this facility.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda location
The Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda is positioned in Terminal 3, which is the place all worldwide oneworld flights depart from. The lounge is positioned close to gate 112, only a quick stroll from immigration. Once you clear immigration (or are within the middle of the terminal), simply flip left.
You’ll then see the doorway to the lounge on the left. The lounge is primarily positioned on stage 4, so that you’ll must go up one stage both by way of the escalator or elevator.
There you’ll see the doorway to the lounge, which I discover to be fairly fairly, with its minimalist design.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda hours
The Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda is at the moment open day by day from 6AM till 1:50AM. This covers nearly all of the oneworld airline departures from the terminal. You possibly can anticipate that the schedule will probably be adjusted if flight schedules change, because it’s regular for airways to tweak lounge hours.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda entry necessities
The Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda is a typical oneworld Emerald and oneworld top notch lounge. In step with oneworld lounge entry insurance policies:
- The lounge could be accessed by oneworld Emerald members touring in any cabin on a oneworld flight
- The lounge could be accessed by any similar day oneworld worldwide top notch passenger, not solely on Japan Airways, but in addition on airline companions
This lounge is totally large, however also can get busy throughout peak hours (which might be early within the morning and late at night time). I wouldn’t say it’s ever crowded, because of the dimension of the lounge, however at instances it undoubtedly feels extra like a enterprise class lounge by way of the sheer variety of folks.
Presumably a lot of the passengers within the lounge are oneworld Emerald members and never top notch passengers, given the comparatively small Japan Airways top notch footprint.
I do discover it attention-grabbing simply what number of oneworld Emerald members appear to go by the airport, since I don’t discover the Cathay Pacific First Lounges Hong Kong (whether or not The Pier or The Wing) to get this crowed.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda format
Normally once I evaluate lounges, I do one part in regards to the seating and format, after which one part in regards to the meals and drinks. I’m going to be approaching this evaluate a bit of in another way, because the Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda is damaged up into a number of completely different zones, every with its personal meals and beverage idea.
The lounge is unfold throughout two ranges, and options the next areas (don’t ask me about JAL’s capitalization selections with these varied ideas):
- JAL’s Desk is the most important a part of the lounge, and it’s additionally the primary eating space; this a part of the lounge tends to get busiest, although frankly it’s additionally the a part of the lounge that I’d most advocate skipping
- RED SUITE is a small space close to JAL’s Desk, and it’s most likely essentially the most elegantly designed a part of the lounge
- JAL’s SALON is on the higher stage, and is concentrated on serving Japanese artisinal drinks, from cocktails, to sake, to tea; word that this a part of the lounge is just open over choose hours, within the mornings and evenings
- Sushi Tsurutei is all about serving sushi, and virtually looks like a restaurant; this a part of the lounge is just open throughout peak intervals, within the mornings.
A overwhelming majority of company within the lounge appear to go to JAL’s Desk and RED SUITE, so in the event you’re visiting throughout a peak interval, I’d extremely advocate as an alternative hanging out at JAL’s SALON or Sushi Tsurutei.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda JAL’s Desk
JAL’s Desk is the most important a part of the Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda. Once you enter the lounge, simply flip proper and stroll down the attractive corridor, and also you’ll end up there.
JAL’s Desk is the first eating space of the lounge, and it’s usually the place you’ll discover essentially the most company. I’ve gotta say, design-wise I don’t love this a part of the lounge. It feels to me a bit like a (luxurious) cafeteria. with the heavy use of communal tables, plus the shortage of selection in seating.
JAL’s Desk has a bigger counter the place meals is freshly ready, and that’s complemented by a small number of self-serve meals, together with issues like mini sandwiches, soup, and pastries.
A majority of the meals here’s a la carte. Sadly there’s not conventional desk service, however slightly every desk has a QR code that it’s important to scan to position your order, after which dishes will probably be dropped at you. I used to be there over breakfast hours, and choices included all the things from a beef bowl, to vegetable penne, to a veggie burger, to beef curry, to eggs. Yow will discover a part of the menu under.
I made a decision to order the meat curry with rice in addition to the granola with combined berries and yogurt (a bizarre combo, I do know!), and each have been wonderful.
Along with the meals, this a part of the lounge has a big self-serve drink choice, together with all the things from liquor, to beer, to wine, to soda, to espresso, to tea.
Whereas it’s technically not a part of JAL’s Desk, there are some extra seating areas round this part, together with rows of seats going through each other, in addition to some semi-private chairs in a quiet room.
