San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the third-busiest airport in California. It is located about 3 miles (~5 km) northwest of downtown San Diego.
SAN is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the U.S. in terms of operations. It is a hub for Alaska Airlines and one of Southwest Airlines’ most important bases.
In 2024, San Diego International Airport (SAN) handled more than 25 million passengers, a record for the airport. This ranked it among the busiest 25 airports in the USA.
Major Airlines - Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines
The airline with the biggest market share at SAN is Southwest Airlines. Nearly a third of all passengers at San Diego fly with Southwest. SAN is one of the airline’s most important bases - Southwest connects San Diego to over 40 destinations, operating upwards of 2700 flights per month.
Alaska Airlines is the only one of the legacy carriers to have a hub at SAN. Its market share of around 12% is similar to the other legacy carriers, namely United, Delta, and American.
Together, these 5 airlines account for most of the passenger traffic at the airport.
Allegiant Air, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines serve the low-cost market. Most of these airlines only fly to just a few destinations, with Frontier being the outlier with direct flights to 8 cities across the USA.
On the international side, British Airways flies to London twice daily, KLM flies to Amsterdam 3 times per week, Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt daily, and Japan Airlines flies to Tokyo daily.
Around 20 airlines operate at SAN, offering nonstop service to about 85 destinations.
Terminal Layout of SAN
SAN has two terminals, Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2).
T1 is currently undergoing a major redevelopment (called the “New Terminal 1”). This includes a major overhaul of the existing structure and amenities. The first phase (1A) opened in September with 19 new gates, but the full completion (Phase 1B) is expected in 2028.
Terminal 1 is home to Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, and Sun Country.
On the other hand, T2 is fully active, handles many of the international flights plus domestic ones, with gates spread across its West and East wings depending on the airline. All other airlines not mentioned above use T2, including Alaska Airlines and all other legacy US carriers.
Between the two terminals, there is the free Terminal Loop Shuttle, which runs from 6 AM to 11 PM (the airport does not operate overnight) every 10 minutes. You can also freely walk between them on the landside, via a walkway, which will roughly take around 7 minutes.
At San Diego Airport, flights do not leave before 6:30 AM or after 11:30 PM due to noise reduction regulations. Thus, SAN’s security checkpoints open at 4:15 AM and close just before the last departure.
Connecting Flights and Transit at San Diego Airport
Because SAN has just two terminals very close to each other, with a free shuttle and walkways between them, transferring between flights is relatively straightforward.
However, when dealing with the New T1 during construction phases, you should allow extra time due to ongoing changes and possibly modified gate assignments.
If you have 2 flights with Alaska Airlines under the same PNR, connections are guaranteed, and in case of a delay, you will be put on the next available flight. If you’re self-connecting, though, plan at least 90 minutes between flights, especially if switching between terminals.
A longer layover may allow you to go to the city and enjoy some of the best things to do in San Diego.
WiFi at the airport
SAN provides free WiFi with the SSID “#SANfreewifi” throughout both terminals.
To connect, select the network, then open your browser to the logic page (should be automatic) and accept the terms and conditions to proceed.
Sessions last 2 hours per login, with the option to log in again if needed. Speeds are sufficient for browsing, streaming, and messaging.
Lounges and many of the restaurants at the airport provide their own Wi-fi networks free of charge for their customers.
Lounges at San Diego Airport
SAN has 4 lounges, all of which are located in Terminal 2:
Aspire Lounge: Located near Gates 20-32. Available to passengers of any airline for a day pass worth $35.
Delta Sky Club: Located between Gates 47-48, in the Mezzanine. Only serving premium status Delta passengers.
United Club: Also between Gates 47-48, and available to premium United customers, but also offers a day pass worth $59.
USO Lounge: Located landside, before Security, and serves active military members and their families.
Dining Options at SAN
The airport’s concession space includes many local or regional brands to give a San Diego flavor. Dining options also include national fast food brands and quick grab-and-go outlets.
