The New Terminal 1 is complete! And the reviews are decidedly...meh! Brightly lit with tall ceilings and neutral earth colors you couldn't have asked for a design more safe and uninspiring. The furniture is a small upgrade from what was here previously with a few different formats of block couches and high-top standing and sitting arrangements. Still too much traditional "bleh" airport seating without enough options to power devices. The food choices at least pull on local venues for their sourcing and there's a nice balance of fast and fast casual selections. Of course you're paying California Airport prices for anything so make sure you've refinanced your home recently! The baggage claim area, while also well lit has little to no seating and it was challenging to find outlets to charge devices at. The ride share section is conveniently located nearby in the traffic island and the parking structure is much larger than previously but you're also now paying large city rates for your mid-sized city visit. Ultimately lacking character and little to identify it as the San Diego airport this massive endeavor feels like a missed opportunity to add character and define itself to the world coming to visit all it has to offer. A shame really...

The new Terminal 1 is modern, spacious, and a major improvement for traffic flow. The dining area is impressive, offering a wide variety of restaurants, and the outdoor seating space is one of the best features I’ve seen at any airport. These upgrades are significant and deserve recognition. That said, there are areas where the design could better reflect San Diego’s identity. The interior feels sterile and generic, more like a hospital than a welcoming gateway to the city. Adding design elements that showcase San Diego’s culture, scenery, or character would go a long way in giving the terminal a true sense of place. The layout also presents challenges. Despite the terminal’s size, it’s too narrow for a travelator, which makes walking distances long and tiring. From the gate to baggage claim is roughly a quarter mile, followed by baggage claim, another long hallway with a very low ceiling that looks nearly identical throughout. Improving wayfinding, visual variety, or even reconsidering future travelator installation could help. Operationally, baggage claim and food service were both very slow during my visit. These are areas where efficiency improvements could make the passenger experience far smoother. Overall, the new Terminal 1 is a strong step forward, but with a few design and operational adjustments, it could truly showcase San Diego and set a new standard for travelers. For now, Terminal 2 much better represents the city.

Don’t believe what you see on the news - 10-25-25- 7am- no long lines here in the new terminal during “shutdown” that the dems caused. Took 30 min to get through TSA. Bathrooms are nice!! 👏🏼 It was a breeze and finally - SD has a nice airport with tons of space and many food options.

First time flying through this airport (on Southwest) and this terminal is new and very clean. Lots of places to shop and eat. Expensive of course, but very comfortable and upscale. Lots of places to sit and work as well. Nice airport! VictorB

I value efficiency at an airport above most other things and so SAN is very good in my book. The airport is small and uncomplicated in its layout. A good number of shops if you like buying expensive things in airports. In terms of aesthetics, the airport is pretty middle-of-the-road. Nothing really stands out, but again, you're only spending a few hours here so who cares? All in all a quick and therefore pleasant experience.

Went to San Diego for Cisco conference and landed on this airport . Airport was ok. Not much restaurants around . Was like a small airport . Exits are well marked and there are uber / buses outside . Parking is also on the other side of the airport . I had to go to my hotel and there were free shuttles right outside the airport … nice location of th airport .. close to many good hotels and downtown .. 3 stars overall ..