Sakura Lounge / Admirals Club — Attraction in Honolulu

Our vacation to Japan brought us to the Sakura Lounge at HNL, which is a shared space of American Airlines & Japan Airlines. They’re located in terminal 2 between gates D & F, hidden away on level 3. Take the elevator or stairs and you’ll be greeted by a back hallway-looking corridor that leads to the lounge.

ATMOSPHERE: While fairly spacious, it’s not as large as other Admiral’s Club lounges we’ve been to at bigger airports. Big windows let in lots of natural light with views of the airport’s tropical gardens and ponds.

There is no quiet area or kid’s playroom, just basic seating along the counters, low tops and a dining room. Power outlets are plentiful. The magazine/newspaper shelf was bare, but the majority were on their phones or laptops anyway. Restrooms are located outside of the lounge but they did sport bidets!

F&B AMENITIES: All the usual suspects like soft drink & coffee machines are here. During breakfast, a pancake-making machine was quite popular. A hot foods counter served up chicken curry & rice (not a big fan or connoisseur of curry, but it was decent), plant-based pokē (eerily similar in taste & texture to the real thing), and Spam musubi which the spouse approved of. The pre-packaged and pre-seasoned mini instant chicken ramen is best left to a child’s unsophisticated palate. Other options were fresh fruit, plant-based croquettes and alfredo mushroom pasta to name a few. Oddly no eggs, cereal or oatmeal were in sight.

SERVICE: It was refreshing to experience Asian politeness & service after years of stoic & obnoxious mannerisms while traveling within continental US airports.

OVERALL: Comfortable environment to...

All the recent airline flight cancellations reminded me of one that my wife experienced at the Honolulu (Daniel Inouye) International is worth mentioning. Several weeks ago, we went to the American Airlines Admirals Club to wait for our flight to Dallas Ft Worth Airport (DFW) where we were to catch a connecting flight to Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA). While at the club, I received a message from American Airlines our flight to DCA was cancelled due to severe weather conditions forecasted for the area. So, I went to the reception desk to seek assistance. A receptionist by the name of Pam offered her assistance. Thus, this review is on the assistance she provided, not on the lounge. It was the most remarkable and memorable experience! Pam work tirelessly in trying to find alternate routes and airports which was evident by a sheet she brought to me in the lounge. After exhausting all possibilities, she found a flight that would get us to DCA, but a day after our schedule arrival which meant spending a day at a hotel in the DFW area. My wife and I determined it was a good idea because the weather forecast was to be much improved. We informed Pam we wanted to go with the flight. She shared that because she anticipated rebooking of flights to DCA will probably be hectic she had already booked us on the flight! Her efforts made our day. I hope someone from American Airlines will read this review and give Pam an appropriate...

I am very upset. My AA Credit Card was hacked. I had to order a new one for myself, wife, and adult child. I was unable to send it to my child before their flight. I did however send a picture of the front and back with my child's name on it. My child proceeded to the lounge to explain the situation but FUMIKO would not listen. In fact she pushed my daughter to the side for 5 minutes to help guests who had a complex issue even though they arrived after my child. I asked to speak to her so I could explain the situation in detail. However, Fumiko refused to speak to me. In the past I have received emails from this lounge welcoming me (before my trip) and telling me to call if I had any questions. Sadly I was unable to locate the phone number. The whole point of having CSR's in the lounge is to empower them mitigate higher level issues. Instead she shamed my child and instructed her to leave (in a very impolite and rude way) like someone who tried to scam their way in. Bottom line I PAID $175 for a privilege that was denied because Fumiko is apparently unable to think outside the box. So after being hacked and victimized Fumiko re-victimized me and my family. Thanks for...