Review: Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport

Review: Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport

NAME: Qantas International Business Lounge
Airport: NRT
DATE: January 2019
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The least impressive Qantas Lounge outside Australia but still an okay lounge to spend some time at
23


After checking out the American Admirals Club, we decided to check out the Qantas Lounge. Narita Terminal 2 sure does have a lot of oneworld lounge options! Lounge-hopping can be a great way to pass time during a layover, especially when you have a wide range of options available to you as a premium cabin passenger, elite frequent flier, or hold a credit card with lounge access.

Our flight was departing from the Terminal 2 satellite gates, and conveniently that’s also where the Qantas Lounge is located. To get to the satellite gates, just follow the signage towards gates 81-99. It’s maybe a five minute walk from the main part of the terminal.

Narita Airport Terminal 2 satellite

Once there just turn left, and you’ll see the escalator leading down to the Qantas Lounge right there.

Escalator to Qantas Lounge Narita

The Qantas Lounge Narita is open daily from 8:30AM until 9:30PM.


Entrance to Qantas Lounge Narita

I’ve always been impressed by the decor of Qantas Lounges, though this lounge most definitely didn’t feature the updated interiors. In just about every way this was the most disappointing Qantas Lounge I’ve been to.

On the plus side, the lounge was quite large. Even though all the premium passengers on a Malaysia Airlines A350 to Kuala Lumpur were using the lounge, it still felt quiet.

Near the entrance is a sitting area with black and dark blue leather chairs.

Qantas Lounge Narita seating


Qantas Lounge Narita seating

The next sitting area also has some orange chairs.


Qantas Lounge Narita seating

Then there’s an area with some dining tables.


Qantas Lounge Narita seating

There’s more seating along the center section of the lounge.


Qantas Lounge Narita seating


Qantas Lounge Narita seating


Qantas Lounge Narita seating

Qantas Lounge Narita seating

Along the windows are a bunch of seats along a communal table, and there are also some iMacs for guest use.


Qantas Lounge Narita seating


Qantas Lounge Narita business center

The lounge has nice apron views, though if there’s a plane pulled into the gate, it does obstruct most of the view (then again, I don’t mind a straight-on 787 view!).

Qantas Lounge Narita view

The lounge also has a selection of magazines and newspapers.


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita magazines & newspapers

What disappointed me the most about the lounge was the underwhelming food and drink selection, which made the Admirals Club look impressive by comparison. My guess is that the selection improves prior to the Qantas flight, and they just don’t bother putting decent stuff out at other hours.

There were two main buffet areas — one with drinks and one with food.


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita buffet


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita buffet

The drink selection included self serve liquor, wine, a beer machine, a fridge with soda and beer, a soda fountain, and a coffee machine.


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita liquor


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita wine


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita beer machine


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita drinks


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita coffee machine


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita soda fountain

The food selection was quite bad, and just consisted of croissants and muffins, cereal, cold cuts, salad, and fresh fruit.


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food

Hot options included one soup and scrambled eggs.


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food


Qantas Lounge Tokyo Narita food

The lounge also had well maintained bathrooms, as well as shower rooms.

Our SriLankan Airlines flight to Colombo was scheduled to depart from gate 93, just a short walk from the lounge. So we headed there around 10:15AM.

Walking to departure gate Narita Airport

Our plane was already at the gate, as it had operated a redeye from Colombo.

SriLankan A330 Narita Airport

While not significant, I found it odd that the departure time was originally listed as 11:20AM, but they listed a “new time” of 11:10AM.

SriLankan departure gate Narita Airport


SriLankan departure gate Narita Airport

When we got to the gate I went up to the counter to ask if they needed to verify my passport. I did this because I always try to be the first onboard so I can get pictures, and I didn’t want to not ask, and then try to board, only to be told to step aside because my documents still needed to be verified.

However, this time as we talked up to the counter the gate agent said “Mr. Benjamin and Mr. John? We need to verify your passports.” This was said before we even presented our passports. Now, before anyone thinks this was any sort of special blogger treatment, I’m 99.999% sure that wasn’t the case. Rather I quickly realized that we were quite literally the only non-Japanese tourists on the plane, so I’m guessing we stuck out a bit.

As expected, boarding started right on time, at 10:40AM.

Qantas Lounge Narita bottom line

While the Qantas Lounge Narita is quite spacious, this is by far the least impressive Qantas Lounge I’ve been to. The decor felt a bit outdated (it actually looks nicer in pictures than in person), and the food selection made the Admirals Club look good by comparison, which is saying a lot.

It’s my understanding that this lounge will soon be renovated, and I think that’s overdue.

Conversations (23)
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  1. Tai Guest

    Was just here, I’m very grateful because the lounge has as a shower, versus Cathay (which I was flying) and the JAL lounge Japan close to my gate both did not have a shower. Food selection limited at 1000 but my main priority was the shower. Also there are windows and it was very empty.

  2. nic Guest

    This reminds me of the CX lounges with the old design like the ones in Melbourne Frankfurt n Narita

  3. Bob Guest

    Why anyone with OneWorld business class tickets would visit the QF, CX, or AA lounges at NRT when they have access to the JL lounges is beyond me...

