If you fly out of San Diego very often, especially on Alaska Airlines, there's a pretty nice upgrade on the horizon.

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has officially approved plans to expand the existing lounge space in Terminal 2 East, making room for a brand-new Alaska Airlines lounge that's expected to open in 2028.

The project will more than double the size of the current lounge space—from about 5,100 square feet to nearly 14,000 square feet. The Airport Authority is investing about $11 million to expand the space, and once that's complete, Alaska Airlines will finish building out the lounge with its own design and amenities.

According to Alaska, travelers can expect private workspaces, locally inspired food and drinks, a full cocktail bar, and even a barista station. Considering Alaska now flies to 49 nonstop destinations from San Diego—the most of any airline at SAN—it makes sense that they'd invest in a dedicated lounge here.

This news caught my attention because I recently experienced just how valuable lounge access can be.

During Spring Break, I got stuck at San Diego International with a seven-hour flight delay. Thankfully, I had access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge, and I'll be honest—it made the day much more tolerable. Instead of spending hours searching for an open seat near the gate, I had a comfortable place to work, grab something to eat, recharge my phone, and relax while waiting for updates.

San Diego's lounge options have improved quite a bit over the last few years. The Chase Sapphire Lounge has been a fantastic addition—assuming you can actually get in when it's busy. Adding another premium lounge should help spread travelers out and give Alaska's frequent flyers another solid option.

Beyond just the lounge itself, I think this is another sign that San Diego International continues to invest in improving the overall travel experience. Between the new Terminal 1 project, terminal upgrades, and expanded airline amenities, the airport is steadily becoming a better place to start and end a trip.

Will a lounge change everyone's travel experience? Probably not. But if you've ever dealt with a long delay, you know that having a comfortable place to wait can make all the difference.

I'm curious—do you think airport lounges are worth it, or would you rather spend that money on your destination?