When to choose meet-and-greet at baggage claim vs curbside pickup at San Diego International Airport — terminal logistics, international arrivals, late-night windows, and how EGT's 5-minute proximity to SAN changes the calculus.
Book Now: (858) 522-0264SAN's Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2 layout, baggage carousel locations, and exits to specific curb zones can be disorienting on first visit. Meet-and-greet removes the navigation puzzle — you walk off the plane, find your driver at baggage claim, follow them out.
Customs at SAN's international arrivals area takes anywhere from 15 to 90+ minutes depending on the flight and time of day. A curbside-waiting driver would burn cycles. Meet-and-greet means your driver enters the international arrivals area at the right moment based on flight tracking + customs throughput estimates.
The walk from baggage claim to the curb with a stroller, two car seats, and three suitcases is a small ordeal. Meet-and-greet means the driver carries it from the carousel to the vehicle.
For Pendry, US Grant, Marriott Marquis, and other luxury-property guests, meet-and-greet is part of the booked service. The driver with name board is a luxury hospitality cue that matters in the first 60 seconds of arrival.
Curbside lighting at SAN gets dim; the arrivals curb gets quieter; finding your driver in a row of cars is harder. Meet-and-greet inside baggage claim is more reliable. EGT staffs 24/7.
For frequent travelers who know SAN well, curbside saves the 5-10 minute meet-and-greet step. You exit the terminal, walk straight to the curb, your driver is there with the vehicle ready. If you have a carry-on and a clear path to the exit, curbside is the efficient choice. EGT drivers pre-position at the correct terminal based on your airline's assignment.
EGT's base is 5 minutes from San Diego International Airport — closer than any other licensed black car service in San Diego. This matters for both pickup styles:
For meet-and-greet: Your driver can be inside the terminal at baggage claim shortly after your flight lands, not 10-15 minutes after. No long wait standing by the carousel wondering when the driver will arrive.
For curbside: The driver doesn't need to circle the airport burning fuel waiting for your text. They wait at base and dispatch when your plane lands. By the time you've collected luggage and walked to the curb, they're at the curb.
For delayed flights: Real-time flight tracking adjusts the driver's departure time from base automatically. You don't have to call to update; the system handles it.
Terminal 1: Southwest Airlines and some smaller carriers. Domestic arrivals. Lower-floor baggage claim. Curbside arrivals on the lower level.
Terminal 2: Delta, United, American, Alaska, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Frontier, Spirit, plus all international flights. Two-floor terminal — main concourse and international arrivals area. International arrivals clear customs in a separate area and exit through a designated path.
EGT drivers know terminal assignments for every major airline and stage accordingly. You don't need to specify the terminal at booking — just provide flight number.
Meet-and-greet: driver inside baggage claim with name board, handles luggage. Curbside: driver at the arrivals curb, you exit and find them. Both included in EGT flat rate at no additional charge.
First-time visitors, international arrivals through customs, family travel with kids/strollers, executive arrivals where service quality matters, late-night arrivals when curbside lighting is poor.
Frequent travelers familiar with SAN, carry-on only, hurry, clear terminal knowledge. Saves the 5-10 minutes meet-and-greet adds.
Driver inside baggage claim shortly after flight lands; for curbside, driver at the curb by the time you collect luggage. No driver-circling-airport burning fuel.
No. Included in flat rate. 20-minute wait window covers standard meet-and-greet timing. International customs longer waits pre-arrangeable, no surcharge.
Terminal 1: Southwest. Terminal 2: Delta, United, American, Alaska, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Frontier, Spirit, all international. EGT drivers know assignments; just provide flight number.
24/7 staffing, no off-hours surcharge. Driver meets you at active baggage-claim level. Real-time flight tracking handles delays.
Meet-and-greet or curbside — both included. EGT 5 min from SAN. Real-time flight tracking. 24/7.
Call (858) 522-0264