This a part of the lounge additionally has some personal cellphone rooms, a smoking room, and lockers.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda RED SUITE
RED SUITE is positioned instantly subsequent to JAL’s Desk, and is essentially the most elegant a part of the Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda.
This can be a sanctuary that nearly feels extra like a cigar bar than anything. Particularly, I like how the room has a bunch of aviation memorabilia, so it’s price a go to even in the event you don’t sit right here. There’s additionally a foosball desk.
Whereas the RED SUITE doesn’t have any meals, it does have a champagne and sake bar, which you’ll assist your self to (Joseph Perrier Brut is the champagne on provide within the lounge).
Over choose hours (usually within the mornings and evenings), the RED SUITE additionally presents a complimentary shoe shine service, which I do know many company make the most of.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda JAL’s SALON
JAL’s SALON is what I’d think about to be the bar space within the Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda, although with a Japanese twist. That is positioned inside the doorway to the lounge and to the left, after which up a ground (on stage 5).
A overwhelming majority of company by no means go to this area (and presumably don’t even realize it exists), which is nice, because it means it’s usually empty. This space is just open over choose hours, within the mornings and evenings.
I don’t discover the design of this area to be notably inspiring, because it primarily simply consists of rows of seats in rows, in addition to some communal tables.
The true motive to return right here is due to the beverage choice, which is closely centered on merchandise from Japan. JAL’s SALON has all the things from craft beer, to Japanese whiskey, gin, and different drinks. There’s additionally Japanese tea, and apparently a hand-drip espresso service (which I wasn’t conscious of, however am now studying about on Japan Airways’ web site — I’m tremendous bummed I missed it!).
Whereas right here, I indulged in a signature cocktail, the Kokutu Espresso Martini, which was celebrating the inauguration of Japan Airways A350-1000 service (the flight I used to be on!).
This cocktail was wonderful, and was offered on a tray in a cool glass.
Along with the bar, JAL’s SALON additionally has a self-serve drink choice, with a espresso machine, beer machine, liquor, and extra.
The fifth ground additionally has some therapeutic massage chairs, accessible on a primary come, first serve foundation. Did you actually go by a Japanese airline lounge in the event you didn’t spend at the very least a couple of minutes in one among these? 😉
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Sushi Tsurutei
Sushi Tsurutei might be my favourite a part of the Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda. This place virtually looks like a sushi restaurant, with the catch being that it’s solely open within the mornings.
That is positioned inside the doorway to the lounge and to the left, and very like JAL’s SALON, a overwhelming majority of individuals appear to overlook this. Simply for instance, once I visited round 9AM, almost each seat was taken in JAL’s Desk, whereas two seats have been taken in Sushi Tsurutei.
Sushi Tsurutei has dozens of tables, with a lot lighter tones than the remainder of the lounge.
The spotlight of this area is the sushi bar, the place you’ll be able to have sushi freshly ready for you.
There’s additionally a small self-serve buffet, with lots of the similar choices you’ll discover in the primary a part of the lounge.
Very similar to at JAL’s Desk, meals must be ordered by way of a smartphone utilizing the QR code on every desk, after which the meals will probably be dropped at you. Under yow will discover a part of the menu.
I ordered one of many sushi units, and it was wonderful. I’d have ordered extra, however I used to be attempting to save lots of my urge for food for the feast I’d take pleasure in onboard my flight to New York.
Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda loos & showers
The Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda has a few units of loos (one on the fourth ground, and one on the fifth ground), which I discovered to be spotless. The lads’s room had sinks, urinals, and stalls, with the bogs having bidets.
The lounge additionally has a number of bathe suites, which could be reserved by the lounge’s app (the identical one by which you order meals).
The bathe suites are practical although maybe not overly luxurious, and have a sink, a bathroom, and a walk-in bathe, with toiletries in reusable containers.
Don’t overlook to shut the seat to the bathroom lid, although!
Backside line
The Japan Airways First Lounge Haneda Airport is a superb facility for oneworld top notch and oneworld Emerald passengers. The lounge is large and is unfold throughout a number of distinct zones, with a formidable number of meals, drinks, and facilities.
I like this lounge rather a lot, notably in the event you’re visiting over the hours the place JAL’s SALON and Sushi Tsurutei are open. These area have nice sushi and cocktails, and are constantly quiet.
Nevertheless, there’s no denying that this lounge doesn’t really feel fairly as unique or customized as another high worldwide top notch lounges on this planet.
What do you make of the Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport?
