SAN DIEGO — San Diego International Airport unveiled its newest addition, a 10,000-square-foot Chase Sapphire Lounge. Located on the third floor of Terminal Two West, the lounge is exclusively available to Chase Sapphire and JP Morgan Reserve cardholders.
This marks the fourth and largest VIP lounge at San Diego International Airport and Chase's first on the West Coast. The new facility reflects changing traveler preferences in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have seen that people's preferences and what they expect and how they travel did change substantially over COVID, and it has stayed that way," said Dana Pouwels, Head of Airport Lounge Benefits at Chase. "So people are really looking for a curated experience, a premium experience."
The lounge incorporates local features to give visitors a taste of San Diego. These include food from Oscar's Mexican Seafood, a video wall showcasing the San Diego coastline, and a surfboard art installation by local artist Hanna Daly.
"They wanted an abstract piece. And so I created something that was, like, about the waters of San Diego," Daly explained. "The cool thing is, if you look at it from one side, it's like the sunrise on the water, and from the other side, it's the sunset."
The lounge offers a range of amenities at no additional charge to cardholders, including a children's playroom, private rest areas, showers, a food buffet, full bar, and a spa area for facials. However, the associated Chase Reserve card comes with a $550 annual fee.
Airport officials note that the pandemic has shifted travel preferences, with many passengers seeking less crowded areas. The airport's Chief Revenue Officer stated that while the Chase lounge is exclusive, other improvements underway at the airport, such as a new Terminal One and updated restaurants and parking structures, are designed to enhance the experience for all travelers.
"It's elevated our experience to a world-class airport," Chief Revenue Officer Hampton Brown commented.
Chase plans to open similar lounges in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles in the future, further expanding its premium travel offerings.