Being one of the two largest airlines in Japan, JAL operates a network of lounges within the country available to both domestic and international passengers. It also operates some lounges in other countries and, where its own lounges are not available, provides access to other oneworld and third-party contract lounges.
Unlike most other airlines, JAL provides lounge access not only to business and first class passengers but also to premium economy and select economy class passengers.
Continue reading to learn more about the lounges in JAL’s network and about the airline’s lounge access policies for domestic and international passengers.
JAL Sakura, JAL Diamond Premier, and JAL First Class Lounges & More
Before continuing to JAL’s lounge access policy, it’s worth knowing about the different types of lounges that JAL’s passengers have access to. Those differ depending on whether you are traveling on a domestic or an international flight.
Types of Lounges Available to Domestic JAL Passengers
JAL passengers can access one of the following types of lounges depending not only on their class of travel and frequent flyer status but also on departure airport:
- Domestic JAL Sakura Lounges
- JAL Diamond Premier Lounges
- “Shared lounges”
Domestic JAL Sakura Lounges are the less exclusive of the two types of domestic lounges operated by JAL and can be found at a dozen airports around Japan. They offer a good variety of seating but their refreshments selection is very limited. In fact, bites to eat only include packaged rice crackers and similar snacks.
JAL Diamond Premier Lounges have stricter entry requirements and can only be found at five major airports. That said, they offer a much better (although still not amazing) selection of things to eat including bread and rice balls.
At some domestic airports where there are no JAL Lounges, the airline offers its passengers access to “shared lounges.” These are operated by a third party and, as suggested by their name, are used by both ANA and JAL. The passengers that would otherwise be eligible to use a JAL Sakura Lounge can use the “shared lounges” where available.
Types of Lounges Available to International JAL Passengers
Unlike ANA which uses the same naming convention for its domestic and international lounges, JAL has separate names for its higher-tier domestic (JAL Diamond Premier Lounges) and international lounges (JAL First Class Lounges). With that, international passengers traveling on JAL have access to the following types of lounges:
- International JAL Sakura Lounges
- JAL First Class Lounges
- Other oneworld lounges
- Non-oneworld contract lounges
International JAL Sakura Lounges are essentially the airline’s business class lounges and offer the type of amenities one would expect from similar lounges operated by other airlines. In addition to a good variety of seating, the lounges offer a good selection of food and drinks. They also have showers.
JAL First Class Lounges are not only more exclusive but also better furnished and offer a better selection of refreshments.
With JAL being a oneworld member, its passengers can also access lounges of other airlines belonging to the alliance. Just as an example, select JAL passengers (more about the specific requirements in the following sections) can use Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Lounge in Hong Kong and the Finnair Business Lounge in Helsinki.
Lastly, at airports where JAL or other oneworld airline lounges are not available (or are far/inaccessible from the gates JAL uses), the airline’s passengers can use contract lounges. These are operated either by non-oneworld airlines or, in many cases, the airport or companies like Plaza Premium.
JAL Domestic Lounge Access Policy
Passengers traveling on domestic JAL flights can mainly access lounges through three methods: traveling in first class, having a frequent flyer status with JAL or another oneworld airline, or simply paying to enter. Notably, passengers traveling in JAL’s domestic business class, Class J, do not receive lounge access.
Children under the age of 3 do not count as guests and so can enter the lounge for free with older passengers eligible for access.
First Class and International Business Class Passengers
Those traveling in JAL’s domestic first class on the same day or connecting to/from an international first or business class flight on JAL by 6AM the next morning can use JAL Diamond Premier Lounges. Domestic first class passengers can also bring in one guest traveling on a JAL flight.
This is one area where JAL’s lounge access policy is more passenger-friendly than ANA’s lounge access policy. ANA only allows its domestic first class (Premium Class) passengers to use its lower-tier ANA Lounges which are of the same quality as JAL Sakura Lounges.
At airports where a JAL Diamond Premier Lounge is not available, passengers in this category can, of course, also use JAL Sakura Lounges and “shared lounges.”
Frequent Flyer Status Holders
Passengers traveling on domestic JAL flights can access JAL Sakura Lounges and “shared” lounges together with one guest if they hold one of the frequent flyer statuses below:
- JAL Mileage Bank Sapphire
- JAL Mileage Bank Diamond
- JAL Global Club
- JAL Global Club Premier
The above can bring in up to an additional two guests by using lounge coupons. These can be acquired using miles and cost 2,000 miles per coupon. JAL Mileage Club Crystal members can use JAL Sakura Lounges for 1,000 miles a visit.
