Which oneworld lounge at Narita?

[defurax]

I will be flying out of PEK on JL and I have the choice of routing via NRT to connect to QF62 or HND connecting to QF26. I've never been to either airport and it appears that JL operates First class lounges at both airports. Which airport has the best F lounge(s) and are they accessible before QF departure (e.g same terminal, opening hours)?

 

[yohy?!]

Review: Japan Airlines first class lounge, Tokyo Narita Airport - Airlines | flights | hotels | travel tech | style | apps - Australian Business Traveller

Photos: Japan Airlines' new first class lounge at Tokyo Haneda - Australian Business Traveller

 

[boomy]

I'd go for JL F lounge in HND if given the choice.
There is also nice CX lounge there you can visit.

 

[defurax]

Review: Japan Airlines first class lounge, Tokyo Narita Airport - Airlines | flights | hotels | travel tech | style | apps - Australian Business Traveller

Photos: Japan Airlines' new first class lounge at Tokyo Haneda - Australian Business Traveller

Thanks! So both the NRT and HND Jal F lounges look great. So I guess the second question would be if there is any other reason to pick HND vs NRT?

 

[nlagalle]

Thanks! So both the NRT and HND Jal F lounges look great. So I guess the second question would be if there is any other reason to pick HND vs NRT?

where do you want to end up? HND goes to SYD and NRT to BNE... (IIRC)

 

[defurax]

where do you want to end up? HND goes to SYD and NRT to BNE... (IIRC)

Final destination is MEL.

 

[serfty]

HND then ... there's a couple more connections in tbe event of irrops ...

 

[madrooster]

Whilst not exactly to do with lounges, you may wish to consider the onboard product on NRT-BNE vs HND-SYD.

 

[Himeno]

HND then ... there's a couple more connections in tbe event of irrops ...

how so? In irrops out of TYO, QF would either delay you 24 hours, send you to the other airport, stick you on JQ out of NRT or connect you through SIN via JL. The options through SIN are the same from both airports. QF Group has more flights out of NRT via JQ.

As for lounges, there are 4 oneworld lounges at the HND International terminal. A Sakura and F JL lounge in the older part of the terminal near immigration (across from gate 112) and another Sakura lounge and CX lounge in the newer part (near gate 146). The Sakura lounges seem much like the QF MEL Int J lounge. The CX lounge is similar to the HKG Bridge lounge. If given a choice, I'd go with the JAL F lounge at HND. However, it changes a lot depending on when you're there. Much better in the evening then before lunch.
The NRT F lounge is much better.

 

[defurax]

The NRT F lounge is much better.

You mind sharing why? It wasn't obvious from the AusBT articles above.

 

[serfty]

how so? In irrops out of TYO. ..

Nup! contrasting irrops out of SYD and BNE ...

Seriously, to me, both lounges (First) are similar. Both flights leave in the evenings.

Int/Dom transfers are easier at NRT, but HND has more domestic flights to tansfer from.

NRT is 'an hour' out of towmn, HND is '20 minutes' ...

 

[Himeno]

NRT is 'an hour' out of towmn, HND is '20 minutes' ...

Depends on how you travel (bus, train, express train) and where in Tokyo you need to go to/from. The fastest train from NRT takes 38 minutes to Nippori station (near Ueno), the same as the slower train options from HND to Tokyo station.

D-I connections at NRT are much like in MEL. connections at HND are much like SYD (HND is also the 2nd busiest airport in Asia...)

The NRT F lounge is much larger then the HND lounge. Has more showers and more food options. The HND lounge can get crowded in the evenings when the first of the night slot pax start arriving, while the NRT lounge is starting to slow down around the time the QF BNE pax would arrive. The NRT F lounge 'soft' product may have changed to match HND though, it's been some time since I departed Japan through NRT. My last ex-NRT flight was at least 10 months before the QF SYD flight moved.

 

[serfty]

You have more experience that I, recently I departed HND, last year I departed NRT, both times on QF to SYD and both evening. The HND lounge was not crowded, the year before the Satellite First lounge at NRT has as many staff as PAX while the main First lounge was chockers.

 

[DavidFlynn]

Couple of other things to add to your decision confusion!

* Both HND and NRT lounges are 'good enough' for a short pre-flight stay: I'd honestly not make my call based on this alone. I like the JAL F lounge at HND (need to write that up soon!) and as mentioned, the newish CX J one is also nice (but no showers, which is a consideration in the middle of Tokyo summer!).

* I like that HND is so much closer to Tokyo than NRT: lets you make the most of your time in this wonderful city!

* But, HND-SYD is a Boeing 747 while NRT-BNE is an Airbus A330, so if travelling in business class overnight you may prefer the A330's Business Suite over the 747's Skybed.

Of course, you could catch the Shinkansen out to Osaka and fly back with JQ...

 

[junbugging]

* Both HND and NRT lounges are 'good enough' for a short pre-flight stay

Totally agree, especially if it's just a transit without time in Tokyo. I'd spend more time thinking about the plane you want to be on.

Maybe I'm just jaded, but I'm entirely indifferent between the various lounges. None of them scream "F" to me.

 

[Himeno]

* I like that HND is so much closer to Tokyo than NRT: lets you make the most of your time in this wonderful city!

Yep. The last couple of times I've been in Tokyo with night flights out, I've had to be out of the hotel/airbnb in the morning... Gone to Tokyo or Shinagawa station, put my luggage into the storage lockers, then spent the day in the city before heading back to the train.

Of course, you could catch the Shinkansen out to Osaka and fly back with JQ...

Does JQ even still fly to KIX? I thought they had stopped with connections via GK at NRT. Of course, the Shinkansen takes you to Shin-Osaka station to the north of the city, then you have to get on another train/bus to KIX to the south of the city. The oneworld lounges in TYO are much better then those in KIX.

 

[serfty]

JQ restarted KIX some time ago. As for trains, what's an extra 'rapid' service among friends ...

 

[ermen]

this whiskey collection.. the whiskey collection... yamazaki 18 and hibeki 17(21?)
is this only available in NRT F? or both?

 

[boomy]

this whiskey collection.. the whiskey collection... yamazaki 18 and hibeki 17(21?)
is this only available in NRT F? or both?

Both lounges serve Yamazaki 12 and Hibiki 17 IIRC.

The Red Suite in HND is nice place to have glass of champagne or sake.

 

[pythonisman]

I read on FT that the HND JL F lounge was a bit nicer than NRT.
I visited NRT JL F in January and thought it was great (main building) - it was pretty quiet, I had a massage, a couple of plates of fresh sushi, lots of Sake and then got stuck into the Yamazaki which went down a treat.

Agree with others on the class of travel question - if I was flying in J I'd go via BNE to get the suite, if in Y I'd go via HND as personally I'd rather be in Y on a 744 with better chance of landing an upgrade (I'd think, not based on evidence).

If you've got time to check out the city, go via HND as it's a lot closer/easier to get to Tokyo proper for exploring and back out to fly

I <3 Japan...