Review: American Admirals Club Tokyo Narita Airport

Review: American Admirals Club Tokyo Narita Airport

NAME: American Admirals Club
Airport: NRT
DATE: January 2019
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The lounge is a bit outdated but the views of the apron are great
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We got to Narita Airport at around 7AM. As I found out the previous month, security only opens quite late at Narita, and by the time we were through security and immigration it was 7:30AM.

Initially my plan was to visit the Japan Airlines First Class Lounge, which is the best lounge for oneworld flyers. However, the lounge was under construction when we visited (the renovated lounge recently opened), so we were turned away (only parts of it were open, so they were only accepting Japan Airlines passengers).  Tokyo Narita does have some phenomenal lounges, some of which I’d rank in the top tier of lounges worldwide.

Instead we headed to the American Admirals Club Narita. This is also located in Terminal 2, near gate 71, just a short walk from security. The lounge is open daily from 7:30AM until 9:00PM.

Escalator to Admirals Club Tokyo Narita Airport

We had access to the lounge on account of our oneworld business class tickets (we were flying SriLankan Airlines), as well as our oneworld status, given that oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members also have access to the lounge.

Furthermore, I’m also an Admirals Club member. If you’re based in the US and want an Admirals Club membership, your best bet is having the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® — the card has a $595 annual fee, though the primary cardmember gets an Admirals Club membership, and authorized users get Admirals Club access as well.


Entrance to Admirals Club Tokyo Narita Airport

Anyway, the Admirals Club is a good size, and in the morning was quiet, given that a majority of American departures from Narita are in the evening. The main room of the lounge features great views of the apron, thanks to the huge windows.


Admirals Club Narita seating

There are a variety of seating options, including leather chairs in rows facing one another,


Admirals Club Narita seating


Admirals Club Narita seating

American Admirals Club Narita view


American Admirals Club Narita view


Admirals Club Narita seating

There are other seating options as well, including chairs set up around tables, chairs with ottomans along the wall, etc.


Admirals Club Narita seating

Admirals Club Narita seating

Deeper into the lounge are some dining tables.


Admirals Club Narita seating


American Admirals Club Narita walkway

There’s also a business center with some cubicles, as well as a table with some computers.


American Admirals Club Narita business center


American Admirals Club Narita computers

Then there’s a selection of magazines and newspapers.


American Admirals Club Narita magazines & newspapers

In the interior of the lounge, there’s another large sitting area, which is right next to the buffet.


American Admirals Club Narita seating

The buffet is in an oval shape.


American Admirals Club Narita buffet


American Admirals Club Narita buffet

I’d say the selection is better than you’ll find in a US Admirals Club, though also not that impressive. For breakfast they had a variety of finger sandwiches, desserts, whole fruit, cereal, salad, cold cuts, yogurt, croissants, hard boiled eggs, cookies, cheese, etc.


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food


American Admirals Club Narita food selection


American Admirals Club Narita food selection

There were also a limited number of hot options, including lukewarm quiche, sausage, bacon, and rice.


American Admirals Club Narita food


American Admirals Club Narita food


American Admirals Club Narita food


American Admirals Club Narita food

In terms of drinks, there were pitchers with juice, canned soda, and a beer machine.


American Admirals Club Narita drinks


American Admirals Club Narita drinks


American Admirals Club Narita drinks

Then there was a machine with espresso beverages.


American Admirals Club Narita drinks

The alcohol selection included quite a bit of self serve liquor, wine, and sake.


American Admirals Club Narita drinks


American Admirals Club Narita drinks

The bathrooms were in the back part of the lounge, and there were also some shower suites, though I didn’t have the chance to check them out.


American Admirals Club Narita bathrooms

We spent about an hour in the Admirals Club before heading to the Qantas Lounge.

American Admirals Club Narita bottom line

As far as Admirals Clubs go, this one is pretty decent. The decor is a bit outdated, but I appreciate the amount of natural light the lounge has. The lounge also has a very good drink selection, and a fairly good food selection.

I still wouldn’t personally visit this lounge again when I could access the Japan Airlines lounge instead, but as I said, they temporarily weren’t accepting those flying on other airlines due to their construction.

