I’m going to make this very easy for you: San Diego International Airport is a hot mess right now and the Aspire Lounge is a perfect example: packed to the gills with vultures hovering over the buffet with food that you (hopefully) would never eat at home.
Aspire Lounge San Diego Review (SAN)
I don’t mean to be on a negative streak lately (and more negativity tomorrow, just to warn you), but I’m realizing why just sitting in gate areas may be be best path…though not necessarily at San Diego.
On a recent flight from San Diego departing in the late morning, I noted that the terminal was absolutely packed. The gate areas were full, there was a huge line to enter the Chase Sapphire Lounge, and there was also a line to enter the Aspire Lounge, part of the Priority Pass network.
It’s located in Terminal 2 near gate 33 and open daily from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm.
I waited in line to enter the Aspire Lounge just because I had never been there, but I realized quickly that it’s just not worth it. Once I made it past the long line to get in, it was a struggle to find a seat, though I found one in the corner and settled down for what would only be a 20-minute stay. It was not as crowded when I left.
I think the saddest thing about these lounges are the folks who (probably?) feel that they want to “get their money’s worth” for whatever credit card annual fee gives them Priority Pass access so they hover around the buffet like they’ve been fasting for a week and then pounce as trays are brought in. Sugary cereal? Check? Bread with highly-refined carbs? Check? Berries that had just been defrosted? Check. Sysco style meat and cheese that probably has a shelf life of millions of years? Check.
Perhaps the worst part was that there is not even a soda fountain or water dispensers in this lounge…I had to go to bar to get a glass of water (and it was some of the worst tap water I’ve ever had…very highly chlorinated). Later on, there were two containers of water brought in on a cart and placed near the buffet. The buffet did have espresso machines (the coffee was extremely bitter) and tea.
Bathroom and shower facilities are available.
CONCLUSION
I’m sorry if this comes across as too harsh, but I just don’t care for lounges like this and would not return. The draw of overcrowded space with an unhealthy selection of food and drinks is not appealing. If you can find a spot, better to get a cup of coffee at a place like Lofty Coffee (near gate 107), sit down, and wait out your flight.
I get a lounge when I travel international J tickets. I’ve never had a wait to get in (but, then again I get D1 etc. in many airports on J tickets). When doing a domestic r/t, I find I don’t really miss having a lounge. Finding some new-to-me food outlet, getting a low-traffic seat, and bingeing on some downloaded content works just fine. The lounge will have a potentially more comfortable and quieter seat. But, I’d rather pay airport prices for their food than eat the stuff the lounge gives out free. And, watching the lounge guests act like zombies that found fresh brains is disturbing. The lounge seems to ask “what can we put out that TCTM won’t like?” [I’m really not that picky]