The airline’s top-tier frequent status holders, i.e., JAL Mileage Bank Diamond and JAL Global Club Premier members, can also use the more exclusive JAL Diamond Premier Lounges.
In line with the standard oneworld lounge access policy, oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can use JAL Sakura Lounges and “shared lounges.” Emeralds can also use JAL Diamond Premier Lounges.
Paid Entry
Like ANA, JAL allows otherwise ineligible domestic passengers to buy their way into JAL Sakura Lounges at five major airports in Japan, albeit at a more limited scale. The five airports include Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Osaka Itami, Fukuoka, and Sapporo New Chitose.
All flights departing from Haneda and Itami are eligible. At Sapporo and Fukuoka Airports, passengers can pay to enter JAL Sakura Lounges only on flights departing between 10AM and 3PM on relatively quiet weekdays (i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). At Narita, flights departing up to noon are eligible.
Each visists costs 3,000 yen per person (approx. 20 dollars) and has to be paid in cash at the respective lounge’s reception.
JAL International Lounge Access Policy
As with other airlines, passengers traveling on international flights with JAL get complimentary lounge access if traveling in business or first class or if holding an eligible frequent flyer status. Unlike most other airlines, as mentioned earlier, premium economy and select economy class passengers are invited to use lounges in most cases too.
Additionally, those without lounge access can pay to use international JAL Sakura Lounges.
Regardless of the way used to enter JAL’s international lounges, children under the age of 2 can enter lounges free of charge and do not count as guests.
Economy Class and Premium Economy Class Passengers
With some exceptions at airports outside Japan and excluding passengers who upgrade on the day of their departure, JAL’s Premium Economy Class passengers are eligible to use business class lounges. This includes JAL Sakura Lounges as well as contract lounges operated by third parties.
Not only that but passengers traveling in full-fare international economy (booking class Y) on JAL’s international flights can access those lounges in most cases too. This does not include passengers traveling to Seoul and Guam, though.
Considering that full-fare economy class tickets can sometimes be even more expensive than discounted business class tickets, JAL letting this small subgroup of economy class passengers use lounges makes perfect sense.
Business Class Passengers
Passengers traveling in JAL’s international business class can use JAL Sakura Lounges and oneworld business class lounges where available. At airports where neither is available, they are typically provided access to a contract lounge either operated by a non-oneworld airline or some other third party.
Worth noting is that at airports where both a JAL Sakura Lounge and other oneworld lounges are available, JAL international business passengers can, in line with oneworld’s lounge access policy, use both the JAL Lounge as well as lounges of other members of the alliance.
One example of that situation would be Bangkok where, in addition to a JAL Sakura Lounge, there are two other oneworld lounges – the Cathay Pacific Lounge and the Qatar Airways Premium Lounge. JAL business class passengers departing from Bangkok can use any or all of those when departing Bangkok.
Frequent Flyer Status Holders
Lounge access for frequent flyer status holders on international JAL flights is similar to its domestic counterpart. Those holding the following JAL Mileage Bank statuses and other oneworld Sapphire-equivalent statuses can use international JAL Sakura Lounges and other business class lounges:
- JAL Mileage Bank Sapphire
- JAL Mileage Bank Diamond
- JAL Global Club
- JAL Global Club Premier
JAL Mileage Bank Diamond, JAL Global Club Premier, and other oneworld Emerald status holders can also use JAL First Class Lounges and other first class lounges in addition to the above.
In all of the above cases, the status holder can bring in one guest traveling on a oneworld flight.
Paid Entry
JAL passengers otherwise ineligible for lounge access can pay to enter select JAL Sakura Lounges.
The lounges where this service is available include those at Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, and Osaka Kansai Airports in Japan. Additionally, JAL Sakura Lounges at Honolulu, Frankfurt, Bangkok, and Manila Airports offer this service too.
The prices vary both on the lounge as well as on the currency in which the relevant JAL ticket was issued. They range between 35 and 50 dollars, though. For specific prices, check this page on JAL’s website.
A Complete List of JAL Lounges
Below is a (nearly) complete list of lounges that JAL passengers can use. “Nearly” because it lists lounges that JAL invites its passengers to but, as mentioned earlier, there are also other oneworld lounges that select JAL passengers can use without being explicitly invited into them.
