The JAL Diamond Premier Lounges are Japan Airlines’ domestic equivalent of their First Class lounges. These lounges are specifically available at Haneda (HND), Itami (ITM), Fukuoka (FUK), Sapporo (CTS), and Naha (OKA). Being JAL’s main hub, Haneda has four domestic lounges – two of which are Diamond Premier Lounges complementing two lower-tiered Sakura Lounges. This is the review for the JAL Diamond Premier Lounge South, which is the smaller of the two Diamond Premier Lounges.

Lounge Access Rules

The JAL Diamond Premier Lounges belong to the highest category of domestic lounges operated by JAL. As such, it is reserved for its top-tier frequent flyers and passengers flying on JAL First Class. Passengers with a same-day reservation on JAL First Class (regardless of domestic or international) are afforded access. Passengers connecting from an international JAL First Class are also eligible.

When accessing by status, passengers holding top-tier JMB Diamond or JGC Premier are eligible for access. This extends to Emerald status holders with oneworld carriers, such as Cathay Diamond, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, or BA Executive Club Gold.

Lounge Location

Much like the North Wing Diamond Premier Lounge, the South Wing also has a private First Class check-in facility with a backdoor leading directly into this lounge. Specifically, this area is dedicated to flights to Fukuoka, Okinawa, and Osaka, among others. Airside, the lounge entrance is found near Gate 10, near the general security checkpoints as well as the exits to the baggage claim. Note that this lounge shares a common entrance with the JAL Sakura Lounge South.

JAL Diamond Premier Lounge

Much like the North Wing lounges, there are a pair of escalators at the entrance, which leads up to the common lounge reception desk. After independently scanning your boarding pass on the desktop scanner, it will beep and its screen will advise which lounge you are eligible to enter. Likewise, the reception associate will point you in the direction of either the Diamond Premier Lounge or the Sakura Lounge. Again, I had access to both by virtue of my Cathay Diamond membership and my JAL First Class boarding pass.

Lounge Seating and Amenities

After the reception, the lounge is located down a short corridor that houses the toilets and cloakroom. Compared to the Diamond Premier Lounge North, this lounge does feel noticeably smaller since there is just one main seating area. Immediately to the left of the foyer is a small dining area, complementing the main lounge. There is even a mirrored version of the beautiful pine tree artwork also found in the North lounge.

Library

Following the trend from the North Lounge, the main seating area is referred to as the Library, as it features a beautiful display of books and aviation-themed curios along the interior wall. Yet again, however, the books on display were unfortunately static decoration.

This area comprises eight rows of sofa chairs facing each other on both sides of the aisle. In addition, there are also the regular window-side desks, in addition to the slightly more private semi-partitioned desk cubicles along the interior wall. Power outlets are in abundance since every seat has its own dedicated outlet. Very nicely done, JAL!

Additional Lounge Seating and Massage Area

Behind the Library is an even smaller seating area composed of a mix of two kinds of chairs. Along the interior wall are leather chairs, whereas the rest are wooden accent chairs – I found both to be a lot less comfortable to sit on compared to the regular sofa chairs in the Library. In addition, there are more window-side desk seats in this area too, although the view is slightly obstructed by a jetbridge.

Separately, there is also a small massage area with two massage chairs behind this section, although I wasn’t able to get a picture as both were occupied. In any case, the chairs expectedly look identical to those at the North Lounge.

Dining area seating

Finally, to the left of the lounge entrance is a dining area with several proper dining tables and chairs. There are also highback cushioned sofas lined on the interior wall, which I imagine will be more comfortable for visitors experiencing backpain. As was the case with all the other lounges, this section was the most occupied in the lounge. As such, I apologise since I struggled to take proper pictures of this section (without invading the privacy of others).

Cloakroom

Like the North Lounge, this Diamond Premier Lounge also has its own cloakroom near the reception area. Likewise, it is made up of several lockers akin to storage areas in other lounges. The lockers are relatively large and could easily fit a cabin-sized carry-on and heavier articles of clothing.

Telephone Booths

To rehash from the North Lounges reviews: As is widely the case in Japan, making telephone calls in enclosed spaces are frowned upon. In fact, nodding to this cultural norm, signs advising that phone calls are not allowed are scattered all over the lounge. Instead, such calls are expected to be taken in enclosed telephone booths, which limit the amount of noise coming into the lounge. There are five booths at the Diamond Premier Lounge, including two by the entrance, two by the massage area, and one by the library seating. Power outlets are similarly available in these booths.

Lounge Wifi

This lounge has its own WiFi network separate from the rest of the terminal, but somehow connected to the network of the North Lounges. In that sense, my devices automatically connected to this network after remembering it from the North Lounge. Likewise, there was no password and the connection was fast and reliable.

Dining

By the dining area is the sole food and refreshments spread of the lounge. The offering is exactly identical to the Diamond Premier Lounge North, so I won’t redescribe it in detail. But to repeat what I wrote in that There were a couple of Maison Kaiser breads on offer, alongside some packaged rice balls. Also at 11.30 each day, the spread is stocked with JAL’s popular curry bread.

Like the other lounge, there are coffee machines, a tomato juice dispenser, and a soft drink dispenser featuring sodas, fruit drinks, and cold tea. The same bottle of Kirin Sanroku Blend Whisky is similarly provisioned. Where the North Lounge has five beers on option, this one only has four. The selection includes: Asahi Jukusen, Sapporo Ebisu, Suntory The Premium Malt, and Kirin Ichiban Shibori Premium. Regardless, I’m sure beer connoisseurs would love to hop between the Diamond Premier and Sakura Lounges to try all the beers on offer… 😉

Toilets

As written previously, the gender-segregated toilets are located in the corridor between the reception and the Diamond Premier Lounge. They feature fully enclosed toilet cubicles, which are nicely equipped with the wonderful Toto Neorest washlets. As this is a Japanese airport lounge, you already know that the toilets will be clean and spotless, which was the case here.

Overall

Having visited both Diamond Premier Lounges at Haneda Airport, my opinion stayed mostly the same. Again this lounge is very nicely designed and does its functions well. There aren’t many amenities or substantial food choices, but that’s expected from a purely domestic lounge. In any case, I’m grateful to have had access to these lounges, particularly due to having comfortable seating and power outlets to charge my devices.

Read more from this trip here!