I Visited the Best Airport in America, and Here’s Why I Loved It
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What does it take to be one of TPG's best airports in the US?
San Diego is one of my favorite cities on Earth. With its chill, beachy vibe and abundance of fresh Mexican food, everything about the city screams, "Let's just have a good time."
So, when The Points Guy asked me to visit San Diego International Airport (SAN), the winner of our Best and Worst Airports in the US report for 2019, I jumped at the chance. The best airport in the best city? I'm in.
That's how I found myself catching an early-morning flight from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to San Diego. I arrived at terminal 2 (home of full-service airlines, with far more amenities than the budget-airline dedicated terminal 1) at 10am with plenty of time to explore.
Upon disembarking, my first though was, "Wow!" and my second thought was, "Ouch, my eyes!" Because San Diego International was full of light.
That's one area in which the airport performed best: It was all towering glass panels and silver metal, with funky sculptures and fountains thrown in for good measure.
There were also palm trees, because Southern California.
In short, the airport was beautiful.
Although I landed before lunch, I was told I needed to try the food from Phil's BBQ, an iconic San Diego staple with an airport outpost.
I wasn't that hungry, so I ordered the small meal.
With "just" three ribs, French fries, cornbread, onion rings and coleslaw before me, I was clearly showing pretty spectacular restraint.
With a drink, my total came to a cool $18, though two people could easily share the meal.
In addition to the oversized plates of barbecue, another thing I loved about this airport was that it was just not that crowded. Here was my seat in the terminal, just outside my gate:
The whole place was like that: Everyone just kind of sitting around and sprawled out, with no one fighting for elbow room. It was very pleasant.
Even more important was that the airport was phenomenally located — a mere four miles from San Diego's lively downtown, which meant a commute would've taken a total of 10 minutes. The 992 bus runs direct from the airport and costs a whopping $2.25. Ride-hailing runs about $10.
But how was the ambience? Since you know this is a best-airport review, I'm sure you know where this is going (hint: somewhere good).
What I didn't know was that San Diego International was so cool and chill that even the TSA agents were cracking jokes over the loudspeaker. TSA! When is the last time you heard anything from TSA other than, "Do you have any liquids, laptops or metal in your pockets? If so, please remove them and place them in a bin ...."
You get my point. Even the understaffed and underpaid government workers were downright jolly.
Perhaps this had to do with the soothing music and free ballet performances in front of the terminal's baby grand piano:
Meanwhile, volunteers canvassed the airport, looking for people who needed a little therapy-dog love.
And when I asked the volunteer-led information desk for help on how to get to the lounge, I was invited to hop into the old cart-mobile so they could take me there. How cool were these people?
Tucked in an odd back corner between east and west terminal 2, the Airspace Lounge had absolutely no signage and no obvious indication of how to get there.
However, since my buddy the cart driver knew where he was going, we arrived there in no time flat, where a small sign just outside the entrance let me know it existed.
As a holder of both the Platinum Card® from American Express and the the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, I had access to the lounge, which granted complimentary admission to holders of either card. In addition, entrants were given a card with a $10 credit to spend at the bar or on food.
The lounge was also open to business-class passengers of both British Airways and Japan Airlines, or anyone willing to pay the $40 admission fee.
This wasn't your ordinary packed-solid Priority Pass lounge, either. Like everything at this airport, it was clean, spacious and mostly empty.
It also featured awesome tarmac views for excellent planespotting.
The lounge itself provided free, unlimited snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, much like any other lounge you'd see. However, Airspace did things a little differently, offering a selection of higher-quality food and beverages at the bar (for a fee).
However, the pièce de résistance of the lounge was its shower, which, while basic, was clean, large and totally empty (are you sensing the theme here?) when I arrived.
This was definitely one of the higher-end lounges I've been to, barring such outliers as United's Polaris in San Francisco (SFO) or Cathay's The Wing in Hong Kong (HKG), both of which require a premium business-class ticket.
Overall Impression
San Diego's airport is one of the most pleasant I've had the opportunity to experience, far from the angry hordes of LAX and its nightmarish construction. Though the airport itself is gorgeous, where it really stands out is its unparalleled location, friendly staff and top-notch lounge. All in all, San Diego Airport is a winner and totally deserves its No. 1 Airport title.
All photos by the author except featured image by Dünzl/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.