The American Airlines Admiral club in San Diego is getting a much needed facelift and along with the remodel, they are getting a new name and operator. As of Wednesday April 30, the San Diego Airport Admiral club partnership with Airspace lounges has been launched and this airport lounge is now open to Admiral Club & US Airways Club members along with American Express Platinum & Centurion card holders and all members of the flying public who are willing to pay $25 to enter the club. San Diego based AA fliers who use to access the club via their American Express cards are welcomed back and only actually lost their club access for approximately 1 month when AA/US terminated their Amex partnership! This is a BIG win for American Express card holders in San Diego! Furthermore, individuals entering the lounge as an Airspace guest get greater benefits to the club amenities than AA/US club members!
The newly remodeled club is still under construction, but phase 1 of the project is complete (pending the new liquor & food licenses) which includes a large new bar and lounge area with A+ tarmac views. Before, the Admiral club peaked out at just the neighboring gates, but now ground to ceiling windows peer out at Terminal 2, the taxi ways, and San Diego’s single runway. The dark and dreary days of the admiral club is behind us and the spacious and naturally lit modern space is a reality! In addition, other club updates include new bathrooms, a new self-serve soda and coffee machines, a snack bar and updated seating and dining area with powerports at every seat!
The bar
Updated seating area
Once the new club formally receives their new liquor and food license, the club will close off what is currently the Admiral club and begin construction on that space. The plan is to modernize the space, bringing in more light, add showers and refresh the small bar. Once the remodel is completed, the Airspace lounge will be the ONLY lounge in the San Diego Airport to offer showers to their guests! This is great news for JAL & BA passengers who may be connecting via SAN after a long overseas flight or passengers who need to refresh themselves after running around in the San Diego sun all day!
The new lounge is also getting an updated food and drink offering. Although the menu is not yet available, the lounge staff was able to provide me with a copy of the soon to be menu. Also the best part of the new menu is that any passengers who access the Airspace Lounge by either buying their way in for $25 or via their American Express card will receive a $10 credit towards the purchase of ANY menu item, food or alcohol! In addition, American Express passengers are welcome to invite two guests per card holder into the lounge and they too get a $10 credit each! American Air Admiral Club and US Airways club members are not extended this same offer, but do not fret, the club will still have an updated selection of complimentary well drinks, beer and wine! In addition, once Airspace formally takes over the lounge, the complimentary snack offering will also be updated with more options.
The new menu:
To Access this Lounge:
All passengers departing form Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport have access to this lounge via their American Express Platinum or Centurion cards free of charge and are welcome to bring two guests into the lounge. Admiral Club & US Club members still have complimentary access as well and will have a dedicated check in area and personalized travel assistant, this is also true for OneWorld Sapphire & Emerald members on and international itinerary and OneWorld Passengers (such as JAL and BA) Business and First class passengers traveling overseas. All other passengers departing from T2 are welcome to visit the lounge for a $25 fee, but since there is a $10 bar credit given to all Airspace lounge users, the cost is quickly reduced to only $15. My word to the wise, even if you have a US/AA club membership but are accessing this lounge and also have a qualifying American Express card, use it! Not only will you get the same access, but you’ll get a $10 bar credit!
tarmac view from the lounge
Welcome to San Diego AirSpace! You are San Diego’s first buy in lounge and a much welcome amenity to the flying public and American Express Platinum card holders!
