Flight into LAS
 

I am in the middle of planning my first trip into Las Vegas for the middle of next month. I know that McCarran is close to town and I have heard that the landing can be pretty cool.

Could one of the locals/frequent travellers give me an idea which side of the plane is best to sit on, particularly coming from MSP or ATL?

I know runway configurations sometimes change, but I would like to make a reasonable guess when picking seats.

we have a very active Las Vegas forum so I am moving your post over there. Thanks

--richard, moderator

This article suggests that 75% of the landing are on the E-W runways and I've only seen take-offs and landings headed west, on them. For those runways, the city will be on the north side of the runways, or starboard side of the plane. The most visually spectacular landings would be on the N-S runways, landings being normally being south facing. So, again, you will want to be on the star board side of the plane. The best conditions are when the sky is clear of smog and it's night time.

IIRC, most of my flights into LAS enter the area west of Las Vegas, fly east over the area south of Las Vegas, then circle west for landing, usually going as far as Lake Mead. During this time, you would get your first glimpse of the city, port side.

YMMV

99% of the time, Right side, both taking off and landing.

And of course, consult www.seatguru.com for the perfect right-hand window seat. Woe is the first-time Vegas visitor who strolls onto his plane for his coveted right-hand window seat...only to discover in horror that he's picked the row where there is no window!

19F on a Northwest 757 is but one example...

Coming in to Vegas, during normal conditions, which means it's not windy, you'll be flying in from the west, over the Spring Mountains with the Strip on the left side of the plane. You can identify the casinos when you are flying in. There is really nothing to see on the right side as you're flying east. You'll continue east to Lake Mead where you'll make a u-turn and head west. As you're heading west on approach, on the left side of the plane you can see Wayne Newton's compound and a lot of golf courses. On the right, you can see some of the casinos on Boulder Highway, Sam Boyd Stadium where the UNLV Rebels play, and the Strip after you touch down.

As you take off to the west, sit on the right side for a view of the Strip. There is not much to see on the left side of the plane. As you continue west you will bank to the left, heading south, and then it is pretty much desert after that.

It's really nice flying in at night, seeing the lights. Once, such a long time ago that I can't remember what year it was, we flew over the Luxor at night and the light from the top of the hotel lit up the cabin. It kind of freaked everybody out.

That would freak me out too. I've had bad dreams about that light.

OP, are either of your flights at night? It really is more impressive than the day view.

May I respectfully suggest you avoid flying in or out of LAS at midday on those hot 120° days, unless you really dig chop.

That is so true. It gets very bumpy on those clear, HOT, days. It's also not fun during the monsoon season, either.