Review: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Manila Airport Terminal 1

I visited this lounge prior to my Japan Airlines Business Class flight from Manila to Tokyo (and onward to Delhi), during my long journey to the Middle East.

How to access this lounge

Passengers departing in Business and First Class on oneworld airlines can access this lounge.

Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can also gain complimentary access (+1 guest on the same flight), regardless of class of travel.

Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Manila Airport T1

Getting there

Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Manila Airport T1 is located near Gate 9 in Terminal 1.

Click here to view the map of Manila Airport Terminal 1.

General areas

This is a fairly small lounge with low ceiling and a view of the apron.

Restrooms

There are 2 restrooms in the lounge, one of them without a functioning faucet/sink.

No shower

Sadly, this lounge does not have shower rooms.

Food & Drinks

The lounge is (still) not offering hot food in the form of a buffet. Instead, guests can order cold, sad-looking pandemic food.

There is also a small coffee machine and cold drinks to choose from.

I asked the staff if they have any information on when the buffet will return but they were unsure.

Here’s what stated on Japan Airlines’ website:

I left the lounge after a short while and headed over to the nearby PAGSS Premium Lounge with my Priority Pass, for a much better F&B selection (photo below).

Top complimentary amenities

• WiFi
• Drinks (including beer)
• Food (cold)

My ratings

Bottom line

No shower, no business centre, no wines and spirits, no hot food. I am torn between calling this a sad-looking lounge or just a pathetic cost-cutting attempt while using the pandemic as an excuse. I can only hope that full service returns soon.

The good news is, with Priority Pass, you can gain complimentary access to the nearby contract lounge, PAGSS Premium Lounge, that serves proper, delicious hot food.