New Sakura Lounge at HND (2023- ) [merged thread] - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

JALPak

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: LAX

Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 16,513

Original press release: https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202302/007198.html

JAL held a press preview of the new Sakura Lounge. They have also finally announced it will open on the first day of the summer schedule, which is Mar 26.

You can see the photos of the new Sakura Lounge on https://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/273233

Since the Sakura Lounge capacity has doubled, JAL will now expand the paid lounge service to cover all JL operated flights from Mar 28 2023: https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/info/2023/inter/230322/

The _Banking_Scot

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: 18,203

Hi,

Interesting. Thanks very much for that..

Might pop in for a quick visit in mid may before going to the F lounge ( One World emerald) as I have a 4hr layover in HND ( doing HIJ-HND-HEL-ARN)

Regards

TBS

JALPak

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: LAX

Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 16,513

Here are more photos of the new Sakura Lounge

https://www.traicy.com/posts/20230328264832/

CPH-Flyer

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Tokyo

Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G, LTG), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum

Posts: 22,140

JALPak

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: LAX

Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 16,513

This is the old ANA lounge space. The dark side has temporary rented the old TIAT lounge space as an additional lounge.

BKKSoiDog

Join Date: Jan 2018

Location: BKK, BOS, MHT

Programs: AA,ROP, Skymiles

Posts: 3

gogooo

Join Date: Mar 2020

Location: IST,DAC,KTM,DEL

Programs: Life

Posts: 332

Unimatrix One

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold

Posts: 3,829

I feel like JAL lounges have gone downhill. It's the same with their domestic lounges. Their old lounge design was much nicer than the new ones. The new Sakura Lounge at Itami is so bad that I switched most of my ITM flights to ANA.

CPH-Flyer

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Tokyo

Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G, LTG), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum

Posts: 22,140

The ANA lounge in Itami is not exactly a charmer though.... Domestic Japanese lounges are generally pretty dull, but you are saved by not needing to be through security more than 20 minutes before departure.

The ANA lounges basically has hot and cold beverages, and beer, rice crackers and a few sweets, I assume the Sakura lounges are the same?

Purserin painajainen

Join Date: Sep 2022

Location: TKU

Programs: AY+ Plat / OWE, AF&KL Plat / ST Elite Plus, SQ KrisFlyer, BT VIP

Posts: 203

They are, at least the ones I've been to at KIX & OKA. Good for a brief stop&drink, but wouldn't want to spend time there. Speaking about domestic lounges, that is.

Unimatrix One

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold

Posts: 3,829

The ANA (domestic) lounges have a much better alcohol selection than the JAL Sakura lounges. ANA serves beer, highballs, shochu, and whiskey. The Sakura lounge only has beer, which is the one type of alcohol that I don't like.

As for Itami, the ANA lounge has lots of plush, cushy armchairs, whereas the new Sakura lounge went overboard with table and counter seating. Even the few armchairs in the Sakura lounge are hard and uncomfortable.

CPH-Flyer

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Tokyo

Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G, LTG), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum

Posts: 22,140

I don't recall in comfy armchairs in ANA Itami, have they renovated within the last year or so? Haneda certainly don't have anything like comfy armchairs. I guess I also have to pop in to the Sakura side and see what's actually there. Last Sakura lounge i was in was in Sendai, and that was pretty basic, but also a quite small airport.

Unimatrix One

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold

Posts: 3,829

I guess we may have a different definition of armchairs (what I mean is any sort of cushy chair that has an armrest), but this is what ANA currently has at ITM:

The Sakura lounge at ITM, in contrast, has LOTS of counters and tables. It feels like a cheap cafeteria.

lsquare

Join Date: Mar 2010

Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG

Posts: 20,217

HnDsolo

Join Date: Jun 2020

Programs: JMB, CX Marco Polo

Posts: 18

Design, perception or comfort are such subjective matters!!!

In that sense, it is difficult to engage in a discussion beyond I like it / I don't like it....

I agree on the lacklustre drink offer on ITM Sakura lounge. (kinda objective remark)

Nonetheless, although I am not a regular of ANA's lounge, your pictures do not portray a very welcoming atmosphere (at least to my eyes). I have visited waiting rooms at hospitals in Japan that look very similar... (kinda subjective remark...)