Review: Aspire Lounge at San Diego International Airport (SAN)
…I liked the cold brew.
The Aspire Lounge, an independent lounge at San Diego International (Terminal 2) featuring nice tarmac views, a shower suite, an attractive bar, cold brew on tap and a small breakfast buffet. The coffee offerings are the best thing.
The summary:
The lounge is near gate 22 and is most convenient for travelers on Alaska and American, but easily accessible for other Terminal 2 Airlines (all but Southwest, Spirit and Frontier). Alaska, the largest airline at SAN has no lounge here, nor does American, which leads to the biggest problems: crowds. I believe British Airways and Japan Airlines send their premiums passengers to this lounge as well: more crowds.
The lounge is really one large room. Upon entry, you directly come upon the buffet, which for breakfast features a variety of cold items, including hard-boiled eggs, cold cuts, juices, yogurt, and some fruit. Additional food is to the right past the buffet, where you can some bread, bagels, and pastries, with toasters to heat things up. The best thing here was the waffles, which you can heat up. This area has a few tables, which are good for dining.
At the end of main buffet table was an espresso machine. Facing the machine was a hot coffee station, with regular and decaf in dispensers and the highlight of the lounge for me: delicious cold brew on tap.
Past the buffet and coffee station was the bar, which was airy and attractive. The bar serves a variety of complimentary drinks. However, there is an charge for premium cocktails.
To the left of the buffet and bar is the main seating area, with a variety of typical lounge seating. In the back of this area, is the most visually appealing part of the lounge, with the large tv (turned off) and a San Diego-themed mural. Other than that, the décor is rather featureless.
To the right, just past reception, are the washrooms and the rather large shower suite. The mens room was small: one urinal and two stalls (one of which was out of commission).
Internet access is free, though I had an issue connecting – that might have been me. I connected via the airport wifi. There were not that many outlets in the lounge. There were more in the main seating area than in the dining area. The staff worked hard to keep the lounge tidy.
This is not a lounge that I would arrive early for.
The wrap:
…The details. Date – April 25, 2025. Rating: OK. Access: Platinum card
..What I like: Coffee, the shower suite.
..What I don’t like: The bathrooms are small, the lounge suffers from overcrowding at times, the small buffet and the décor.
Compared to lounges everywhere else for business and first class passengers this is a lousy example. Seating and choices are limited, the decor is terrible and you have to pay for drinks.
Like I said – I would not arrive early for this lounge. When the best thing I could say about a lounge is the Cold Brew – you know it ain’t good.
The lounge is terrible . No seating and food is poor. It opens relatively late so first thing in the morning there is a line to get in which is not worth it. The Sapphire lounge on other side of terminal much better but inconvenient for Terminal 2 East. I have heard Alaska Airlines will open their own lounge there soon. Let’s hope its sooner than later. Alaska is the largest carrier in that terminal so I am surprised they don’t have a presence there
Alaska definitely needs a lounge at SAN. My review might have been too kind