Last edit by: Prospero
San Diego Lindbergh Field International Airport (SAN) Aspire Lounge
Terminal 2 East, near Gate 33
Link to SAN AA airport information.
Link to SAN airport web site.
LOCATION:
Terminal 2, immediately to the left, before Gate 23
INFORMATION:
This former Airspace Lounge is a contract lounge that accepts Admirals Club members as well as American Express Centurion and Platinum members and certain premium cabin passengers on British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Edelweiss. All staff are contracted employees, there are no longer AA staff (AAngels) at the front desk.
Irrespective of travel class or airline, the Aspire Lounge at San Diego Airport is open to all guests departing from terminal 2. Guests at this lounge can enjoy a range of facilities including: free WiFi, complimentary showers, dedicated business areas and facilities and an expansive food and beverage menu. Formerly the Airspace Lounge, this airport lounge allows guests to separate themselves from the busy airport concourse and work, play or simply relax.
HOURS:
The hours and additional information are posted here.
AMENITIES:
Photographs
Credit: Swissport
Terminal 2 East, near Gate 33
Link to SAN AA airport information.
Link to SAN airport web site.
LOCATION:
Terminal 2, immediately to the left, before Gate 23
INFORMATION:
This former Airspace Lounge is a contract lounge that accepts Admirals Club members as well as American Express Centurion and Platinum members and certain premium cabin passengers on British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Edelweiss. All staff are contracted employees, there are no longer AA staff (AAngels) at the front desk.
Irrespective of travel class or airline, the Aspire Lounge at San Diego Airport is open to all guests departing from terminal 2. Guests at this lounge can enjoy a range of facilities including: free WiFi, complimentary showers, dedicated business areas and facilities and an expansive food and beverage menu. Formerly the Airspace Lounge, this airport lounge allows guests to separate themselves from the busy airport concourse and work, play or simply relax.
HOURS:
The hours and additional information are posted here.
AMENITIES:
- Additional $10 credit for premium menu items included with every entry (Not available for Admirals Club members. Credit available for AMEX Platinum and Centurion holders. Passengers who access via BA or JL are entitled to two premium items, regardless of price)
- Unlimited, complimentary soft drinks and light snacks
- Full bar
- Unlimited complimentary espresso and cappucino
- Unlimited complimentary Peet's Coffees & Teas
- Complimentary WiFi
- Power outlets at every seat
- Semi-private conference room (Seats up to 6)
- Complimentary printing
- Complimentary scanning
- Complimentary use of shower facility
Photographs
Credit: Swissport
SAN / San Diego Int'l. Airport AirSpace Lounge / "Admirals Club" (master thread)
#78
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,929
Last time I was in there it was totally packed, no seats. I believe it was because one AA flight had been delayed. But other times it's been very open and nice.
Back when they used props rather than RJs, it was not uncommon to have a flight cancelled due to fog. A few times the flight was cancelled early enough that I could rent a car one-way and drive myself to LAX in plenty of time. But there were occasions when the flight was cancelled after I got to the airport and AA arranged a shuttle to drive everyone to LAX. That time we all missed our flight. It's 2.5-3 hours to drive if you don't hit bad traffic, so starting that run at the time a 40 minute flight is supposed to depart pretty much guarantees problems. But, as I said, I have not experienced a cancellation since the switch to RJs a few years back.
My understanding was that AA wanted to keep their lounge, but the airport forced them to cooperate a shared space (or nothing).
Are you saying that people are pulled out of the Pre-Check lane in T2 and given secondary, but that this never happened with Pre-Check Light in the commuter terminal? I'm confused; wouldn't true Pre-Check in T2 always be a better experience that Pre-Check Light in the Commuter?
As for the LAX-SAN flights, if they are cancelled, they will likely bus you. The distance is short enough that it makes sense for the plane to be re-accommodated that way. I'd imagine an elite could get a seat on the next flight, assuming that it was not faster to sit in a bus.
I'm guessing it made more financial sense to make this deal with AirSpace. I do wonder if they saw a large percentage of AMEX access at SAN. If so, it likely made sense for AA to sublet the lounge to AirSpace after they ended their deal with AMEX, with the caveat that they keep staff there for their PAX (something JL definitely and maybe BA does as well). This way, you keep your people happy, but don't worry as much about the loss of a revenue source.
Are you saying that people are pulled out of the Pre-Check lane in T2 and given secondary, but that this never happened with Pre-Check Light in the commuter terminal? I'm confused; wouldn't true Pre-Check in T2 always be a better experience that Pre-Check Light in the Commuter?
#79
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,550
My understanding was that AA wanted to keep their lounge, but the airport forced them to cooperate a shared space (or nothing).
#80
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: STL
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards, AvisFirst
Posts: 54
Disappointed in this lounge. While it is very nice in how it looks and space it has, the fact it is a full cash bard and food is disappointing. What are you paying membership for if nothing is for free?
#82
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Normally that is reserved for those in international J/F or Oneworld elite members traveling internationally. However, I was under the impression that SAN is an exception and this is AA's workaround.
Or is this no longer the case?
#83
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,985
When entering the lounge, everyone is supposed to get a free premium drink chit that is good for one free drink.
Normally that is reserved for those in international J/F or Oneworld elite members traveling internationally. However, I was under the impression that SAN is an exception and this is AA's workaround.