With the renovation of T1, many new retail and dining establishments have opened there. On the other hand, T2 has always had more choices when it comes to unique places to eat.
Terminal 1 has:
The Counter, where you can make your own custom burgers. It’s near Gate 4, open from 5 AM to 10 PM.
Jack in the Box: A popular local fast food chain. Located before Security on Level 1.
Pacifica Breeze Café is also before Security and offers breakfast and brunch options.
Jetbox: Perfect place to pick up salads, sandwiches, fruit, nuts and dried fruit, chocolates, and other snacks.
Peet’s Coffee and Tea: find this famous coffee brewer near Gate 11.
In Terminal 2, the place to go if you’re not sure what you want to eat yet, is the Sunset Cove - indoor area within the Terminal 2 concourse, offering a place to rest and relax before a flight. Many restaurants, cafes, and bars are situated there.
These include:
Club 42: A classy tequila bar.
Tommy V’s Pizzeria: Reasonably-priced pizzas.
Asian Kitchen: If you’re craving a foreign cuisine.
Red Mango: Specializes in yogurt and smoothies.
Qdoba Mexican Grill: A fast casual Mexican restaurant.
In the East portion of the terminal, you can find:
Panda Express specializes in American-Chinese cuisine. Find it near Gate 26.
Jack in the Box is a local San Diegan fast food restaurant near Gate 26.
Artisan Market is the go-to place for quick grab-and-go options. Located near Gate 22.
Peet’s Coffee and Tea, near Gate 26.
California Pizza Kitchen for hand-tossed pizzas near Gate 26.
Transport to and from San Diego Airport
The airport is accessible from Interstate 5, northbound, via the Hawthorn Street exit or southbound via the Sassafras Street exit.
Road access to SAN has been improved recently as part of the New T1 project. A new dedicated three-lane roadway was opened to ease congestion and divert vehicles from Harbor Drive.
For public transportation, the Metropolitan Transit System offers Bus Route 992, which connects the airport with downtown San Diego. Buses serve both terminals with departures every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays, during operating hours of the airport (5:00 AM to 11:30 PM).
To connect to a train, take Bus 992 to Amtrak’s Santa Fe Depot train station.
You can also pick up the Metropolitan Transit System Trolley from either American Plaza or Courthouse Station, both accessible by Bus 992.
You can take a taxi from the airport at the transportation plaza across from the terminals. The fare to downtown is around $15.
Similarly, rideshare companies such as Uber or Lyft have their pick-up locations at the transportation plaza and drop-off curbside next to the terminals.
Free shuttles operate between terminals, parking areas, and the car rental center.
Several rental car companies offer services at SAN.
Last but not least, a private transfer can be a smart choice, especially if going to specific locations outside San Diego’s city center. Check here for relevant information about private transfers from SAN.
Parking at San Diego Airport
The airport offers 2 parking lots, one next to each terminal, with identical prices:
Terminal 1 parking plaza: located southwest of Terminal 2, accessible from the terminal via a covered walkway.
Terminal 2 parking plaza: located directly in front of Terminal 2 and offers hourly and daily parking.
Frequent shuttle buses connect the two parking spaces to the terminals.
Rates are as follows:
$2.50 for the first 30 minutes.
$6 for stays of up to 1 hour.
2$ per every 30 minutes after the first hour.
A daily maximum of $32.
If you pre-book parking, you can save up to 30% of the daily rate.
Additionally, the airport offers a curbside valet service in front of both terminals.
And if you’re just picking up passengers and need a place to wait, the Cell Phone Lot is free for up to an hour and available from 5 AM to 12:30 AM. It is located in the Terminal 2 Parking Lot, accessible from McCain Road.
Hotels near SAN
While no hotels are located within the terminals or on airport grounds, a few are fairly close and offer complimentary shuttle service.
The closest hotel, at just 0.4 miles away, is the Sheraton San Diego Resort. A great 4-star hotel with top-notch hospitality and service.
Other nearby options (~0.8 miles away) include Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station, Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station, all 3-star properties.
San Diego, CA, USA
