is it possible to do some gambling when connecting AA to AA at Las Vegas airport?
Jun 27, 2017, 12:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
Two hours is a lot of time to make a connection, it's not a gamble.
OK, sorry. Last time I looked, there were slot machines in the airport. So yes, you can gamble.
Not what you meant either? If so, you may need to be more specific. And also less specific, since the question isn't actually AA-specific.
OK, sorry. Last time I looked, there were slot machines in the airport. So yes, you can gamble.
Not what you meant either? If so, you may need to be more specific. And also less specific, since the question isn't actually AA-specific.
Jun 27, 2017, 1:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Providence RI
Programs: American Exec Plat, Hyatt Refugeeist, Marriot Gold, Air Canada Cattle Class, Korean Air Morning Plat
Posts: 988
Machines in airport..........
Luxor is closest casino on strip...........
Before you leave the airport, check the lines to get back in through security. As long as it is not a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, you should be ok to leave Las Vegas for about 20-30 mins gambling max. No clocks in casinos.
Personally I would play the video poker or slots in the terminal and not risk leaving the airport.
Luxor is closest casino on strip...........
Before you leave the airport, check the lines to get back in through security. As long as it is not a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, you should be ok to leave Las Vegas for about 20-30 mins gambling max. No clocks in casinos.
Personally I would play the video poker or slots in the terminal and not risk leaving the airport.
Jun 27, 2017, 2:31 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA EXP 3mm, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 61
As someone who has worked with casinos for over 30 years, I agree that the slots at LAS are rumored to have the highest hold percentage (i.e. hard to win) but I actually won the jackpot 2 years ago. Bad news is that you have to wait for a manager to come and take your tax ID number and to give you a 1099 (almost missed my flight). But if you are going to a casino, note that the AA flights are in the D gates and while the usual course is to take the train to Terminal 1 where AA is located, you can take the train to Terminal 3 instead. My experience is that there are fewer people; the cab lines are shorter and it is easier to get in and out of LAS through Terminal 2 than Terminal 1. But the cab lines at LAS can be long (but there are lots of cabs). There are quite of few off-strip casinos nearer to LAS than the Strip. Given your time frame, I would go to those instead.
Jun 27, 2017, 2:42 pm
#6
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,039
Do you have PreCheck? If not, I wouldn't risk it with only a 2 hour connection.
Honestly I wouldn't risk it at all. But sounds like you aren't very risk averse
Honestly I wouldn't risk it at all. But sounds like you aren't very risk averse
Jun 27, 2017, 3:16 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
If the OP plays table games, he must leave the Airport (which has only VERY TIGHT slots).
From one of MGMs wings you can look down and see the airport...so this could be closer than Luxor or Mandalay Bay.
The security lines can be huge in the early morning. The D gate in the afternoon is not too busy.
In any event with only a 2 hour connection, especially factoring in taxi lines and TSA security, leaving the airport is a big "gamble".
If you have an Amex Plat Card, you get Centurion Lounge access [near gate D1]. A little further on is a Priority Pass lounge.
From one of MGMs wings you can look down and see the airport...so this could be closer than Luxor or Mandalay Bay.
The security lines can be huge in the early morning. The D gate in the afternoon is not too busy.
In any event with only a 2 hour connection, especially factoring in taxi lines and TSA security, leaving the airport is a big "gamble".
If you have an Amex Plat Card, you get Centurion Lounge access [near gate D1]. A little further on is a Priority Pass lounge.
Jun 27, 2017, 3:27 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 180
As someone who has worked with casinos for over 30 years, I agree that the slots at LAS are rumored to have the highest hold percentage (i.e. hard to win) but I actually won the jackpot 2 years ago. Bad news is that you have to wait for a manager to come and take your tax ID number and to give you a 1099 (almost missed my flight). But if you are going to a casino, note that the AA flights are in the D gates and while the usual course is to take the train to Terminal 1 where AA is located, you can take the train to Terminal 3 instead. My experience is that there are fewer people; the cab lines are shorter and it is easier to get in and out of LAS through Terminal 2 than Terminal 1. But the cab lines at LAS can be long (but there are lots of cabs). There are quite of few off-strip casinos nearer to LAS than the Strip. Given your time frame, I would go to those instead.
