Terminal 1 hosts 3 airlines. You'll find 5 dining options, 3 lounges, 9 shops here.
Boarding by stairs at SJD usually means you’re in Terminal 1
Terminal 1 at Los Cabos International handles most Mexico and Latin America traffic and also sees Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines flights on the older side of the airport. Expect tarmac boarding on some gates with mobile stairs instead of jetways, especially on regional routes. The building dates back decades, and frequent flyers on FlyerTalk describe it as the “old domestic” terminal, with Terminal 2 taking most newer U.S. and Canada service.
Layout and getting through security
Terminal 1 has departures and check-in on the ground level, with a single main security checkpoint feeding into the post-security concourse used by Alaska, American, and United. Lines can balloon to 30–45 minutes when several flights to Mexico City and U.S. hubs bank around the same hour. Once you clear security, you’ll walk directly into a compact hall with gates, basic seating, and a few food spots grouped within a short 3–5 minute walk.
Heat, age, and what to expect at the gates
Multiple TripAdvisor reviews call the concourse that handles United and Alaska “particularly awful,” citing dirty floors near several gates and weak or inconsistent air conditioning during afternoon peaks above 30°C. Seating around the bus gates fills fast, and power outlets are scattered. If you have a short 40–50 minute connection within Terminal 1, plan on heading straight to your next gate rather than stopping to shop, since walking across the open tarmac can add 5–10 minutes in both directions.
Coffee, quick food, and what to skip
A Starbucks and a Subway sit past security near the main gate cluster, usually with lines 10–15 people deep in the morning bank for American and United departures. Wings and a generic Snack Bar have sit-down tables where a basic plate can run 180–250 MXN, and Café Punta del Cielo pours stronger espresso than Starbucks if you care about the coffee itself. If you’re tight on time under 25 minutes to boarding, stick to grab-and-go at Subway or the Snack Bar coolers; Wings’ cooked orders have been reported to take 20+ minutes when two flights board at once.
Lounges: the mezzanine escape
The VIP Lounge Los Cabos and Sala VIP Terminal 1 sit together on the mezzanine level above the main concourse, accessed by a single escalator or stairs just past security. Regulars on FlyerTalk call this mezzanine spot the only real refuge when the ground level feels packed, with quieter seating and stronger air conditioning than the gate chairs below. Expect basic buffet snacks, beer, and house spirits, plus Wi‑Fi that usually tests faster than the open terminal network by 5–10 Mbps.
Shopping: souvenirs and duty free
Post-security shops include Cabo Wabo for branded tequila and shirts, Los Cabos Duty Free for liquor and fragrance, and Piraña Joe for tourist T‑shirts in the 250–400 MXN range. Sunglass Hut sells mid- to high-end sunglasses, while Cloe and Mobo stock bags and accessories close to the central gate area. Oxxo and News and Books carry bottled water, snacks, and magazines; grab a 600 ml bottle of water at Oxxo for under 30 MXN instead of paying higher duty-free beverage prices.
What regulars do and one last tip
Frequent SJD flyers often head straight from security up to the Terminal 1 VIP Lounge mezzanine when the main hall starts to feel overcrowded before Alaska and United afternoon departures. Many buy water and small snacks at Oxxo or News and Books before going upstairs, since lounge food runs basic. One simple move: in the dry season heat, factor in the walk across the tarmac and arrive at your gate at least 20 minutes before boarding time, not the printed 10 minutes, especially on flights that bus passengers to remote stands.