New San Diego Airport Terminal 1

Jan 13, 2026, 7:46 AM

I don't expect much discussion if any since it only pertains to a certain group of travelers to and from TJ but will just throw it out there.

I didn't remember anyone posting but 3+ months ago, San Diego Airport opened their new Terminal 1 officially replacing the old glorified bus station design. Heck that would be an insult to bus stations comparing it to the old terminal.

This terminal primarily services Southwest airlines so if you normally take other airlines, you won't know the dumpster of the old terminal design and see the new terminal. The other airlines already fly into the nice Terminal 2. I actually never been in it but from the ticketing areas looking in, it looks nice.

Before, the gates were situated in a round design (spoke and wheel) with the very few food places in the middle and noy much room for anyone to sit or stand gates. Being this design you could only have like 8 gates (or so). So if you needed to transfer to a higher or lower number group of gates, you had to leave the gate area and go through TSA all over again at the other gate. The lines for TSA in SD would be long as well, going beyond baggage claim.

The new terminal 1 is very long and modern with a food court area. There is seating outside in the balcony area by the planes parked at certain gates if you need fresh air while you eat.

I was there a month ago and went to the restroom and the father was telling his boy, "I can't believe we finally have a real airport".

Anyways for those flying into or out of SD on Southwest for TJ visits, the cattle pen has been replaced.

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Jascoi3 weeks ago

I haven’t been to the airport in San Diego since 1970.

justinyoo3 weeks ago

Like I said, the article is for a particular subset of travelers. Yet it wouldn't shock me if the terminal you went in 1970 was the same old Terminal 1 just replaced.

justinyoo3 weeks ago

Yeah just checked, built in 1967, so you have been there

Muddy3 weeks ago

They really are updating alot airports around the country it's good to see. Portland has a new airport basically. And LGA and MCI

justinyoo3 weeks ago

@Sirlapdanceanot - yeah it sucked so bad my daughter heading off to college needed one transfer either at SD, LAX or Vegas. She would pick fights just to not transfer in SD because once she got caught having to change to the higher gates and go through that long TSA line again almost missing her transfer. Yeah it sucked.

azdd2 weeks ago

So I guess the proposal to move the SD airport to Miramar is dead on arrival?

mike7102 weeks ago

The discussion to move the airport to MIramar has been dead for years. The Federal Government wasn't going to give up that base. They did give up the Naval Training Center but that became Liberty Station rather than more airport.

They did expand East and took out the commuter terminal for accommodate the new terminal 1.

On foggy days, there will still be delays as there is still one runway. When there's fog, the incoming and outgoing flights have to operate in the same direction so that leads to delays.

WiseToo2 weeks ago

The last time I flew into San Diego, which was many years ago, I was flying from Chicago. I recall the plane flew way out over the Pacific, took it's sweet time turning around and then made it's descent to the airport. No announcements as to what was happening. That experience was kind of unsettling.

justinyoo2 weeks ago

@Wisetoo - that is normal in California. LAX does this all the time and then flies inland with the pattern.

SD usually for me on Southwest, they fly way south (you can see TJ), then basically U-turn around this big hill peak then fly back north over the city to the airport.