Surely it's not American Airlines?
Jun 28, 2017, 8:52 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 180
My AA flight landed almost an hour late, leaving me just 1 hour until my connecting AA flight.
I ended up playing *all* the cash in my wallet, which was about $120(5 $20 bills).
10 minutes before my flight was called, I hit cash out and ended up with $116 which I cashed and put back into my wallet.
So... my loss for the 40 minutes of playing was $4.
Better luck next time I guess.
But it sure was a very nice way to kill 40 minutes.
I ended up playing *all* the cash in my wallet, which was about $120(5 $20 bills).
10 minutes before my flight was called, I hit cash out and ended up with $116 which I cashed and put back into my wallet.
So... my loss for the 40 minutes of playing was $4.
Better luck next time I guess.
But it sure was a very nice way to kill 40 minutes.
Jun 28, 2017, 9:13 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
My AA flight landed almost an hour late, leaving me just 1 hour until my connecting AA flight.
I ended up playing *all* the cash in my wallet, which was about $120(5 $20 bills).
10 minutes before my flight was called, I hit cash out and ended up with $116 which I cashed and put back into my wallet.
So... my loss for the 40 minutes of playing was $4.
Better luck next time I guess. But it sure was a very nice way to kill 40 minutes.
I ended up playing *all* the cash in my wallet, which was about $120(5 $20 bills).
10 minutes before my flight was called, I hit cash out and ended up with $116 which I cashed and put back into my wallet.
So... my loss for the 40 minutes of playing was $4.
Better luck next time I guess.
But it sure was a very nice way to kill 40 minutes.
Jun 28, 2017, 9:20 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,740
Jun 28, 2017, 9:36 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 180
Jun 28, 2017, 10:46 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
I played video poker once in the Las Vegas airport while waiting for my flight. The paytable was the most common one I see for double double bonus (1-1-3-4-5-8-...) and 25c denomination. Some of the strip casinos pay WORSE! 
At that paytable, bet 5 coins and the house edge is around 3% (slightly more for just one quarter bet, though in reality it is exactly the same if you don't win a royal flush), and of course that rate is better than any of the slot machines. But then, slots machines are more fun, and you can win lots and lots of money at Wheel Of Fortune. Recently someone won the jackpot at the airport. Who cares if you miss your flight if you won $300,000!
When I played video poker at $1.25/hand, I broke even, so that worked out nicely. I've never understood why there are no kiosks, only hand pay for everything.
I think it's silly to leave the airport during a two hour layover just to increase your payback % by a couple of percentage points.
Sure, the airport slot machines may pay back 87%, but you do think slot machines elsewhere pay back 99%? They don't! It's more like 92% unless you go all the way to downtown to get 94%. Big deal! That small difference will be consumed many times over by the cost of the taxi fare (not to mention the hassle of leaving the airport and going back through security)
At that paytable, bet 5 coins and the house edge is around 3% (slightly more for just one quarter bet, though in reality it is exactly the same if you don't win a royal flush), and of course that rate is better than any of the slot machines. But then, slots machines are more fun, and you can win lots and lots of money at Wheel Of Fortune. Recently someone won the jackpot at the airport. Who cares if you miss your flight if you won $300,000! When I played video poker at $1.25/hand, I broke even, so that worked out nicely. I've never understood why there are no kiosks, only hand pay for everything.
I think it's silly to leave the airport during a two hour layover just to increase your payback % by a couple of percentage points.
Sure, the airport slot machines may pay back 87%, but you do think slot machines elsewhere pay back 99%? They don't! It's more like 92% unless you go all the way to downtown to get 94%. Big deal! That small difference will be consumed many times over by the cost of the taxi fare (not to mention the hassle of leaving the airport and going back through security)