I was out of town, in fact out of the country, for the last two weeks attending a gaming trade show in London. I had a great time throughout the trip, and it occurred to me coming and going how Las Vegas is blessed with an oversized asset: McCarran International Airport.
The only airport in Clark County to accept commercial flights, McCarran is the eighth busiest airport in the United States and ranked sixth in terms of customer satisfaction (Wall Street Journal). Las Vegas is the 26th most populous metropolitan area in the United States, so we do get a much bigger airport than our similar-sized brethren in Columbus or Indianapolis.
How is a bigger airport an advantage, you ask (as you’re dragging 25 pounds of luggage a half-mile from your gate to your car)? A larger airport affords more choices in air travel. McCarran currently services 38 airlines offering direct flights to more than 100 different cities, including 20+ flights to Los Angeles and two to London, England. That means more direct flights, more choices, and more competition that all lead to cheaper travel.
As with other topics, I surveyed friends who use the airport more than I do and came up with the following quick tips:
- McCarran has two terminals – Terminal One and Terminal Three. There is no terminal two (long story). Before you go to the airport check the airline (or McCarran’s website) for which terminal your flight will leave from or arrive at. Allegiant, American, Delta, Southwest, and Spirit flights come and go out of One; Alaska, Frontier, Jet Blue, United, and all international flights use Three.
- Fridays and Sundays are the two busiest days at the airport, so cut yourself considerably more slack if you’re traveling on either day.
- Never play a slot machine at McCarran. They’re very tight, there are no players club benefits, and if you do hit a major jackpot ($1200+), the payout delay could cause you to miss your plane.
- Picking up someone at McCarran? Check out the special Cellphone Lot, which is free as long as you’re sitting in your car. When your party gets to the passenger pickup area, they can call your cellphone and you can pick them up in minutes.
- If you’re using Uber/Lyft to get to your destination from the airport, the time for the driver to get out of the airport from the designated pickup areas can be as long as 45 minutes, especially if you’re coming in on a Friday or Sunday evening. A cheaper alternative is to take one of the many buses (one every 15 minutes) to the South Strip Transfer Terminal and have “your ride” pick you up there. Note: Several folks mentioned that you can use the same trick by taking the bus to the McCarran Rent-A-Car center, but according to gossip, that could change.
- Avoiding airport parking fees is a major sport in this city. It costs $15 a day to park at the attached parking lots, $10 for the remote lots. Vegas Airport Parking, a nearby independent parking lot, charges $6 a day. Please consider all these options carefully before asking a friend to take four hours out of their lives (two to drop you off, two to pick you up), so you can save $20.
And if anyone has any other airport tips, please put them into the comments.
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I use McCarran airport a few times a month for more than 10 years. Usually someone from the family is doing the drop off and pick up. I mostly use terminal one. For early morning drop off, it is much faster to use passenger pick up area, there is no traffic or pedestrians crossing the road. Once inside the terminal, take escalator to the second floor to security gates or ticketing.
For pick up, we use short term parking lot. I call my ride a soon as plane is on the ground. They can be on the lot in 20 minutes. There is no charge for parking if it is 15 minutes or less. Take your ticket to the exit booth, do not attempt to use self pay machine on the parking lot or you will be charged. Using self-service booth at the exit is fine. In the rare instances when 15 minutes is not enough, it is $2 for first 30 minutes. The car can also leave parking lot, loop around the parking and come back, but that is too frugal for us. Free 15 minutes parking is also available in terminal 3 but it slightly longer walk.
My preferred way to and from:
Bell Trans out and Uber back to the air port.
(2) one ways.
There are a few reviews on the cell Phone lot at Mc Carran air port.
No rest rooms or garbage cans there.Still,a good idea.
Thanks.
I am a Lyft Driver and in 3 years I have not once seen a 45 minute pick up time Ever!!!
I mis-stated! What I meant is that once you locate your driver and proceed to leave the area – it can take some time (and this is based on personal experience) to leave the airport due to very heavy traffic.
I love flying in and out of McCarran airport. I also prefer friends and family fly in and out of Las Vegas. The tram to and from terminal 1and 3 to terminal 4 is quick and easy. Luggage pick up is convenient. It’s big without being too big and there are plenty of food choices. We usually fly Delta where you check in to terminal 1 and fly out of terminal 4. Security is usually quick to get through and friendly.
“…We usually fly Delta where you check in to terminal 1 and fly out of terminal 4.” Terminal 4?
Park at rtc south strip transfer terminal park and ride lot. Take the 109 bus terminal 1. 2 dollars.
If you have much luggage or have issues walking far distance as we do, we take a taxi upon arrival because it is just outside the baggage area whereas Uber and Lyft are not allowed to pick you up outside the baggage area, you have to go all the way to the parking structure and try to find your ride. When going back to the airport we always use Uber because they can drop you off right at the check-in terminal.
DIRECT flight–plane leaves one city, has intermediate stops in other cities before arriving in Las Vegas. No change of plane required.
NON-STOP flight–plane leaves a city, flies straight to Las Vegas, no intermediate stops. (Usually the most desirable option.)
CONNECTING flight–plane leaves your city, lands in another city where you must board another flight to Las Vegas (change planes).
I would never take a connecting or direct flight,unless I HAD to.
I missed my connecting flight out of Sky Harbor in Phoenix once.
That was enough of that!
The air port was terrible! No signs and they switched terminals on me.
I just want to get there,not have an adventure.
Thanks,Candy.
I was at this airport last summer. I picked up a rental car here. From the tips, I can say that if you rent a car, then choose a car rental point outside the airport. Because at the airport cars will cost a bit more expensive