Domestic JAL Sakura Lounges, JAL Diamond Premier Lounges & “Shared Lounges”
JAL’s higher-end domestic lounges – JAL Diamond Premier Lounges – can be found at the following five airports:
- Fukuoka
- Naha
- Osaka Itami
- Sapporo New Chitose
- Tokyo Haneda (South Wing and North Wing)
Domestic JAL Sakura Lounges can be found at 12 airports around Japan including all of those that with a Diamond Premier Lounge:
- Fukuoka
- Hiroshima
- Kagoshima
- Komatsu
- Matsuyama
- Naha
- Okayama
- Osaka Itami
- Sapporo New Chitose
- Sendai
- Tokyo Haneda
- Tokyo Narita
Lastly, “shared lounges” are available for use by JAL’s domestic passengers at the following five airports:
- Aomori (Common Lounge)
- Kumamoto (Lounge ASO)
- Miyazaki (Lounge Oyodo)
- Nagoya Chubu (Centrair Airline Lounge)
- Osaka Kansai (Lounge KANSAI)
All in all, JAL’s domestic lounge footprint is the same as ANA’s with the exception of Aomori where JAL offers a lounge but ANA doesn’t.
International JAL Sakura Lounges and JAL First Class Lounges
JAL’s passengers (as well as eligible passengers traveling on other oneworld airlines) have access to international JAL Sakura Lounges at the following airports in Japan:
- Nagoya Chubu
- Osaka Kansai
- Tokyo Haneda
- Tokyo Narita
Additionally, there are also JAL Sakura Lounges at the following four airports outside Japan:
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Thailand)
- Frankfurt (Germany)
- Honolulu (United States)
- Manila (Philippines)
JAL First Class Lounges are available at Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, and Frankfurt Airports.
Oneworld and Contract Lounges for International JAL Passengers
Lastly, below is the full list of third-party lounges that JAL invites its passengers to. As mentioned earlier, eligible passengers can also use other oneworld lounges not mentioned in the list when traveling on JAL flights.
| Airport | Lounge | Full-Fare Economy/Premium Economy | Business | First | OW Sapphire | OW Emerald |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore (BLR) | 080 Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Beijing Capital (PEK) | Cathay Pacific Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boston Logan (BOS) | British Airways Terraces Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chicago O'Hare (ORD) | American Airlines Admirals Club | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chicago O'Hare (ORD) | American Airlines Flagship Lounges | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Dalian (DLC) | First Class Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) | American Airlines Admirals Club | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) | American Airlines Flagship Lounges | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Delhi (DEL) | ENCALM Prive Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dubai (DXB) | Emirates Business Class Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Dubai (DXB) | Emirates First Class Lounge | Yes | ||||
| Guam (GUM) | LSG Sagan Bisita Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Guangzhou (CAN) | Premium Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) | NIA Business Class Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) | Song Hong Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Helsinki (HEL) | Finnair Business Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Helsinki (HEL) | Finnair Platinum Wing Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Helsinki (HEL) | Plaza Premium Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ho Chi Minh (SGN) | Le Saigonnais Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ho Chi Minh (SGN) | ROSE Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jakarta (CGK) | Garuda Indonesia Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Jakarta (CGK) | Saphire - Plaza Premium Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Satellite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | British Airways Galleries Club Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | British Airways Galleries First Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Oneworld Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Qantas First Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Melbourne (MEL) | Marhaba Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) | The Moscow Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) | The St. Petersburg Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York JFK (JFK) | American Airlines Admirals Club | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York JFK (JFK) | American Airlines/British Airways Greenwich Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| New York JFK (JFK) | American Airlines/British Airways Soho Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | Air France Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San Diego (SAN) | Aspire Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San Francisco (SFO) | American Airlines Flaship First Dining | Yes | ||||
| San Francisco (SFO) | British Airways Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Seattle Tacoma (SEA) | British Airways Terraces Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Seoul Gimpo (GMP) | KAL Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) | V01 Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | SAA39 Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Singapore Changi (SIN) | Marhaba Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sydney (SYD) | Qantas Business Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sydney (SYD) | Qantas First Lounge | Yes | Yes | |||
| Taipei Songshan (TSA) | Airlines VIP Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) | China Airlines Dynasty Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tianjin (TSN) | First Class Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Plaza Premium Lounge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Summary
JAL offers airport lounge access to eligible passengers at most of the airports that it operates out of.
While at a dozen of the largest airports in Japan, it operates its own lounges, at five others it provides access to third-party-operated lounges. Outside of Japan, JAL has its own lounges at four airports and at others it provides access to either other oneworld airline lounges or lounges run by third parties such as non-oneworld airlines or airport operators.
In addition to providing access to frequent flyer status holders and passengers traveling in business and first class, JAL also provides lounge access to those traveling in premium economy and even full-fare economy class in most cases.
