It’s my own fault, really. With a name like that, I should’ve known what to expect.
Still, despite the name (is it a new bidet from Apple?), I had hoped that the IASS lounge would have some redeeming qualities. And it does: it’s shielded from the elements, and has breathable oxygen. But I can’t really see why anyone would go there, unless the rest of the airport was on fire or something (and even then, you might just be better off finding a mailbox to crawl into).
I was flying Scoot to Taipei, and thus did not have access to any of the post-security lounges at Narita. My Priority Pass membership (which I have through my Citi Prestige card) gave me access to IASS.
Before arriving at the airport, I did a little research. IASS has two locations at Narita (one in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 2), one at Honolulu International Airport, and one at Seoul-Incheon International.
Their website does a good job of managing expectations. The benefits of the lounge, it says, include “information such as departure guidance of your flight, smiles and sophisticated manner of our staff.”
There is such a long list of cards that will get you access to this lounge; I half was surprised not to find a D.C. Public Library card listed.
One of the lounge amenities listed is credit card brochures. “So don’t get your hopes up,” the website seems to be saying.
IASS is located before security, which, to me, seriously limits its usefulness. (Especially since I didn’t have access to an expedited security line, and the queue looked enormous.) Still, I thought I’d check it out. It’s located on the 4th floor of Terminal 2, near some shops and restaurants.
Upon entering, my boyfriend and I were greeted with a smile and asked if we wanted to have any alcohol, because we were permitted only one drink. It was barely 10 in the morning, so we declined.
The entire lounge is one room of about 750 square feet. There are no bathrooms. There is a coffee machine, a soda machine, a water cooler, and some trail mix.
As advertised, there were ample credit card brochures! There were two kinds of seating: several side-by-side cushioned chairs, and then a couple of work desks.
I will say that there were outlets everywhere and the Wi-Fi was fast (but the Wi-Fi available throughout the terminal is perfectly fine as well).
The lounge was also very clean (though this is Japan, where I’m pretty sure even the sewers are clean enough to perform open heart surgery in).
Still, I only stayed for a few minutes, since I was worried about the security line and knew there were equally comfortable and quiet places in the terminal where I could relax.
Bottom Line
If you are able to derive some value from visiting this place, then by all means, please do. For me, the “smiles and sophisticated manner of their staff” aren’t enough to merit a second visit.
Good honest review Andrew.
Thanks Alastair Majury
The riff on the name is hilarious.
Anyway, this lounge looks much, much nicer than the hole IASS calls a lounge at HNL.
"It was barely 10 in the morning, so we declined."
Perfect time for a screwdriver or bloody Mary. Why not be a bit more relaxed for your long security wait? ;)
Agree about Japan lounges.
Was just in the ANA HND business lounge which, while certainly better than this, was very average, especially with a limited buffet that was mostly empty at dinner time. So much for being a 5* airline, at what should be their home flagship lounge.
hahaha Andrew you should write more posts here, youre hilarious. The sewage bit got me cracking haha
Oh Andrew, I love your posts.
Oh yeah, THAT place. I took one peek inside the door and wondered why I had been remotely excited to have recently scored a Priority Pass card. Fortunately, we were flying business. "Due diligence," I said to my husband, as we turned around and headed to the JAL lounge on the other side of security, where we happily whiled away a few hours.
I know that there are airside shuttles between terminals 1 and 2. You could potentially go to to terminal 1 (15 minutes on a shuttle) and visit the KAL lounge. The only caveat is, Naritas site says to refrain from using the shuttle for shopping etc. I doubt that it's heavily enforced though, beats clearing immigration and security just to visit the IASS lounge.
They should change the lounge name to "Breaking Down and Crying Room" because that's the only thing I could ever contemplate in such a space.
Thanks for the post/warning.
Oh god! A square box with no windows that's enough to keep me out regardless of how amazing the amenities might be!
Last week I was dealing with an unexpected 5+ hour Hong Kong Airlines 'maintenance delay'. I couldn't get through security for another 4 hours to visit the airside lounge (apparently NRT policy?), and needed a place to figure out a new ticket (as I was going to miss my connection and the last flight out of HKG.)
I'll tell you what, the one (1) free alcohol and the wifi and USB ports made even this...
Last week I was dealing with an unexpected 5+ hour Hong Kong Airlines 'maintenance delay'. I couldn't get through security for another 4 hours to visit the airside lounge (apparently NRT policy?), and needed a place to figure out a new ticket (as I was going to miss my connection and the last flight out of HKG.)
I'll tell you what, the one (1) free alcohol and the wifi and USB ports made even this feel welcome.
But the lounge was crowded, and I was instructed to move my one carry-on bag to a corner so every eat could be occupied.
There are some surprisingly average lounges in Japan. The domestic ANA NRT lounge's food is limited to that same cracker mix and occasionally they will put out some rice balls wrapped in seaweed. The same goes for the ANA lounge in OKA.
Surprisingly bad!
This lounge looks more compelling than the IASS Honolulu lounge, which is similarly lacking in any amenities.
@Alvin: Nope! There's one other PP lounge before security, though, I believe.
Was there a Priority Pass lounge airside?