The Japan Airlines First Class Lounge in Tokyo Narita (NRT) is a great business class lounge…but doesn’t cut it as a first class lounge.
Even though this review is from 2016, a report from View from the Wing only two days old shows that very little in this lounge has changed since my visit.
When I think of a first class lounge and ground service, there a number of things that make a lounge “first class” to me. Those include:
- A La Carte Dining
- Escorts To Gate
- Tranquility/Privacy
- Spa/Massage
- Personalized Service
This lounge hits none of the above.
As I entered the lounge, a lovely trio of ladies greeted me and directed me to the first class side.
JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo Narita Seating
The lounge was fairly crowded. I found a seat in the work area, but the lounge was running on the full side on an early Monday morning. I took this picture a couple hours later when things had cleared up a bit:
One massage chair opened up about an hour into my stay and I enjoyed that for about 20 minutes.
JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo Work Stations
Since seating was limited, I took a seat at one of the desks, of which there are about a dozen. Wi-Fi connection was slow but steady and a printer and copy machine were available. Desktop computers were also available.
JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo Dining
The lounge features a buffet along with a Sake and Sushi bar. The buffet included eastern and western breakfast items.
I wasn’t all that hungry and just had a cappuccino, some scrambled eggs, and fruit.
JAL First Class Lounge Narita Massages
When I was there in 2016, JAL was still offering complimentary massages to first class passengers. These short 10-minute treatments were limited, yet very appreciated. But JAL cut this perk last year, fully relegating this lounge to its business class status.
Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Tokyo NRT Showers
The massages are gone, but shower suite remain. Water pressure/temperature was satisfactory and I always appreciate the deluxe Toto toilets.
Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Narita Smoking
A large indoor smoking room is available in the lounge.
Japan Airlines First Class Lounge Narita Service
Finally, I’ll just note that no one bothered to collect my breakfast dishes. They sat on the desk for an hour. That gives some clue as to the attention to detail of this lounge.
Warnings like this don’t scream first class to me:
CONCLUSION
It surprises me that an airline with such an amazing first class product can have such a mediocre first class lounge. Were this a business class lounge, I’d be quite impressed. But as a first class lounge, I simply cannot endorse it. Unless you want a Sushi and Sake feast prior to your flight, I say skip it and arrive later.
Seems pretty…bland.
I agree that this lounge is such a letdown… I would not care to visit it again, not worth my time.
I disagree about a la carte dining: in many places it’s a PITA, including Qantas F lounges ( in which there is no alternative). Some of them are overcrowded, with LONG wait times for indifferent food, eg, the salt’n’pepper squid. Far better to offer a high quality buffet.
I agree that a great buffet is necessary, but I love sit-down dining.
Totally agree. Onboard is so perfect, there’s no reason to show up early for this.
Does anyone have an idea why it’s like this (other than just saying cost)? Is it because they know the onboard is good enough people don’t need the lounge?
But that doesn’t explain the lack of assistance from curb to plane. Very strange for an otherwise excellent and thoughtful airline.