Best Airline to Vegas?
 

Was wondering if anyone could recommend the best airline to fly into Vegas, in particular from the Los Angeles area?

I flew into Vegas from L.A. once before a few years ago and as I remember the experience was not particularly enjoyable. The plane was old, the seats were tired, and the flight was just packed and noisy. Unfortunately, I don't remember the airline so that I can avoid it on this upcoming trip.

This time, I am willing to fly on business class, if only to avoid the crowds and to get off the plane earlier. But is there any one particular airline that is recommended above the others?

Are you seriously concerned over the "quality" of a flight from LAX (or the LA area) to The Vegas?

If so, might I suggest something a little more personal and upscale.

BTW, getting off the plane "earlier" isn't going to help you much if you have checked bags. Since, you'll still have to wait an ungodly amount of time at the baggage carousel. And, if you need to fly back out of LAS, there is no way to avoid the non-optimal TSA situation at this airport (for regular commercial flights).

So.... maybe my suggestion isn't so bad after all. ;)

From Los Angeles, for convenience there is no other airline to consider than Southwest. And you can fly from any of the LA area airports (ONT, BUR, LAX). However, Southwest is only one class, all coach, or all Business Class if you want to look at it that way ;).

The LAX-LAS flight is only 50 minutes and usually 65 minutes gate to gate. So it's not really necessary to go first class there (there are no business class flights).

For first class, your options are pretty much limited ex-LAX flying either US or AA. IIRC, there is sometimes one daily non-stop flight with first class options on NW and DL as well. Your best bet would be US with multiple non-stop flights daily, but I don't even consider US first class to be true first class, meaning, old seats, little leg room, etc. Regardless of which airline you choose, all use planes with dated FC cabins.

If you want the best first class experience and willing to go a little bit out of the way, take Virgin America, LAX-SFO-LAS.

An hour long flight or less is really not that long to be concerned about quality. Those flights are always crowded. California is a huge market for visitors to Las Vegas. Paid domestic first class is totally not worth it for this short of a leg. Save your money for Las Vegas!

So, baccarat_king, when will you send one of those "upscale" jets over to pick up all of us regulars here in LAS for sinful fun at the Borgata? :)

Or if you really want do spend some cash just get a limo from your door to the strip in about the same time (weekend trips excluded;))

Why would I want to do that, when you can fly NK from LAS-ACY (though, I do think that service is ending soon).

I'll send a car to ACY to pick you up,

How's dat? :D

If we hired a limo to drive us from L.A., we'd miss the whole Maybach experience to the hotel from the Vegas airport! :D

You are so right! Hate to miss that :p

any air taxi services between LA and LV have VLJs (Eclipse) yet??

i guess people here dont recognize Aman :D
http://amanresorts.com/

somehow i suspect Amanjunkie is not overly concerned with price of domestic premium tickets, especially LAX-LAS.

between UA and AA, if you have amex plat/cent, you get lounge access with AA now. ^^

Virgin might be worth considering as well, i havent kept up on reviews. how aggressive is their pricing now?

UA only flies Ted to LAS, definitely not in the same league as a Maybach :p.

then baccarat_king hit the nail on the head ^. Can I hitch a ride? :D

ahh.. yes, we do.... :D:D

but, even setting money aside, there is no "quality" air service from the LA area to LAS unless you fly non-commercial; and, the Maybach will pick-up at the general aviation terminal at McCarran --- better yet, why not have the Maybach pick you up planeside. :D

Amex Platinum only.

While it gets you Admiral's Club access in LAX, you still have to pay for your drinkies there.

First would get the OP premium security line access both at LAX and LAS (I am assuming it still is there).

I certainly would not pay First $$ for a couple of $5 cocktails and Premium Snack Mix (which coach gets too on longer flights).

Grin and bear economy and splurge on a Bellagio Suite instead.

i have to imagine there is an air taxi service with a new Eclipse VLJ flying LA>LV. that would be the thing to consider IMHO. otherwise youd be on a slower turboprop, which might be slower than F class, except for baggage claim. no F class baggage priority? F would also get priority check-in and boarding.

F class is ~$600. (vs $120>$280 for Y)

If leg room is a consideration, it's hard to beat Ted's exit rows, 10 and 11. There's a football field of space in front of you in these rows - IIRC, far more than on any single-isle domestic F commercial carrier.