If you’ve visited the Admirals Club Narita, what was your experience like?

Conversations (25)
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  1. Andrew B Guest

    I second 100K’s comment of being hard to find. I think I spent 20 minutes trying to find it.

    I do have fond memories from my 2016 trip, watching heavies practicing high wind landings (and go-arounds, haha).

  2. Joel Guest

    Knew I didn't have a chance to get first comment on the hot dogs.

  3. Jim Napier Guest

    I was at that AA Narita Lounge 2 weeks beforehand. Took the same picture of the KitKats! LOL! Surprised the jar was still full after the handful I took for the flight back. The sandwiches were good and the breakfast selection was decent. A well-run and friendly place to spend time.

  4. Jr Guest

    @Mike. You dont know what Orange Juice looks like? You need to get out more often.

  5. Jr Guest

    @Siv. You need to see pictures of orange juice? Really???

  6. Stanley Diamond

    Also, sometimes Ben’s photos are so good, I just take a look at the photos and I already get a basic feeling about the airline, hotel, or lounge.

  7. Justin Guest

    The good quality and thorough photos are one of the things that make's Ben's blog stand out. They're great!

  8. Brian Guest

    While I like the style of the newly renovated Admirals Club that makes the decor of this lounge seem dated, the seating options sure do look both varied and comfortable.

  9. Alex_77W Guest

    Admirals club in NRT is large but unremarkable vs. JAL Sakura First. I wonder why Ben did not go Sakura First in Satellite that is open 07:30 - 11:00 and 15:00 - 19:30. I the past, selection of food and beverages there was the same as in the main building but no make to order sushi.

  10. BrightonReader Guest

    Wanting fewer photos does not make some one a ‘hater’

    Some people don’t see the usefulness of photos of jugs of juice or a fridge full of soda cans or of a tray of apples and bananas. We know what they look like.

    Pics of the layout and special features yes but not of food you can see in your local stores.

    I want info on the availability of plug sockets and WiFi speed but they don’t get a mention!

  11. johhny Guest

    the lounge looks great. the food looks pretty disgusting

  12. OT Guest

    I read somewhere that the catering for the Admiral's Club in NRT now comes from JL's Sakura lounge, i.e. the food offering would be identical (I'm guessing it's one way for JL to encourage AA passengers from overcrowding their own lounges).

    In addition to the older-style and therefore unremarkable CX lounge, it is worth mentioning there is a decent Qantas lounge in the satellite, where you have another JL First and Sakura lounge. One...

    I read somewhere that the catering for the Admiral's Club in NRT now comes from JL's Sakura lounge, i.e. the food offering would be identical (I'm guessing it's one way for JL to encourage AA passengers from overcrowding their own lounges).

    In addition to the older-style and therefore unremarkable CX lounge, it is worth mentioning there is a decent Qantas lounge in the satellite, where you have another JL First and Sakura lounge. One has to wonder why there is no more lounge consolidation among OneWorld members in NRT, especially given the gradual shift of long-haul services to HND.

    What's remarkable about NRT (and HND as well for that matter) is that pretty much all lounges have great open apron views.

  13. Stanley Diamond

    Thank you Ben for all of your photos. I love them. Please add more and never less as you are better than the other travel bloggers out there in terms of posting a good amount of great photos for us.

  14. mike Guest

    Thanks for all the photos Ben. Appreciate your detail. Ignore the haters.

  15. Peter Christopher Coyle Guest

    FYI last there February 2019
    TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN
    you are to stand corrected .As an American from a NYC a privilege City indeed I fly through NRT countless of times , the Staff at the AA Admirals Club could
    Not be more gracious. There showers were lovely. The food was certainly
    Plentiful . especially if you are about to board a Business class flight . Why does
    One...

    FYI last there February 2019
    TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN
    you are to stand corrected .As an American from a NYC a privilege City indeed I fly through NRT countless of times , the Staff at the AA Admirals Club could
    Not be more gracious. There showers were lovely. The food was certainly
    Plentiful . especially if you are about to board a Business class flight . Why does
    One haft to stuff themselves . More is not better. When are Westerners
    Going to grasp this mind set. The lounge was lovely . I do not think. JAL
    lounge is better . The service on AA in business was lovely , it's all about the crew . The same goes for JAL Flying from NRT TO Bkk. Warmly . Thank you .

