Terminal 2, Daniel K Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii

Introduction

This is my review of the Sakura Lounge in Honolulu’s Terminal 2.

It’s a lounge technically operated by JAL, but it pivots in the afternoon/evening to be an Admirals Club for the American Airlines flights which had back to Phoenix, Los Angeles and Dallas in the evening.

One warning is that the walk from the lounge to the gates American operate from is a good 10 to 15 minutes – so make sure you allow enough time!

Visited

May 2024 at 12:00

Opening Hours

The lounge is open daily from 05:30 to 21:30. It’s advertised as closing at 23:00 – but it seems to be before that, when the last American Airlines flight leaves.

Entry Conditions

Starting with the easy bit – if you’re a OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald, you’re in!

If you’re flying First or Business Class with JAL, you’re in!

If you’re flying First Class with American Airlines, it’s tricky….. I would advise checking the AA website, as sometimes First/Business Class does get access and sometimes it doesn’t!

How to Get There

Once you’re through Security, take a right towards A-C Gates.

You’ll pass some shops, and eventually see this restaurant on your left – and a small sign pointing you towards the lounge.

Take the elevator up a level, follow the corridor round and you’ll the the entrance doors to the lounge.

Layout

This lounge isn’t a hugest, but it’s still pretty well sized and excellent in layout. There are many similarities to JAL the Saukura Lounge, in Tokyo.

There are many areas of casual and sofa-style seating – and also tables for eating.

If you’re planning on working, there are great places to do it, with long desks with charging – perfectly thought about. These also double up as eating areas.

There are some great looking views out the windows too – but if you’re looking for plane spotting, you’ll be disappointed!

Whilst there are huge amounts of spaces to work from, there is possibly the saddest ‘business centre’ I’ve seen – with a single tiny seat in front of a computer.

Food and Drink

Drinks

There is a self-service drinks station for soda and coffee in the main part of the lounge. Otherwise, beers, wines and other drinks you can grab from the bar.

Possibly, during the morning in ‘JAL Mode’, the lounge has a greater offering of drinks than in the evenings in ‘Admirals mode’. For example, I asked about a Japanese beer, and was told it was only available when the JAL lounge was operating.

Food

Next to the self-serve drinks there is a station which has nuts, cheeses, etc. Otherwise, next to the food ordering area, there is a self-service pancakes and noodles.

Similar to the lounges in Tokyo, there is hot food service, which is ordered at the bar. This is served, and I found was OK – but possibly not centred around the American appetite!

Wifi

The WIFI in the lounge worked perfectly, and I was able to get quite a bit of work done – so I was very happy about that!

Showers

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, there is no showers in this lounge. I had an overnight flight to Phoenix, so would have loved one. In fact, even the toilets were outside the lounge!

Conclusion

Generally speaking this is a really good lounge, and I sort of knew it would be when I realised it was operated by JAL.

The food may not appeal to your average American, and the lack of showers a bit of a shame. But otherwise, this is a great lounge!