Experience Comfort at ANA Lounge CTS

Experience Comfort at ANA Lounge CTS

Welcome to the ANA Lounge at New Chitose Airport: Comfort Redefined

Returning from an epic winter getaway to Tokyo and Niseko? With ANA’s Boeing 737-800 Premium Class, I took on the short flight from Sapporo to Tokyo Narita before hopping on ANA’s swanky Airbus A380 first class to Honolulu. But first, let’s talk about the mighty ANA Lounge at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, which I got to experience before jetting off. This isn’t about the posh ANA Suite Lounge but its slightly less hoity-toity sibling — still a decent upgrade from the main terminal bench brigade.

Now, before you start dreaming of red carpet treatment, manage expectations. Yes, it’s a cut above terminal-waiting, but let’s just say that JAL had me wishing ANA allowed first-class folks into its fancier digs. Oh well, onto the lounge…

The Lounge Location — Find Your Way

Touching down at New Chitose Airport, make your way to the ANA check-in area. It’s a bit like a treasure map with different zones.

If you’re in Premium Class, congrats! You get to saunter through a dedicated premium check-in behind hefty doors. Fancy stuff, right? Even the security checkpoint is a breeze — a rare treat. Once past security, head left for lounge heaven. An escalator ride brings you to the second floor.

If your starting point is airside inside the terminal, head for gate seven — your golden gate to the lounge sanctuary.

Lounge Hours and Entry — Know the Drill

The ANA Lounge Sapporo pretty much runs with the airport. From the crack of dawn at 6:30 AM until the last bird flies for the day, it’s open. But here’s a seasonal heads-up: hours could shift with flight schedules.

Entry Requirements Like No Other

  • Premium Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members get their exclusive pass to the ANA Lounge.
  • The ANA Suite Lounge is exclusive to the elite — same-day connecting international first-class passengers and ANA Mileage Club Diamond members.

Fun story: I had hoped to sneak into the plush ANA Suite Lounge based on my Honolulu connection. Alas, it was a “computer says no” moment—no luck without the golden ticket from your connecting flight.

Sitting, Quite Literally, at ANA Lounge Sapporo

Picture walking down a long hallway and finding yourself in a massive room overlooking the apron. Voila, the lounge is revealed in two pictures! Seating ranges from communal tables for extroverts to personal chairs for introverts or tired feet.

The wood-heavy miles of seats might seem lacking in modern design, but the Japanese aesthetic is undeniable. Rest assured, your phones and devices will never lack juice; charging points and seriously fast, free Wi-Fi are everywhere!

For those souls who need privacy to chat, the lounge kindly offers private phone booths. And bless Japan for etiquette lessons where speakerphones in a lounge are a no-no!

Grab a Drink, Maybe a Snack?

Drinks galore! But food, eh, hardly inspiring unless you’re a fan of microscopic chocolate and snack mix. Help yourself to coffee, various teas, sodas, juices, and a beer machine for the thirsty jet-setters. There’s even some liquor for those needing something stronger.

The Necessary Bits — Bathrooms

The bathrooms are gender-segregated, functional, and run-the-mill. Just don’t expect to set foot in pristine marble, and don’t expect showers either — this is Japan, after all. Domestic doesn’t spell showers.

The Best-Kept Secret: Views from the Lounge

The highlight? Picture-wide apron views. If Japanese aviation is your jam, this is your stage.

Bottom Line? A Lesson in Expectation Management

The ANA Lounge Sapporo is your spot for comfortable seating and stellar views. It’s a decent waiting room while the Japanese gate areas aren’t something to scoff at either.

The real letdown though is the two-tier system both ANA and JAL practice. Facing higher fares on ANA, it’s a shame they don’t extend the premier lounge treatment to first-class cabin passengers. Regrettably, this pales after my encounter with JAL’s Diamond Premier Lounge — I’m still on #teamJAL. Oh, you have to check out Val Seny ski resort while you’re at it.

What’s your call on the ANA Lounge Sapporo experience?

Posted in en