San Diego International Airport is the primary international gateway serving the San Diego metropolitan area in California. Located three miles northwest of downtown San Diego along North Harbor Drive, the airport covers 663 acres of land. It stands as the busiest single-runway airport in the United States and serves as a major hub for Alaska Airlines.
The airport operates two main passenger terminals containing 52 total active gates. Terminal 1 features 21 active gates, while Terminal 2 is divided into an East concourse with 12 gates and a West concourse with 19 gates. Terminal 2 West also houses the airport's dedicated international arrivals processing facility and scenic dining options.
01 Terminals & concourses
Terminal 1 contains 21 active gates following its modern redevelopment, with additional gates scheduled to open. It serves domestic carrier operations including Southwest Airlines.
Terminal 2 features 31 gates split between its East and West concourses. The West concourse houses six international gates connected directly to the international arrivals processing facility.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at SAN
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from SAN
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Road | Accessible via North Harbor Drive, with direct access from Interstate 5 northbound at Hawthorn Street and southbound at Sassafras Street. |
| Shuttle bus | Dedicated terminal shuttles transport passengers between the airport terminals and the north-side consolidated rental car facility. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Terminal 2 West features a USO Center alongside the Sunset Cove dining facility for travelers.
