Complimentary access to an airline lounge is usually reserved for first and business class passengers, meaning there is no premium economy lounge access, or any for economy class people. This makes sense considering the difference in what people pay.

Lounge access for premium economy class passengers is available though. There are a couple of airlines that offer it as standard, which arguably makes their flights the best value of all.

Premium Economy Lounge Access at Japan Airlines

While the oneworld alliance lounge access web page does not mention it, Japan Airlines does offer this to those flying in premium economy. You can see the proof below, which is taken from their premium economy class web page.


Japan Airlines also offer complimentary slippers in premium economy, an addition that many other airlines will only offer in first class. Looks like I need to be booking a flight on JAL as soon as possible!

ANA Also Offer Lounge Access in Premium Economy

ANA is the other airline offering lounge access in this class as standard. One or the other of the Japanese airlines must have decided to offer it and the other followed suit. Isn’t competition great?


Just like the competition, they also offer slippers in this class of travel. These are perfect for keeping feet clean during those toilet runs in the wee hours of the morning.

Overall Thoughts

Japanese airlines clearly set the bar high when it comes to their cabin classes. The lounge access, at least in Japan Airlines case, extends across the network. This means in Sydney you would use the Qantas International Business Class lounge as a premium economy customer.

Naturally I have not mentioned that people with high enough status in an airline frequent flyer programme will be able to use the lounge regardless of what class they are travelling. That was not the point of this article, of course, as the point is to say only the Japanese airlines offer lounge access to paid premium economy travellers.

What do you think of this? Have you flown with Japan Airlines or ANA in premium economy and used the lounge? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image via Japan Airlines.