JAL Sakura Lounge FRA Review I One Mile At A Time

Air France vs. British Airways A380

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My flight from Frankfurt to London was departing at 10:55AM, so I made it to Frankfurt Airport at around 9AM.

Frankfurt Airport exterior

British Airways departs from terminal two, and I quickly found their check-in desks, where the queue was fairly short.

Frankfurt Airport departures hall

Frankfurt Airport British Airways check-in

I was quickly issued my boarding passes all the way to Los Angeles, and proceeded through immigration.

Frankfurt Airport departures hall

I headed for the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge, which is the lounge that most OneWorld airlines use in Frankfurt (always seemed a bit odd to me, but…). While the lounge is located after immigration it’s actually also before security, so you always have to leave a bit of extra time on departure. Right near the Japan Airlines lounge is the American Airlines transfer desk, and as I walked by I spotted the American station manager that I had met in Helsinki earlier in the year, so we chatted for a bit — small world!

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge entrance

I had used the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge back in 2010 when flying Delta BusinessElite out of Frankfurt, and not a whole lot has changed since then. The lounge is okay, with a good amount of seating, even during the morning “rush” before American’s flight to Dallas. There’s one large room with plenty of seating, and then a couple of smaller rooms with more seating.

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge seating

There’s also a small business center, where I decided to sit during my hour in the lounge. On the plus side the Wi-Fi in the lounge was fast, so I had no trouble passing time.

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge business center

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge seating

The food spread was what you’d expect for a lounge in Europe. I get most excited about the noodles and curry offered by Japanese airlines in their lounges in Japan, though unfortunately the offerings aren’t as good abroad. For that matter I don’t think they had a single Japanese item on the menu.

The food spread consisted of cereal, croissants, pastries, yogurt, and some meat/cheese. Nothing overly impressive.

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge food spread

Then there was an open bar with booze and bottled beer.

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge food spread

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge open bar

Frankfurt Airport Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge drinks

At around 10AM I left the lounge for the gate. While there was a priority security lane there wasn’t actually anyone enforcing who used the lane, so it was just as long as the general one, since people would simply use whichever lane was shortest.

Frankfurt Airport priority security lane

The Japan Airlines lounge in Frankfurt is a fine partner lounge, though certainly not as exciting as my preferred Frankfurt “lounge,” the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, one of the absolute best airport lounges in the world 😉

Conversations (8)

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Waribai Guest
July 14, 2014, 11:12 am

Thanks, yes didn't think there would be a massive difference tbh!

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Waribai Guest
July 14, 2014, 4:22 am

Hi. Flying JAL F from Frankfurt. Are the Sakura Lounge and First Lounge next to each other? Is there much difference?

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1. lucky OMAAT
  July 14, 2014, 5:04 am
  
  @ Waribai -- I haven't been to the first class section so am not sure. I doubt it's much of a difference, unfortunately.
  
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lucky OMAAT
December 28, 2013, 2:14 pm

@ arnette lindeen -- Yep, you can use the Concorde Room if you're arriving same day in British Airways first class and connecting.

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arnette lindeen Guest
December 28, 2013, 2:04 pm

We're going to Europe in June First class via British Airways. We will be going on to CDG that same day. Can we use the first class lounge even though we will be on business to CDG?

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Susan Guest
December 28, 2013, 7:28 am

The JAL lounge sticks in my mind only because of the restrooms, which are outfitted with Japanese-style toilets. Obviously I am an unsophisticated creature but I still can't get over a piece of plumbing that requires a full page of instructions (posted in three languages, thank goodness).

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Jackson Guest
December 27, 2013, 11:11 pm

There is also the Cathay Business lounge that is available to OneWorld elites, located on the E gate side. I flew Malaysian Airlines out of Frankfurt a few weeks back and this was the lounge I was instructed to use.

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Mike Guest
December 27, 2013, 12:52 pm

Agree. It's a nice little lounge, certainly nothing to get excited about.

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Featured Comments

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

Waribai Guest

July 14, 2014, 11:12 am

Thanks, yes didn't think there would be a massive difference tbh!

lucky OMAAT

July 14, 2014, 5:04 am

@ Waribai -- I haven't been to the first class section so am not sure. I doubt it's much of a difference, unfortunately.

July 14, 2014, 4:22 am

Hi. Flying JAL F from Frankfurt. Are the Sakura Lounge and First Lounge next to each other? Is there much difference?