As baccarat_king rightly pointed out, getting off the plane first doesn't help much considering the usually long wait for bags at McCarran. However, if you're traveling sans checked luggage, that's a different story. Better yet, I like his idea to splurge and go with a GA flight. :D

PS - Please don't tell anyone on the UA board that I posted something positive here about Ted. ;) I'll never live it down! :p

You can take B6 from LGB-LAS, highly recommended. You can take US from LAX-LAS (F service available, but why?) There is even a daily AA LAX-LAS flight to feed Qantas.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...lines-business
http://www.jetaviva.com/index.php
VLJs = ^^

Sounds sensational, but how much are we talking here?

I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks a ticket each for the family, but dropping $10,000 for a 45 minute plane ride isn't exactly how I roll......yet. :p

amanjunkie i highly recommend calling JetAviva.

BTW http://www.aircharterguide.com/ had newer light jets for ~$2500/hr.

also, how many people are you talking about? eclipse 500 is 4-5 pax. im also curious how skylofts handles larger transfers, like whether you can get both maybach and limo etc.

Thanks very much for the suggestion, I'm writing an email to JetAviva right now in fact!

I'm traveling with my wife, daughter and nanny. Just emailed the "pre-arrival coordinator" with regards to our arrangements and waiting back to hear from her. Basically needed to know whether the Maybach can accommodate a child's seat plus 3 adult passengers!

id think child seat should be possible in rear if you dont have console down.

4 F would be ~$2400
i saw hawker 400xp for ~$2400/hr, so maybe ~$4800 max (2X F)
if eclipse 500 is ~50% of that, thats the same as F

I always fly US to LAS (even though I'm a DL-AA flyer!),mainly because I'd rather fly from the A-B gates than the C-D in LAS (slightly less of a zoo).

Upgrades are $50 from California, if that matters (more for the express pass in security than for the wider seat on a hour flight).

its only $100 for RT upgrade on top of ~$100 economy fare?? ($200 vs $600)

Heard back from JetAviva and unfortunately, they are not in operation yet. They were nice enough to refer me to another operator, and as I expected, RT is from $10K-$16K depending on the plane.

doh.

and so i guess http://www.aircharterguide.com/ doesnt price right then. :(

Anybody remember MGM Grand Air?

http://www.airchive.com/SITE%20PAGES...ABLES-MGM.html

Yes -- available at check in (24 hours in advance)....

Yes :)
How funny you mention it --- I bought a "vintage" mgm-grand air brochure off of ebay last month (I collect a lot of "older vegas stuff") --- I'll be scanning and blogging on it in the next month or so.

Also, picked up an incredible pic of the Caesars Vegas Baccarat Pit in the early 70's --- all cash Big Baccarat table with a "ladder man" in the background watching the game, and the goddess dressed ladies serving drinks. Classic Vegas Baccarat Stuff. :cool:

Once upon a time I enjoyed the LAX to LAS on National. First Class was not that much and we stayed at the RIO. National had a counter at the hotel.
Well that is gone and now I live in the SNA world. So its US Air for me now.
Going tonight as a matter of fact. Maybach will be waiting. Off to the Lofts.

Ahh yes, National Airlines. Enjoyed the mimosas and friendly service for all of the 50 minute flight :).

So going is a treat but on return it will be Maybach then US, even in US F it's a downgrade :D.

Win BIG!

Depending on the model of Maybach, you may or may not fit into it.

If this is Skyloft's Maybach, you won't. Singular duo-seating in the back. Room for one up-front. MGM only has 4 of these models, so they never guarantee that you'll actually get the Maybach pickup. Always a gamble.

Out of the 9 times I've stayed with SkyLofts, I've gotten the Maybach 4 times. Erika (head loft concierge) does her best, but with 51 lofts (pickups/dropoffs) it's not always possible.



BN

As a NK flyer from ACY, I love the ACY-LAS route, any details or links to the service ending soon comment, most loads I've seen are pretty full?

I agree Ben. Maybach is about 50/50 on my 6 or 7 visits to the Skylofts.
We enjoyed it Tuesday night on the way in. But miised it Thanksgiving Day on the way out. Had to slum with a regular Limo. But a great Loft visit. US air was about 50% full on the way home too. Kind of strange for Thanksgiving ??

I don't find it necessary at all to travel in a premium cabin for a flight that short. Southwest would be my choice among all.

US Airways
 

US Airways fly LAX-LAS and has 1st class.

As some other posters have suggested, Virgin might be worth a look--thought it's not direct from LA--esp in light of a current promotion--

http://www.virginamerica.com/va/sear...ation&adults=2