Or is this no longer the case?
Normally that is reserved for those in international J/F or Oneworld elite members traveling internationally. However, I was under the impression that SAN is an exception and this is AA's workaround.
Or is this no longer the case?
If you entered using an Amex PLT/Centurion card, you got a smart card (like a hotel room key) that you could use at the bar for up to $10 of food/drink, including alcohol.
OTOH, if you entered using an Admirals Club membership, you got nothing (unless you would normally entitled to drink chits for traveling internationally or being a non-AA OW Emerald, etc.).
For this reason, I always used my Amex PLT card to enter, and at one point I even asked one of the AAngels whether people doing so would be hurting AA or the AC, and she said that the club actually benefited more from people entering with an Amex card.
Even after the transition to an Airspace lounge, I thought that house drinks were still complimentary, just as they are at every other AC, but perhaps I'm misremembering. It's been a few months since I actually used the lounge at SAN since it's such an easy airport to access, and I'm generally able to time my arrival to be just prior to departure.
#84
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
Even after the transition to an Airspace lounge, I thought that house drinks were still complimentary, just as they are at every other AC, but perhaps I'm misremembering. It's been a few months since I actually used the lounge at SAN since it's such an easy airport to access, and I'm generally able to time my arrival to be just prior to departure.
Thrilled to hear we can fly out of the main terminal on AA too now, tho' of course the total absence of bay area flights from SAN makes it moot for me for the most part.
#85
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 574
When I was there in February on the holiday weekend I got to the airport early-ish (even pre-check line was busy that day) and popped into the lounge for a few while waiting for a slightly delayed VX flight. House wine was free and poured freely for us at our seats at the bar. Better than AA house wine as I recall and basically no different than an AC. If this has changed, it's poor form.
Thrilled to hear we can fly out of the main terminal on AA too now, tho' of course the total absence of bay area flights from SAN makes it moot for me for the most part.
Thrilled to hear we can fly out of the main terminal on AA too now, tho' of course the total absence of bay area flights from SAN makes it moot for me for the most part.
I didn't feel like I was getting any less for my membership than in an AA-operated lounge though, so I'm kind of confused on what changed.
#86
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/2MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,614
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkedMan
When I was there in February on the holiday weekend I got to the airport early-ish (even pre-check line was busy that day) and popped into the lounge for a few while waiting for a slightly delayed VX flight. House wine was free and poured freely for us at our seats at the bar. Better than AA house wine as I recall and basically no different than an AC. If this has changed, it's poor form.
Thrilled to hear we can fly out of the main terminal on AA too now, tho' of course the total absence of bay area flights from SAN makes it moot for me for the most part.
When I was there in February, I experienced the same thing... House drinks and the usual light snacks were free, just like an AC. If anything, I thought the food for purchase seemed a little nicer than some of the typical AC Sodexo offerings, even if the menu was a little more limited.
I didn't feel like I was getting any less for my membership than in an AA-operated lounge though, so I'm kind of confused on what changed.
Originally Posted by MarkedMan
When I was there in February on the holiday weekend I got to the airport early-ish (even pre-check line was busy that day) and popped into the lounge for a few while waiting for a slightly delayed VX flight. House wine was free and poured freely for us at our seats at the bar. Better than AA house wine as I recall and basically no different than an AC. If this has changed, it's poor form.
Thrilled to hear we can fly out of the main terminal on AA too now, tho' of course the total absence of bay area flights from SAN makes it moot for me for the most part.
When I was there in February, I experienced the same thing... House drinks and the usual light snacks were free, just like an AC. If anything, I thought the food for purchase seemed a little nicer than some of the typical AC Sodexo offerings, even if the menu was a little more limited.
I didn't feel like I was getting any less for my membership than in an AA-operated lounge though, so I'm kind of confused on what changed.
#87
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: LHR, SAN
Programs: BA GGL, AA PLT, VS-curious
Posts: 1,482
I've been using other so-cal airports more lately, so last time I was there was probably August and September. I recall not feeling like we got the great SAN service we used to--not getting as many chits as expected (three status pax on intl itinerary, we were handed one chit), having to put much more effort in to get the attention of staff (do they have more paperwork?) and I don't recall much in the way of food and drink available. But it was fairly new then, so I'm guessing by people's comments things have improved.
#88
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,550
The agents seriously try to recruit me and others to complain, but in the grand scheme of things the lounge has very few things to complain about. The most pressing things that are are AA's fault: supply the better snacks and give us the chits as we expect. AA could make both happen overnight.
I love the SAN agents, but theyre getting annoying with their agenda.
#89
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,550
Yes it is definitely open bar for all just like an AC. That Amex cross-benefit is a nice cherry on top. For me that means a charcuterie plate.
#90
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,682
We're on an upcoming flight on BA in biz. We have the following cards:
Does it make any difference which we show as to which benefits we receive?
(By the way, having just attempted to google for information, I am proud to say this thread, especially its wiki, is the best resource I found on the internet.)
- Admirals Club
- Platinum card
- BA business class boarding card
Does it make any difference which we show as to which benefits we receive?
(By the way, having just attempted to google for information, I am proud to say this thread, especially its wiki, is the best resource I found on the internet.)