Lounge Review: Aspire Lounge at San Diego Airport (SAN)
Key Takeaways
- Expect crowds during busy periods, since the lounge can reach capacity, and guests may face a wait to enter during peak times.
- Standard amenities include comfortable seating, large windows, Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms, showers, snacks, and beverages.
- The experience has some noticeable shortcomings such as limited food options, cramped seating, non-working TVs, and signs of wear keep the lounge from feeling especially impressive.
During an overnight trip to San Diego (SAN), I had a chance to stop by the Aspire Lounge. I arrived in the lounge around 11am on a Wednesday and stayed for about an hour. The Aspire Lounge (SAN) opened on February 19, 2022, after refurbishment and rebranding from the Airspace Lounge.
Location and Access
The lounge is located in Terminal 2, near Gate 22 (between gates 22 and 33) in a hallway, and is open daily from 05:00 to 22:00 (10 pm).
When I arrived at the lounge, they were on a wait, so I added myself to the waitlist, and after a 15-minute wait I received a notice saying they were ready for me. I think I arrived right before the rush, because when I walked back to the lounge, there was a long line out the door going down the hallway.
To access the lounge, you can purchase a day pass at the lounge or in advance; they are also partnered with American Express, Priority Pass and Dragonpass offering access to members. Military and emergency personnel can receive a discounted "thank you" rate of $32 per adult. This lounge is also a common-use lounge for oneworld airlines including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, and Japan Airlines, for eligible members.
I used my Priority Pass card associated with my Chase Sapphire Reserve Card to gain access. I quickly arrived at the reception desk, showed them my ID and boarding pass, and then, after a quick scan of my membership card, was granted access.
Note: If you are flying from Terminal 1, you will have to exit and reclear security to get between terminals. They are not currently connected airside; this phase of the airport connection is expected to be complete in Q2 2030. In the meantime there are pre-security terminal buses that connect the two terminals, or you can do a ~15-minute walk between Terminal 1 and 2.
Lounge Amenities
The lounge offered limited amenities, including TVs (which were either off or not working throughout the lounge) and digital magazines (I did test the digital lounge app, and it worked great; I was able to read magazines, view the dining and beverage menu, and more). Throughout the lounge there are framed photographs on the walls and a San Diego mural on the front inside wall, but the overall decor is lacking. The lounge is arranged with a large central room and some small side areas for seating and dining. My favorite amenity in the lounge was the large floor-to-ceiling windows spanning more than 1/2 of the lounge, with great views of planes and also providing lots of natural light.
Seating and Work Areas
There are lots of seating options in the lounge, but I will say they are packed with little space between seats. There are tables for sitting at while eating, comfortable chairs with small side tables, bar-height work tables, bar seating, and seating around the windows. The lounge is also very family-friendly and provides high chairs and other areas where a family can relax.
There is no dedicated quiet area or business center, but there are tables where you can work. I recommend grabbing a bar-height table at the window if you are able; that was the best seating, in my opinion.
Food and Beverage
I was visiting the lounge between breakfast and lunch; therefore, my food review may be missing some items. But overall the food was limited to a central buffet area and a bread & cracker table. The buffet was stocked with garden salad, pasta salad, potato salad, tuna salad, soup, dips (such as hummus), cubed cheeses, fruit, and sandwich ingredients, including sliced bread, sliced deli meats, and cheese. I decided to eat light and have some hummus, cheese, and carrots (they offered crackers but did not have pita bread for the hummus). The food was good and tasted fresh but was limited in variety.
On the beverage side, the lounge offers many choices, including water, sodas, juices, coffee, espresso, and tea. I was excited to try the local Dropkick cold brew on tap they had, but when I tried to use it, there was none left in the machine.
I then decided to visit the bar and try a local beer, but unfortunately the only complimentary beer choices were Coors Light and Miller Lite. So, I missed out on the San Diego Alesmith Pale Ale, which was being offered for $6 per can. On a positive note, they do offer complimentary well drinks and spirits, including bourbon, scotch, gin, and various cocktails, with an option to upgrade to premium brands for a charge.
The bar is located in the back of the lounge and overlooks the gate area through the windows. The service at the bar was quick and well staffed. One interesting thing I noticed was a QR code on the bar for tipping; this was the first time I had seen this in a lounge and found it as a useful addition.
Restrooms and Showers
There are wheelchair-accessible men's and women's restrooms inside the lounge. Also, located down the same hallway as the restrooms is a complimentary shower that can be booked at the front desk. While I was in the lounge, I did not visit the shower room, but I did visit the restroom. The restroom had two stalls, a sink, and a baby changing table. The restroom was not super clean; there was trash on the floor and sink counter, but it was still nice to have a restroom inside the lounge. When I visited, there was no wait for entrance into the restroom.
Internet, Noise, and Charging
Once inside the lounge, they offer free high-speed internet. I used the internet while I was there and got very good speed results with 258 Mbps down and 13.9 Mbps up with a ping time of 5 ms. They did have a captive portal you had to fill out prior to accessing the Wi-Fi, but that process was simple. Overall, considering how crowded the lounge was, the noise levels were not too bad, with an average noise of 58.5 dB (quite office). There were lots of charging plugs around the lounge; you could find A/C plugs at the bar, between chairs, and around other areas of the lounge, but no wireless, USB-A, or USB-C charging ports.
Overall Rating: 2.6*
Pros: floor-to-ceiling windows, complimentary e-magazines, family friendly.
Cons: non-working TVs, limited food options, limited food and complimentary bar offerings, packed, no conference room or quiet zone.
- Amenities: 2.9
- Food: 2
- Beverages: 2.8
- Seating, Tables, and Work Areas: 2.6
- Service: 3
- Wow-Factor: 2
* scored using Nerd Score 1.0
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Closing Thoughts
Overall this is not the worst lounge I have been to, but it is near the bottom. I found the overcrowding to be an issue for seating, the food disappointing, mediocre service, and many areas in the lounge that were starting to show signs of wear. I think this lounge could be great with some changes and a refurbishment. I also must comment on the strategic placement of the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card ad placed just outside the lounge on the wall where people are lined up waiting!