Japan Airlines opens Bangkok and Okinawa lounge

Japan Airlines has opened two new lounges. The new-look Bangkok Sakura Lounge has opened with more shower suites and dining menus designed by Nippon-Tei, a well-known Japanese restaurant in Bangkok. The Okinawa lounge Japan Airlines opening its new-look Sakura Lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Japan Airlines is opening its new-look Sakura Lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The Japan Airlines Bangkok Lounge has a redesigned lounge layout, plus more shower suites and introduced a smoking area. Storage lockers with numeric locks have also been added for carry-on baggage, and each seat now offers power and USB ports.

The food and beverage offer has also been enhanced. The menus in the refurbished Bangkok Sakura Lounge have been designed by NIPPON-TEI, a well-known Japanese restaurant in Bangkok. The menu will include the popular dish of beef curry as well as Japanese appetisers.

According JAL, the investment in its premier lounge facilities is part of its strategy to "deliver a refreshing and inspiring travel experience".

The JAL Sakura Lounge is named after the Japanese word for cherry blossom, and is Japan Airlines' signature lounge.

The lounge is very similar to existing designs at its other lounges, with grey and beige tones and cubist design details.

This means there are now two oneworld lounges at Bangkok, with Cathay Pacific's designer lounge reviewed by lux-traveller when it opened last year. The British Airways and Qantas lounges have however closed.

Meanwhile Japan Airlines is also opening a newly-renovated Sakura Lounge for domestic flights at Okinawa Airport. Designed by famous Japanese interior designer Ryu Kosaka, who designed JAL's international lounges at Tokyo (Haneda) Airport and JAL's domestic lounges at Sapporo it is based on the concept of "Japan's appearance".

The new Lounge has been expanded by 20%, and the number of seats has been increased by 85, with most seats having an adjacent power outlets offer designed space to stow carry-on baggage. Art works produced by artists having close ties with Okinawa and unique local objects are placed around the lounge to create an intimate atmosphere of Okinawa.