Gate Access and Restaurant Questions
 

I'm flying out of LAS later tonight, and I just found out a close relative has a long layover this evening, I was hoping to meet up with them for dinner during their 4 hour layover. However, I only fly DL in/out of LAS, so I'm not familiar with the rest of the airport. I don't think there's an airside connection from D to the A/B/C gates. I seem to remember the C and D trams are close by, but I can't remember if the security lines are together or not. Is it possible to access the C tram at the D security checkpoint? Also, I have PreCheck; I hear of people accessing other terminals with a valid BP, but never tried it myself. Any chance of that happening at LAS? I wouldn't mind clearing security a couple times if I had to, if they'll let me. I know all the lounges are in T3 or the D gates, so I can't use that excuse.

Also, since LAS is always an O/D for me, and I arrive right before my flights and head straight to my gate, I never have taken the time to see what restaurants are available. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

You can go from C-D and D-C, but you must ask TSA.

Dining at LAS airport https://www.mccarran.com/Relax/Dining.aspx

At LAS, Concourses D/E and Concourses A/B/C are not connected airside, and at Terminal 1, the security lines for C and D are separate (the security line for Concourse D PreCheck/elite/F is adjacent to the security line for Concourse C, but they are separate).

At Terminal 1, the tram to D gates is separated from the tram to C gates by a locked door. Based on FT reports, it is manned by TSA or possibly police. FT'ers have had varied success in getting the people manning the doors to let them through. One FT'er reported a year ago that he got through without even having his BP examined (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/las-v...-amex-las.html), but there are reports of denials (e.g., multiple posts in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...g-d-b-las.html and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/las-v...rs-thread.html).

To guarantee entry into A/B/C, buy a refundable ticket on an airline operating out of A/B/C. After you're done meeting up, then you can try getting back over to Concurse D through the locked door at the Terminal 1 tram station, but leaving enough time to exit and re-clear security in case you are denied.

The other possibility is getting a gate pass, which is up to check-in agent discretion, but this seems logistically unlikely since DL probably won't issue a gate pass to A/B/C - and obviously you won't be with your relative landside so you won't have any reason to get a gate pass from the airline your relative is flying.

Unfortunately LAS is pretty sparse for sit-down dining options and even the chains can be lousy (CPK for example does not even serve the same food that their normal chain locations serve). I also have no knowledge of A/B/C, so can't help you on that.

If either of you has Amex Platinum, you can both get into the Centurion Lounge across from D1 and eat there for free. Food and drink are pretty good there. The Amex forum has a long discussion on this lounge.

I was there last week and the door between C and D was open and people could access the other terminal.

Thank you for the update (I never go through Terminal 1 to get to D Concourse even when flying AA, as parking in T3 is easier). An excellent change if permanent.