

Previous to my Japan Airways First Class flight to Los Angeles, I had entry to the JAL First Class Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Worldwide Airport.
This might be my first time flying Japan Airways First Class out of Tokyo Haneda, and due to this fact my first time paying a go to to this lounge.
Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Entry
Haneda Airport’s worldwide departures corridor is within the form of a protracted walkway. Japan Airways has two units of lounges at Haneda: the First Class Lounge and the Sakura Lounge, which is the airline’s enterprise class lounge.
The JAL First Class Lounge is positioned airside, throughout from Gate 112 in Terminal 3. A single set of elevators lead as much as the fourth flooring, one stage above the departure gates.


The lounge’s working hours are between 6:30am and a pair of:45am. Passengers travelling in First Class on Japan Airways and different Oneworld airways have entry to the lounge, in addition to these with Oneworld Emerald standing flying on a Oneworld provider.
Stepping off the elevators, I arrived at a modern stone entryway with the JAL First Class Lounge emblem marked exterior. Inside is the reception, the place there’s a check-in desk.

Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Seating
Upon entry, there are two hallways, the place the right-hand facet results in a lot of the lounge’s choices, and the left-hand facet results in the bathe facilities.
Heading down the hallway to the precise, marble flooring are flanked by partitions exhibiting stunning conventional Japanese motifs. On the finish of the hall are the lounge’s two essential seating areas and eating areas.

There are literally two flooring to this lounge; nonetheless, the portion on the fifth flooring was closed on the time of my go to.

The lounge options pure tones with elegant touches of marble, greenery, and wooden furnishing, and there are massive home windows spanning the wall with views of the tarmac. It’s a sprawling house with a “room-to-room configuration,” as Japan Airways describes it.
On the entrance of the lounge is the principle seating space. Rows of three armchairs are within the centre of the lounge, and extra chairs line the wall. It’s value noting that every seat has comparatively easy accessibility to energy ports, that are positioned subsequent to or behind the seats.



There’s a designated quiet with non-public cylindrical pod-like seating located between the principle seating space and the walkway. This space additionally served as a enterprise centre, with some desks and printers.


Transferring additional into the lounge, you’ll discover the eating space, JAL’s Desk. There’s ample seating right here, with clusters of four-person eating tables concentrated within the centre of the house.


Amongst these clusters of eating tables are lengthy communal tables, every with over a dozen seats.

Alongside the home windows spanning the sting of the lounge, the seating provides panoramic views of the tarmac. Within the central space of the lounge seat with smaller tables in units of two with flooring lamps between them, whereas on the outer edges of the lounge, particular person seats are dotted alongside a protracted counter.

Behind the lounge are two-person eating tables and bench seating. It by no means felt crowded throughout my time within the lounge, and the seats weren’t near being full.


Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Eating
The eating space, JAL’s Desk, has a live-cooking station alongside the terminal-side wall of the lounge. The station is highlighted by a big graphic set up on the wall behind it.
The vast majority of the meals choices have been obtainable by way of the à la carte menu. Nonetheless, there’s a very mild buffet unfold. On the time of my go to, there have been only a few fish and sashimi choices.


Sushi, curry rice, and Chinese language-style noodles have been among the many alternatives from the à la carte menu. It struck me as odd that there weren’t any Japanese-style noodles obtainable.
Naturally, I nonetheless went for the Chinese language-style noodles. Though it was a tasty bowl, I had hoped for an udon or ramen bar just like the one which ANA has of their Suite Lounge right here in Tokyo Haneda.

I additionally helped myself to sushi and curry rice. Admittedly, I didn’t eat an excessive amount of, since I wished to keep up a few of my urge for food for the flight.

The limitless parts of sushi is certainly the spotlight of Japan Airways’s First Class floor expertise, whether or not you’re departing from Haneda or Narita Airport. When you’d like, you possibly can even go as much as the live-cooking stations to observe the sushi chef put together your meal.

Subsequent to the live-cooking station was a complete drink station. There was self-serve juice, espresso, tea, and a few alcoholic drinks.
Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Pink Suite
The Pink Suite is positioned on the far finish of the lounge, and has a complicated aviation theme all through. That is undoubtedly one of the crucial notable options of the lounge and was definitely a spotlight of my go to.

The house is distinctively totally different from the remainder of the lounge, with a premium atmosphere. It’s divided into 4 sections: the Library, the Gallery, the Retreat, and the Bar.
Upon getting into the room, aviation motifs and memorabilia are dotted round. Historic images, globes, journey books, plane replicas, and aviation-themed maps crammed the house.

There’s a central seating space of huge black leather-based couch chairs, after which two-person seating in one other part.


Furthermore, there’s a self-serve bar that includes Laurent-Perrier Champagne and premium sake. When you’re searching for a quieter space within the lounge, it is a prime location to sip on a drink and unwind – there wasn’t a single different occupant who stationed themselves right here throughout the time of my go to.


Behind the Pink Suite was a video games room. There was a foosball desk and 4 chess boards, with extra seating close by. For me, although, the spotlight of this room was poring over the handfuls of aviation-themed maps that have been lined up throughout all 4 partitions.

Total, I believed the Pink Suite was a implausible themed addition to the Japan Airways First Class Lounge, and I wouldn’t thoughts having a room like this in my very own home in the future.
Japan Airways First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda – Different Amenities
The restrooms are positioned to the left of the doorway. They have been stored good and clear, and have been additionally fairly spacious.


There are a couple of extra facilities obtainable right here, together with showers. These are accessible by talking to an attendant and scheduling a time slot prematurely.


Furthermore, there are a variety of cellphone cubicles and storage lockers, which will be discovered close to the check-in space and down the hallway to the precise.

It’s a disgrace that the rest of the lounge, referred to as JAL’s Salon, wasn’t open throughout the time of my go to.
It’s positioned one stage up, accessible from the elevator or stairs close to the reception. In keeping with the lounge workers, the drink menu is similar as downstairs; nonetheless, this house is considerably cozier and extra intimate for stress-free and sipping drinks.

On the time of my go to in September 2022, JAL’s Salon solely operates throughout very restricted hours, maybe on account of the scant foot visitors presently. Now that Japan has reopened to vacationers, I anticipate that this house might quickly return to full working hours, and I look ahead to checking it out on a future event.
Conclusion
The JAL First Class Lounge in Tokyo Haneda is a wonderful spot to spend time previous to a Japan Airways First Class flight. I wouldn’t say it’s value arriving too far prematurely, although, as there aren’t too many world-beating lounge options to occupy your self with, and there are solely so many plates of sushi you possibly can eat.
In comparison with lots of the world’s extra ostentatious First Class lounges, this lounge is quite modest and understated as compared. Nonetheless, one in-lounge attraction is definitely fairly noteworthy: the aviation-themed Pink Suite, which is effectively value testing and makes for a singular ambiance in which you’ll get pleasure from a glass of Champagne or sake.