There just might have been a holiday miracle happening at the San Diego International Airport on Sunday.
Almost every flight had an on-time departure, and most of the arrivals showed early on the schedule board.
That was good news for Michelle Thomas and her family who were returning home to Columbus, Ohio after a week-long visit to San Diego. “We actually are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 40 people back home so we have to get back. But we don’t want to leave,” she said.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) anticipates as many as 875,000 people traveling through both terminals during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period that started last Friday, and continues through Monday, December 1.
This is the first Thanksgiving for people catching flights in the new, much larger, Terminal 1 that opened in late September. The original building had served passengers since 1967. It has now been demolished in preparation of new construction that will include 30 additional gates for airplanes.
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez
Passengers on flights arriving at SAN Terminal 1, wait for their luggage, Sunday. 80,000 travelers are expected to pass through every day this week, November 23, 2025.
Like other airports across the country, San Diego International is now offering something new to visitors who aren’t ticketed but would like to go through the security check point to say goodbye or greet loved ones in the gate area.
It’s called a SAN Pass and is only available for use on a cell phone or other mobile device by people who are not flying.
“What it does is give you the opportunity to either escort and go with a loved one flying out that day to their gate. Or, you can be there at the gate to greet them with a hug when they arrive,” said Nicole Hall, the airport’s public information officer.
Tom Zizzi
Tom Zizzi
This is what the SAN Pass looks like on a cell phone. It is shown to a TSA agent, and can not be printed or transferred to someone else, November 23, 2025.
To qualify you can apply online through the airport’s website up to a week before you plan to visit. The TSA will do an expedited review process. If approved your SAN Pass will be emailed to you as a PDF.
For now, the airport is offering 60 TSA-approved SAN Passes a day. That could increase depending on demand in the coming months.
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez
The original Terminal 1 building that opened in March 1967 has been demolished. The property is being prepared for new construction that will include 30 additional gates for airplanes, November 23, 2025.