I have found that it varies from hotel to hotel, so locations of buffets that you want to go to is important. For the Venetian, there is no buffet, but you need a Gold players card or better to bypass the cafe line (before we became Gold, my host would often just give me a pass). Mandalay Bay (not my host, just the players club desk) wouldn't give me a line pass even as a guest (TheHotel, not MB) playing 8-10 hours daily of quarter/dollar slots, plus a few hours of $25/hand table poker/BJ (lets just say I was losing 4 digits a day lol). I should have asked the pit boss while playing cards, but it didn't occur to me then. I can't remember what the deal was at Paris, quite honestly, but I think Platinum/Diamond only. My host at Luxor used to give me line passes just for asking, but I haven't been there in a few years.

Where are you staying/playing/eating?

Robin

if you're going to the Aladdin buffet and are a *wood Gold/Platinum status - if you show your card you can usually get to the front of the line.

I should have been more clear in my original post. I have edited it now. I know that all properties have a separate line for their high level players. What I am not sure of at the Rio is whether or not they still allow hotel guests to use that line now that Harrah's has taken over.

Last time I tried to go to a buffet in LAS was in 2003...as an RFB guest of Mirage I found the invited guest line to be too long so I just went back upstairs and ordered room service.

I would suggest that any buffet (with the possible exception of Wynn and Bellagio) is simply not worth waiting for at all.

Quick comp/line pass guide
 

1. If you are new to casinos, please study a book or web site on how to play a low house percentage game such as craps or BJ before you arrive or your meal will be trop cher.

2. Enroll in the players' club. Always use your card.

3. If not guests of the hotel, play a while, and then ask nicely for a buffet or coffee shop comp for two, preferably a coffee shop comp -- you would usually be able to order steak and lobster and a hot fudge sundae and a pina colada, or anything else your hearts desire. Your comp slip is your line pass. When in doubt use the Casino Invited Guest line. Remember to tip based on the menu price of your meal.

4, If guests of the hotel, ask for a line pass at check-in. You will be charging everything to the room, always tipping in cash, and requesting a casino rating at check-out time. You may well find yourself in possession of a blank line pass or a VIP key card that acts as a line pass. Hang onto it for next time. At MGM Mirage properties, the front desk will give you a line pass if you are staying in a comp room, or possibly if you are nice to the clerk.

5. At Harrahs properties, if you are a Plat or Diamond you get special seating and a line pass for your status regardless of whether you have been playing or you just arrived. For example at the Rio Carnival Buffet there is a separate entrance and separate plush seating. The server will suck up to you for a positive comment card; apparently an "A" from a status guest is sought after. You will be able to pay for your meal with comp points if you have 'em.

6. At the Venetian, forget about a line pass unless you are a Gold and this requires a $50,000 credit line (really). Eat at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub on the 4th floor -- where there is no line.

Handicap placards work well too... Please understand a family member of mine has one for legitimate reasons; when we eat Buffet together, we receive VIP treatment ^ and the short line.

You will have better luck using the Vegas Passkey on a casino host than on the buffet workers.

The gold part is true, the $50,000 isn't -- gold is based on coin-in for slots/VP. The pass is for the Grand Luxe Cafe, which isn't a buffet (it is a sit down restaurant with wait service). I don't have a $50,000 credit line, but I've been gold for years.

or baccarat; which requires a lot less "study" in comparison to BJ or Dice. :D and if you really want something that is less intimidating to the first time gambler, 9/6 JoB VP is a great place to start; and you can have a cheat sheet at the machine to help you with optimal strategy.

This used to be the case, but more often than not, your coffee shop comp will NOW have a $$$ limit. More likely, you will get a comp good for x $$$ that can be used at a few casino restaurants. The day of the unlimited coffee shop comp (for 1 or 2 people) is pretty much over; of course, you can still also get one (unlimited coffee shop comp) at places like the Frontier.

I figured that was the case, but didn't know from first hand experience. IMHO, a 50K credit line is really no big deal. Casino credit (in a general sense) is determined by you checking (or equivalent) account balance. If you have a 50K average balance, you get a 50K line of credit. Markers are NOT really credit, since you are signing a draft for your checking account. Yes, you might be able to "negotiate" the deposit date if you have a large loss; and usual terms are deposit within 30 days (so you do get a free 30 days) -- but, it is NOT a credit account in the same sense as your Mastercard.

Now, 50K to 100K coin-in per day at Video Poker, that impresses me. :D

At RIO the Carnival Buffet and Seafood Buffet have separate lines for Platinum/Diamond; but NOT hotel guests. Carnival Buffet also has a separate Diamond Entrance (as noted by another poster). Now, for the showroom, they do have a line that is for Hotel Guests, Diamond and Platinum. RIO also has a separate Platinum Check-In (across from regular/gold check-in) and a Diamond Check-in which is in its own separate location.

This is based on my last visit to RIO in June 2006.

I'll plead the 5th of how much I coin-in per day, but the gold status is based on a per-year basis.

Just to bring us back on topic… :)
My original question was meant to focus on how to make it into a buffet on the strip faster. Not looking for a comped meal and I understand there are better meal experiences than a buffet.
There were some great responses. Just to summarize for future reference:

Skipping the line because you are a hotel guest
Bally’s: I’ve gotten a line pass just for asking a front desk clerk.
Bellagio: Sounds like they give out buffet line passes to their guests. Might help to sign up for their player’s card or tip the clerk when checking in.
Mandalay Bay: Doesn’t give out line passes to their guests at the front desk
Rio: Mixed info whether there is a separate line for hotel guests but based on a June 2006 trip report, there isn’t.
Wynn: Might be able to bypass if you flash a Tower Suites Room key card

It sounds like it never hurts to ask for a line pass when you check in. And it might be worth asking for a rating during checkout since there’s a possibility of getting a blank line pass or VIP key card.

Skipping the line because of play or status
Aladdin: Gold and Platinum status
Harrah’s (and assoc properties): Platinum and Diamond status
Rio (Carnival World & Village Seafood): Platinum and Diamond status
Paris: Maybe Platinum & Diamond only
Luxor: Your host might give one for the asking.

There doesn't seem to be a somewhat specific definition of the amount of play required to get a line pass.

Skipping the line with a tip
$5 to $10 for most buffets depending on size of party. Maybe $20 for the higher end buffets.
The tip might work better with a casino host than at the buffet itself

Other notes
A comped buffet ticket is your line pass
People with a handicap placard might be able to get into the shorter line.
The Venetian (which doesn’t have a buffet) will require a gold card to skip a line.

I recently played in an "invitational" slot tournement at mgm. Part of the promo was free nights and selected resturants meals were comped (including the buffet.) When I registered for the tournment (there was a special window for late registration at the players club desk) I asked about getting a buffet line pass; they said they were told that no buffet line passes were to be given out to tournement players. The next day, I went back to the players club and got a line pass. What doesn't make sense: (1) it doesn't "cost" them anything to give me a pass; (2) I was an invited guest--why alienate a steady customer.
PS: At the times I went to the buffet, there was noone on line!

I see your point, but IMHO it's part of the Vegas experience to go to a buffet (once per trip is plenty). It's just part of the sense of excess, giving in to temptation, etc. Playing slots isn't cost-effective, either, but hey, you're in Vegas. (I'm speaking as a real high roller who puts $5 in a 25-cent machine each trip :) )

I think what mbstone was referring to was a $50K line of credit may get you gold VPC without having to play to qualify (instead of requiring a $50K credit line to qualify) but this is just a guess on my part. I'm gold myself without a line of credit - keeps me out of trouble ;) .