Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) is one of the more common connection points on trans-Pacific routes between China and the U.S. Narita has two international terminals in total. Broadly speaking, SkyTeam is in the north wing of T1, Star Alliance is in the south wing of T1, and oneworld is in T2. There is a free shuttle bus running between the terminals. If you have a long layover in T2 or T3 (for example, 3+ hours), you could consider taking the bus to a lounge in T1. Just be sure to leave enough time to wait for the shuttle back to your own terminal so you do not miss your flight. Missing a flight at Narita is a lot more troublesome than it would be in the United States. Terminal 1 has the better lounge setup, with three PPS lounges in total. However, only the Korean Air (KE, Korean Air) lounge is inside security; the other two, IASS Executive Lounge and T.E.I. Lounge, are both landside and require entering Japan to access. Terminal 2 has no PPS lounge inside security. Outside security, it has the same two lounges as T1: IASS Executive Lounge and T.E.I. Lounge. Since the author was flying ANA home on this trip, this post will introduce the three lounges in T1.
Korean Air Business Class Lounge
The Korean Air Business Class Lounge (KAL Business Class Lounge) is the only lounge at NRT that can be accessed without clearing immigration, and the food and drink selection is actually pretty decent (as another blogger on this site put it, “they have instant noodles”). The lounge is located on the third floor near Gate 26. However, if you are standing right in front of Gate 26, you actually will not see it. You need to keep walking a little farther toward the higher-numbered gates, and on your left you will see a dim hallway. The entrance to the KAL Lounge is there.
Once you walk in, the space opens up nicely. Compared with some lounges where seating feels very cramped, the KAL lounge at NRT is fairly generous.
Now on to the food and drinks. I had long heard that KAL lounges are famous for their instant noodles, and sure enough, the reputation is deserved. Nearly everything edible here is instant noodles. Other than that, there are just a few rice balls, donuts, cookies, and similar snacks.
The drink selection, on the other hand, is pretty good. Non-alcoholic options include tomato juice and apple juice (plus the noodle broth from the instant noodles).
There are also various alcoholic drinks that look quite upscale. Of course, no matter how fancy they look, you are still pairing them with instant noodles.
Even the author is not quite sure whether to praise or roast the KAL Lounge, but considering that it is the only PPS Lounge at NRT that does not require entering Japan, and that the food and drink are indeed better than at the United Club and Admirals Club, it still deserves a thumbs-up.
T.E.I. Lounge
T.E.I. Lounge is a landside lounge outside security. Compared with the KAL lounge, this one is clearly in a different league: the space is very small, and there is no food at all, only drinks. That said, you do not need a boarding pass to enter, so it can still be useful if needed—for example, if you are meeting a friend at the airport or waiting for someone to pick you up. From the central escalator in the T1 fourth-floor waiting hall, go up to the fifth floor and you will see the lounge on the left.
For a lounge that requires neither clearing security nor showing a boarding pass, having some Coke and coffee available is already something to be thankful for.
IASS Executive Lounge
Like T.E.I., the IASS Executive Lounge is also outside security. Starting from the central escalator in the T1 fourth-floor departures hall, go upstairs and turn left into a dim little hallway, and you will find this lounge. Entry requires a boarding pass for a flight arriving or departing that same day. The IASS lounge also does not offer food; each guest gets one alcoholic drink plus unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.
As the photo shows, the seat spacing here is basically an example of what not to do.
The free drinks are similarly limited to things like Coke and coffee.
Conclusion
That wraps up this overview of the lounges at Narita Airport. Overall, if you are connecting at NRT and only have a PPS card, you really do not have many lounge choices. Fortunately, the Korean Air lounge is reasonably solid, and sipping hard liquor with instant noodles is a travel achievement in its own right. See you next time. Would you visit the KAL Lounge at NRT? Leave your thoughts below!