If You Are at the Airport

Overview

• San Diego International Airport's Website
• Terminal 1 has one floor
• Terminal 2 has two floors
  • The first floor is baggage claim/arrivals.
  • The second floor is TSA/Security and departures. It is separated into two sections and to get from one section to the other, you must either
    • go downstairs
    • walk outside on the second floor
• We recommend entering the airport through Terminal 2.
  If you are facing the airport:
  • Go to the left to get to: United, JetBlue, Delta
  • Go to the right to get to: Alaska, American
  • Go downstairs and walk to the right (about 10 minutes) to get to: terminal 1 (Frontier, Spirit, Southwest)
• It is better to buy a plane ticket online. Only some airlines will let you buy a ticket at the counter, and there is usually a fee. The ticket counters do not accept cash.
• The airport wifi is stronger in terminal 2, near the escalator. Go there for better internet connection when booking flight tickets.
• Frontier Airlines charges $25 to print a ticket for someone. Checking in online, however, is free, and a screenshot of the ticket should be enough to get through the airport.

Maps of San Diego International Airport

Click to View Interactive Map of San Diego International Airport

Click to View Static Map 1 of San Diego International Airport

Click to View Static Map 2 of San Diego International Airport

Volunteers

• Volunteers may come to the airport in the morning (8am-11am) or in the evening (5pm-10pm). They will walk through the entire airport
• Look for people with a rolling wagon or cart, they may be wearing blue or green vests, possibly emblazoned with "WAWG"
• Volunteers will have free food and cups, which you can fill with water at any of the airport's water fountains.
• Volunteers may also have free clothes, hygiene items (toothbrushes, wet wipes, menstrual products, diapers), blankets
• Volunteers can answer questions such as: where to find your plane, how to get your boarding pass/ticket, when your flight is
• Are you staying at the airport overnight? Please let us know. We might have a place for you to sleep overnight
• Do you feel sick or need medical help? Tell a volunteer and they will try to help you
• Was your flight canceled, and you were helped by Catholic Charities (CC) or Jewish Family Services (JFS)? Tell a volunteer, and they can connect you with CC or JFS
• Do you need funds to purchase a plane ticket? Tell a volunteer, and they will take down your information in case they can cover the cost.

Bathrooms

• Bathrooms are located throughout the airport

  

  

  

  

• Water fountains can often be found next to bathrooms.

  

• Do not flush wet wipes down the toilet

Electrical Outlets

• There are outlets throughout the airport. There are more outlets on the first floor, specifically by Carousel 4 at Baggage Claim in Terminal 2. The wifi is also stronger there.
• You can sleep in the chairs on the first floor

Airport Stores and Restaurants

• Most stores and restaurants close by 8pm
• Jack in the Box in Terminal 1 is the restaurant that closes last (8pm)
• The airport does not sell cigarettes
• You can buy a SIM card from the store in Terminal 1 near the Jack in the Box

Money

• There is no currency exchange at the airport
• There is no Western Union at the airport. You will have to get on the shuttle to Old Town Station to get to a Western Union.
  • See the Old Town Station page to learn more
• There are machines called “Ready Card” machines. They will exchange your cash for a pre-paid debit Mastercard for a $6 fee
  • There are six total Ready Stations, and they are located near ticketing counters. Once you have a pre-paid debit Mastercard, you can purchase your airplane ticket at the ticketing counters or online.
  • Instructions for using a Ready Station machine:
    1. Find the station and touch the screen to begin.
    2. An important information message will appear on the screen, click accept to continue. A maximum of $1,000 can be loaded on the prepaid debit card.
    3. Click "BUY" to purchase a prepaid debit card and load cash.
    4. Insert the desired amount of cash into the machine. If you enter $100, the card balance is $94.
    5. Once you have finished inserting cash, click the "Done" button on the screen.
    6. Confirm that the amount on the card is the correct amount.
       • If the amount is correct, click on the "DONE - ISSUE CARD" button.
       • If you wish to add more money, click on the "ADD MORE MONEY" button.
    7. The transaction is complete. Take the card.
• There are ATMs in both terminals
• Airline ticket counters do not accept cash

Shelter

If you do not have airline tickets and need a place to stay, the closest San Diego shelter is the San Diego (Neil Good) Day Center at 299 17th Street

• The San Diego (Neil Good) Day Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 3 PM
• Space is limited - try to get there by 6 AM to secure a space.
• The San Diego (Neil Good) Day Center has restrooms, laundry, and cell phone charging areas.

Directions to San Diego (Neil Good) Day Center from the Airport

1. Walk outside to the bus area
2. Find bus 992
3. Take the bus to 11th Avenue & Broadway
4. Walk to the Broadway & Park Boulevard stop
5. Take bus 12
6. Get off at Imperial Avenue and 16th Avenue
7. Line up at 299 17th Avenue

Affordable Motel

If you can afford about $120 per night, you can consider the EZ 8 Motel. See the Old Town Station page to learn more.

TSA/Security

All persons intending to board a flight within the US are subject to TSA processes and regulations.

• Useful Pages on the TSA's Website
  • What Can I Bring?
  • About the Security Screening Process
  • FAQs
• You can not bring large amounts of liquids through security (no more than 88 milliliters)
• You can bring empty water bottles
• If you have an unexpired passport, you only need your plane ticket/boarding pass and passport
  • If you do not have a passport, you need your plane ticket/boarding pass and your immigration papers (from CBP or ICE)
• You may need to remove your shoes, jacket, belt, or hat
• Stand in line for security at least 2 hours before your flight