Hello,

I am planning to fly to Las Vegas next January.
My plan is to arrive Saturday 10th from British Airways flight and go straight forward to catch another plane to Los Angeles (via Terminal 1)

1) Would it be 2 hours enough for all of this (considering I have to clear customs?)
2) Would I have to check security again after I clear customs?
3) Would it be the possibility to leave my bags in T1 lockers?


Thanks a lot in advanced and Happy Christmas!

(1)-(2) Too many variables; are you Global Entry? TSA PreCheck?
For all US airports I've used, ALL intl. [there are a few exceptions, like flts. from DUB, ie] require PAX to clear customs and then go through TSA for any continuing flight.
(3) LAS does have lockers--but if you have a close connection (most airlines have a 45 minute cutoff for check-in at LAS) what will the lockers do for you?
The CES (Consumer Electronics Show) ends on Jan. 9--there may lots of people departing on 1/10...expect huge lines for TSA security.
CES is LAS biggest, 150,000 attendees.

Let try to be more specific about this.

Arrive: London-Las Vegas, January 10th at 6:30PM (Terminal 3)
Depart: LAS-LAX, January 10th at 8:30 (Spirit Airlines, Terminal 1)

For the inbound flight and custom: I am Spanish citizen, which is one of the countries in the ESTA program (which online request I already did and get authorized)

So back to my question, what are your thoughts about if it will be possible for me to:
- Land in LAS
- Clear customs
- Take my baggage
- Go to Terminal 1
- Leave my baggage at lockers
- Get on time to my Spirit flight

(I had no clue about this CES show, good point, thanks for that)

Are you coming back to LAS after LAX?
From my recollection, reading the "rules" re lockers (which are airside) at a few spots, you can only store stuff in them for a limited time (a few hours(?)).
Re crowds from CES, since you are flying in the evening, most of them will be gone by then.

Be aware that LAS storage lockers are airside so have a 48 hour maximum storage time. Airside also means you can only store carry-on luggage that gets past TSA.

You will exit landside at T3 after clearing US immigration/customs. Spirit departs from B Concourse, so you will have to shuttle to T1. I've never taken the shuttle before but according to the McCarran website the shuttle runs every 12-15 minutes. Due to the layout of LAS, T3->T1 via road is much longer than vice versa, but I'm guessing it shouldn't take more than 7-8 mins.

2 hours int'l -> domestic with a terminal switch is a doable connection especially if you do not have checked luggage, but there is not much leeway for things to go wrong. If you have checked luggage, it's a tighter connection than I'd plan for.

What if it's not enough time? What would you change now?

Will be back in 24 hours, so this should not be a problem

Yes, I am afraid it is checked luggage
But while I clear international customs, it should be enough time so that my bag gets into the belts, right?

My main question here is (sorry I did not get this very clear from your post): I will land from my international flight, clear customs, and get my baggage, so I head to Terminal 1.
But on this way, do I have to pass security again? Will this security prevent me to get my big checked luggage into the area where lockers are?
In other words, accessing to T1 after having landed in T3 will be like accessing to T1 from outside, or will I be in the "internal" (post security) area?


To start, not to buy my tickets for LAX

Unfortunately, yes and probably yes. After landing in T3 and clearing customs/immigration, you will be outside of security.

While TSA generally doesn't care how big a carry-on bag is (since that's up to the airlines to enforce), the bag must be able to go through the security screening machine. I have no idea exactly how big a bag can fit through, but based on my recollections, the width will probably be a problem for bigger check-in bags.

Ironically, the "jumbo" size lockers at LAS can almost accomodate any check-in under BA limits - the lockers have a stated capacity of 35" x 31" x 19" as per https://www.mccarran.com/Find/Facilities.aspx