  4. glenn t Diamond

    @Stephen. An update slated you say? On QF's 2024 programme maybe. They are renown for making tenuous future (subject to change) announcements.

  5. glenn t Diamond

    This is a lounge screaming HELP!! Obviously designed (especially the seating arrangement) by someone with severe OCD issues.
    Definitely a second-rate effort not up to the usual QF standards. Pity.

  6. Janet Guest

    It's a race to the bottom at Narita for lounges. Hopefully the new JAL lounge will help raise standards....they can't go much lower.

  7. Juno Guest

    @Newman Agree regarding Qantas HNL lounge. An embarrassment and about 5 km from the gate to boot. No doorbell when I went in February, not even a person checking passes! Just walked straight in - and then quickly out.

  8. Bill Guest

    I actually just had my first qantas flight today on a domestic flight in Australia. It was decent for an economy flight. Lot better than my past few delta flights.

  9. Chris Hannonen Guest

    Reno coming soon, and at any rate, the abundance of natural light is nothing to sneeze at... (QF's International Lounge in Melbourne just makes me sad, even sadder given how nice the new Domestic there is).

  10. Stephen Guest

    Qantas has announced that they will be upgrading the Narita lounge.

  11. jblogs Member

    This Qantas lounge is bad regardless of the time of day as is the selection of food and beverages. I always pop in there to grab the Australian newspapers but I most definitely am grateful to be able to return to the Sakura lounge even when it is crowded.

  12. Newman New Member

    By far the worst Qantas lounge on the network award would have to go to the HNL lounge... not only is it stuck in the mid 1970’s, it’s extremely small when you consider Qantas often fly B744’s to/from HNL.

    Granted HNL in general isn’t renowned for its food options, wouldn’t say the Qantas lounge offers anything decent; unless you like stale cereal.

    Ohh and little trivia fact for those playing at home... the Qantas...

    By far the worst Qantas lounge on the network award would have to go to the HNL lounge... not only is it stuck in the mid 1970’s, it’s extremely small when you consider Qantas often fly B744’s to/from HNL.

    Granted HNL in general isn’t renowned for its food options, wouldn’t say the Qantas lounge offers anything decent; unless you like stale cereal.

    Ohh and little trivia fact for those playing at home... the Qantas HNL Lounge would have to be the only (if not one of very few) lounges in the world which requires you to press a doorbell to enter! Haha

    In comparison, the Narita lounge looks like an oasis!

  13. Ed Diamond

    They were only refusing emeralds access during the lounge refurb. A bit disappointing last time I went through. I wish I id known in advance as I would have stayed landslide. The domestic terminal has some good food options and I probably even had enough time to got to Narita town. Should be OK now.

  14. Emily Guest

    BA also directs its passengers there. It’s probably the worst QF lounge I’ve ever been to! You’re right about the pictures looking better than reality.

    I have heard of JAL refusing some Emeralds from accessing the First lounges. Lucky, have you heard of this?

  15. ABC123 Guest

    >My guess is that the selection improves prior to the Qantas flight, and they just don’t bother putting decent stuff out at other hours.

    Or airlines using in the morning hours are not willing to spend extra to bring more stuff? Can't airlines negotiate to bring in additional catering if they desire? It's AY and MH in the morning so that's not that surprise.

  16. Sebastian New Member

    There are also the two daily Jetstar flights to Cairns and Gold Coast, which depart within about an hour after the two QF flights. They will also carry a number of QF statusholders who would use this lounge. But otherwise no surprise that this outstation lounge is being treated as the poor cousin given the little QF traffic at NRT.

  17. Mike jones Guest

    Should have reviewed the iASS lounge which is before security in terminal 2. Best feature is the cheapo sushi place next to the lounge.

  18. Josh Guest

    Hi Lucky, which OW business lounge in NRT do you recommend? Thanks!

  19. John Boxall Guest

    Compared to TMW, that's a pretty awesome QF lounge.

  20. SINJim Member

    It looks like they acquired a Priority Pass lounge...or asked KAL to design it for them. :)

  21. Ed Diamond

    It’s an absolute zoo before the MEL and BNE departures in the evening, lots of qantas club members to swell the numbers.

  22. Alex Member

    I’m surprised QF hasn’t moved to close the NRT lounge. With just two daily services to BNE and MEL from there it’d probably be more prudent to direct pax to the JL lounges. Probably making money from other airlines hence keeping it around.

  23. Dr George Guest

    Not sure why anyone whorls choose the Qantas lounge when compared to the JAL options. The new F lounge looks amazing.
    Horses for courses but I know where I’d be.

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

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Tai Guest

Was just here, I’m very grateful because the lounge has as a shower, versus Cathay (which I was flying) and the JAL lounge Japan close to my gate both did not have a shower. Food selection limited at 1000 but my main priority was the shower. Also there are windows and it was very empty.

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nic Guest

This reminds me of the CX lounges with the old design like the ones in Melbourne Frankfurt n Narita

0
Bob Guest

Why anyone with OneWorld business class tickets would visit the QF, CX, or AA lounges at NRT when they have access to the JL lounges is beyond me...

0
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