The train is now my fav way to go to LA - love the train ride. I also need to go to Balboa Park next time - most of the time I was in SD I used my free time to go to Fashion Valley (if that is the correct name) instead to buy some stuff for my wife...
I believe there are almost no flights from LAX now due to CoVid? I enjoyed the contract lounge AA uses at San Diego airport - I always got free whiskey refill from the barkeepers (even when I ran out of AA vouchers)