Curbside Valet

$60/day buys you a 1‑minute walk from drop-off to check-in

Curbside Valet at SAN sits right at the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 departure curbs, so you roll up, hand over the keys, and you’re walking toward security in under a minute. It’s valet only, no self-park, and it’s aimed at trips where time and minimal walking matter more than the hit to the wallet.

The posted rate is $60 per day, compared with $38/day in the on-site terminal garages. You pay the airport’s valet operator directly at pickup, and tip on top of that. For a quick 1–2 day business run, you’re looking at roughly $120–$180 plus gratuities, versus about $76 in garage parking.

Drop-off works the same at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2: pull into the signed valet lane on the departures level, leave the car running, and they tag your claim ticket on the spot. Most reviewers describe it as “hand the keys and walk straight to security,” which can be a big deal with kids, multiple bags, or a 6 a.m. departure.

Pickup is where delays creep in. Regulars say peak afternoon banks can mean a 10–15 minute wait for your car. The move is to call the valet desk as soon as you land or when you reach the baggage claim belt, not when you step to the curb. That usually syncs your walk time with them pulling the car around.

Complaints center on cost: many reviews call the $60+ daily rate “insane” for anything longer than a couple of days, especially once you add a $5–$10 tip on both drop-off and pickup. Some frequent flyers blunt that by using corporate reimbursement or annual credit card travel credits to cover part of the bill.

What regulars actually do: they save Curbside Valet for 1–2 day trips, very late arrivals, or pre-dawn departures when a short, well-lit walk next to the terminal feels worth the price. One practical tip: set a phone reminder to call valet the moment the wheels touch down at SAN to cut your curbside wait.