  16. Siv Guest

    @ ChrisC - if you dont want to look at these photos just scroll down. It will just take you fraction of a second. There might be those people that may want to look and I am one of that. You should appreciate and be thankful rather than complaining no?

  17. ChrisC Guest

    far too many photos. please learn to edit them down.

    We don't need photos of every single item of food on offer a brief list would suffice.

    Nor do we need pictures of cans in a fridge or jugs of juice.

  18. john Guest

    Agreed that the NRT Admirals Club is one of the best and second only to the stealthy Premuim Lounge at MIA in my experience. Though other Oneworld lounges at T2 are better, this lounge holds its own as an international business class lounge.

  19. Mark F. Gold

    I enjoyed this lounge last fall. I have no status, so was allowed in due to flying AA in J. I enjoyed spending my time there.

    I would get a beer and some snacks, which I enjoyed.

    I sat in those chairs and table facing the apron watching the planes land.

    I have to confess that I had my iPad on FlightRadar24 (using the fast wifi) and watching the planes line up on...

    I enjoyed this lounge last fall. I have no status, so was allowed in due to flying AA in J. I enjoyed spending my time there.

    I would get a beer and some snacks, which I enjoyed.

    I sat in those chairs and table facing the apron watching the planes land.

    I have to confess that I had my iPad on FlightRadar24 (using the fast wifi) and watching the planes line up on the iPad and then waiting to see them land in real life. Lots of fun planes land at NRT. Totally geeky, but a real fun way to pass the time.

    The place was comfortable, clean, nothing really exciting regarding food, but I wasn't really hungry and was just interested in snacking anyway. A few obnoxious people talking loudly on their phones. After 10 days in Japan hearing almost no English, the AA lounge can be a sudden and jarring return to western culture. Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot.

  20. Pierre Diamond

    The reason security, lounges (and indeed the terminals) open so late is that there is a strict curfew at Narita, as per which no movement is allowed before 9.30 AM (it was even 10.00 until a court overturned it). There actually are farms and private housing right in the middle of the field and they wage war against the airport. Hence the security checks "à la Tel Aviv" on the access roads and before exiting train platforms.

  21. Ed Diamond

    Definitely the best alternative to the JAL first lounge whilst that has been restricting access. Fairly decent sake but not a patch on what they have at JAL. CX doesn’t have any at all.

    Last time I was there waiting for my qantas for to brisbane and once the tech bros boarded for LAX I was left with the whole place to myself. Very peaceful. Decent showers too.

  22. Allen Gold

    Very similar to the Admiral's Club in Heathrow: better than almost all ACs in the US but still inferior to many other OneWorld options in Asia (e.g., Cathay View and Pier in HKG).

  23. 100K New Member

    We were there July 2018. We had a hard time finding it since it was our first time in NRT. Nice to have the showers available after a long flight. Food was not impressive sort of like you say and I didn't eat much bc of that. I remember not being able to find bottled water. There was a carafe of water and I drank most of it. Staff were very friendly.

  24. jeff Guest

    those wieners/sausages look nasty.

    the view from the lounge is pretty nice, however.

  25. LAXJeff Guest

    Best lounge at NRT for One World Flyers or best One World lounge? I'm sure you meant at NRT but wanted you to clarify. Thanks!

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Andrew B Guest

I second 100K’s comment of being hard to find. I think I spent 20 minutes trying to find it. I do have fond memories from my 2016 trip, watching heavies practicing high wind landings (and go-arounds, haha).

0
Joel Guest

Knew I didn't have a chance to get first comment on the hot dogs.

0
Jim Napier Guest

I was at that AA Narita Lounge 2 weeks beforehand. Took the same picture of the KitKats! LOL! Surprised the jar was still full after the handful I took for the flight back. The sandwiches were good and the breakfast selection was decent. A well-run and friendly place to spend time.

0
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