LAS aircraft [possible change to 747]
Mar 17, 2010, 11:25 pm
#92
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 887
I'm just back from Vegas. Flight both ways was rammed, with only a few empty seats - I could definitely see a chance for this to be upgraded to a larger aircraft.
I was in WT+ both ways. I found the Immigration process at Vegas to be quick and painless, and I was out the airport, collected my hire car and checked into the Tropicana all within 1hr of arrival.
The current International terminal at Vegas is small - it reminds me a bit of Sanford in Florida. For the departing flight there was the following facilities:
Burger King
Pizza Hut
Bar
Newsagents
Duty Free
Lounge - there is only 1 lounge here and it is used by all international airlines.
So not a great selection if you are there well in advance. There is a car park directly opposite this terminal. It cost me $2 to park for around 20mins while I went to drop off my luggage - I did this when the airport check in / bag drop opened 4hrs before departure. This then left me with a couple of hours to take the hire car back and also to go and get something to eat. It certainly saved trying to cart the luggage on the bus from the rental car centre. I arrived back at the airport around 1hr 45mins before departure. Security took less than 5 mins to clear.
I did hear during my time in Vegas that the new terminal 3 that is being built there will have 6 international gates, and that the international flights will be moving there. If this is the case, then the range of facilities should improve - however the security queues might end up like those in terminal 1 where you can wait up to an hour in line. At 18:30 for a Southwest flight it took over 30mins to clear security.
Hope this is of interest to some considering using the Vegas flight.
I was in WT+ both ways. I found the Immigration process at Vegas to be quick and painless, and I was out the airport, collected my hire car and checked into the Tropicana all within 1hr of arrival.
The current International terminal at Vegas is small - it reminds me a bit of Sanford in Florida. For the departing flight there was the following facilities:
Burger King
Pizza Hut
Bar
Newsagents
Duty Free
Lounge - there is only 1 lounge here and it is used by all international airlines.
So not a great selection if you are there well in advance. There is a car park directly opposite this terminal. It cost me $2 to park for around 20mins while I went to drop off my luggage - I did this when the airport check in / bag drop opened 4hrs before departure. This then left me with a couple of hours to take the hire car back and also to go and get something to eat. It certainly saved trying to cart the luggage on the bus from the rental car centre. I arrived back at the airport around 1hr 45mins before departure. Security took less than 5 mins to clear.
I did hear during my time in Vegas that the new terminal 3 that is being built there will have 6 international gates, and that the international flights will be moving there. If this is the case, then the range of facilities should improve - however the security queues might end up like those in terminal 1 where you can wait up to an hour in line. At 18:30 for a Southwest flight it took over 30mins to clear security.
Hope this is of interest to some considering using the Vegas flight.
Mar 18, 2010, 11:09 am
#94
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: BAEC Blue, Continental OnePass
Posts: 92
I was out the airport, collected my hire car and checked into the Tropicana all within 1hr of arrival.
Last edited by lozza1974; Mar 18, 2010 at 11:16 am
Mar 18, 2010, 2:55 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Gold, VS Silver, EK Silver, BA Blue
Posts: 99
Mar 18, 2010, 3:06 pm
#97
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA & VS
Posts: 533
Mar 18, 2010, 3:27 pm
#98
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Varies
Programs: BA Silver, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, A|Club, Tesco CC, Costa Coffee Club
Posts: 421
Upthread (post #72) I wrote:
Not really a definitive answer I'm afraid; has anyone flying BA WT or WT+ tried (or failed) to gain admittance?
I'm in the 'VIP lounge' at LAS right now...
Slightly worryingly for BA status pax travelling WT or WT+, admittance seems to be based solely on class of travel (stated as 'First' but in practice including BA's CW). There was initially a prominent sign at the lounge desk when we entered stating that 'airline cards' would not be accepted. Curiously, I checked just now while writing this, and the sign is no longer visible - maybe they make an exception for BA pax (and remove the sign during relevant timeframe)?
Slightly worryingly for BA status pax travelling WT or WT+, admittance seems to be based solely on class of travel (stated as 'First' but in practice including BA's CW). There was initially a prominent sign at the lounge desk when we entered stating that 'airline cards' would not be accepted. Curiously, I checked just now while writing this, and the sign is no longer visible - maybe they make an exception for BA pax (and remove the sign during relevant timeframe)?
Mar 18, 2010, 4:26 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA S
Posts: 1,335
Mar 18, 2010, 4:32 pm
#100
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 229
Aug 4, 2010, 3:17 pm
#102
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, VS Silver
Posts: 2,575
It's gonna be difficult to predict next summers timetable, say when you book it is a 747, by the time of the flight it'll be changed....
we booked SYD flights 7 months in advance last year, 777 originally scheduled .. within 3 months all change, cancellations ended up on a 747
we booked SYD flights 7 months in advance last year, 777 originally scheduled .. within 3 months all change, cancellations ended up on a 747
Aug 4, 2010, 4:15 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DEL
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,374
I would have thought a move to LGW was more likely. I thought the LHR departure was possible because of poor business demand and a temp shift to leisure markets at LHR to keep slots and planes occupied.
We know that the JFK departures are being restored. If by next Summer we get the NRT and HKG schedules restored, I can see the LAS moving to LGW. That likely means a 777 and a 3 class one at that. It's primarily a leisure route and can see keeping Y capacity winning over introducing F.
We know that the JFK departures are being restored. If by next Summer we get the NRT and HKG schedules restored, I can see the LAS moving to LGW. That likely means a 777 and a 3 class one at that. It's primarily a leisure route and can see keeping Y capacity winning over introducing F.
Aug 5, 2010, 1:58 am
#105
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101