United Club, San Diego International Airport – small but mighty!

Remember back in 2013 when I first reviewed the United Club here at SAN shortly after it first opened? No? Not ringing a bell? Well, that’s a good thing! It was probably the worst airport lounge review ever, consisting of two dull pics (one of them slightly out of focus), and about 350 words of complete drivel. The sad thing is that I was actually proud of myself after writing it, as it was the first lounge review I had ever put together and it was an exciting feeling to think that I had made the leap to become a legitimate travel blogger. Fame and fortune would soon be mine!

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for reality to set in and I quickly realized that I needed to step up my game if I had any hope of being respected in this business. Poopy pics and dry commentary about the color of the paint on the walls tends to scare people away faster than you can say “this website blows”, and I can’t imagine how many people hit the back button after reading the first sentence and never came back. I don’t blame them either, as I can’t even walk into a paint store without yawning. Make me read about it and I’ll never come back to your website either.

Anyway, it’s not very often that I’ve had the opportunity to visit United Club’s in the past, but my new United Club Visa card makes getting access a whole heck of a lot easier. A complementary membership is included with the annual fee, so it’s fun and easy to waltz in to any which one I please – even if I’m not flying United that particular day. I just happened to be flying United up to LAX this morning, so it only seemed natural to pay a visit for the first time in over 5 years and give it a proper SANspotter-style review.

The first thing you’ll notice when walking in is how nice it is. Seriously, it’s a very stylish hangout, and you’re probably going to think that you’ve found a total gem in the United Club collection (perhaps better than the United Club in Terminal 7 at LAX).

However, it’s not going to take you long to realize how small it is and that you just might be more comfortable out in the main terminal instead. It’s actually one of the smallest airport lounges I’ve ever been in (very similar in size to the Edmonton Air Canada Lounge), which is unfortunate considering how many United flights filter in and out of SAN on a daily basis.

In comparison, the Delta Sky Club (located right next door) has a better layout which makes it feel larger – even though I am not able to officially confirm whether or not it actually is bigger. It just feels that way, which is the most important thing.

Are you the kind of person who thinks that sitting inside small spaces is claustrophobic, yet you shudder at the thought of mingling with the masses out in the main terminal? If so, the open air terrace is where you’ll want to hang out during your visit! It overlooks the terminal 2 west food court, so sit back and relax as you sip on your gin and tonic with a raised pinky – and feel good knowing that you’ve successfully avoided the chaos below.

So that’s pretty much it! It’s a very small lounge by conventional standards, but perfectly comfortable if you come at a time when it isn’t so busy. That said, no matter how busy it is, it’ll always be better than the San Diego Aspire Lounge (the worst lounge in this entire airport).