A Proposal: A OW Lounge in LAS
 

A recent trip to LAS and the outcomes therein makes me consider the need for a OW lounge in LAS.

This need is quite acute given the increased presence of UK & Aussie visitors to LAS. Further, the addition of JAL to OW increases the likelihood of OW-through passengers to LAS.

Currently, the Star Alliance (via the US lounge) has presence. The other major UK competitor, VS also has a lounge agreement.

Given the strength of the destination and projected growth, it's time for a OW lounge in Vegas. Agree or disagree?

LAS refuses any new airline lounges to be built. They want pax to hit the slots and stores at the airport, and not hide in lounges. The few existing lounges are grand-fathered in (and while US has a hub at LAS, their lounge is pretty pitiful by OW standards).

So, there is zero chance of a OW lounge at LAS, unless you manage to blackmail the airport management.

Yet another reason to loathe LAS (not that I needed another one).

Why not a lounge with the airport authority getting some space for a co-resident sports book?

Cannot find it again through search but I'm quite sure I read a recent post rumouring an Admiral's Club.

(hard to search AC LAS ;) )



edit: I might well be senile, I've searched more and cannot substantiate this but I could swear...

Information on LAS
 

First of all, I would think that the airport authority would want airline lounges in the airport as they have built two spaces in the D gates for them. One was previously run by National Airlines before they went under. The other was built out when the new addition to the D Gates was built. In addition, the US Lounge is moving to behind security from its previous locaion before security. All thisleads me to think that the airport authority does want these lounges in place.

As to the OW getting the lounge and an AC coming. I can't speak to that, but I do know that CO is looking at putting a PClub in the D Gates. I am sure if that happens that those with Priority pass will be welcome.

DL used to have a lounge at LAS (which closed years ago). I specifically asked why they closed the lounge (admittedly DL has a small presence at LAS), and was told their lease was not renewed as part of an airport policy to eliminate lounges. Several other airlines have also closed their lounges at LAS in the past decade -- and it wasn't from a lack of passengers. During this time the airport has had extensive construction, with dozens of opportunities to open new lounges -- yet it hasn't happened. Name one airline lounge that has opened at LAS in this century. Lots of talk about it, but somehow it never gets done. The airport authority cannot ban lounges, but they can sure make it difficult.

And the US lounge is actually an old HP lounge, outside security (though as noted above, it may be moving). I have been in there and it might have seating for 25-30 total. You can't really relax there because you have no idea if the security line will suddenly back up and take an hour to clear.

There is Lounge activity.....
 

National airlines had a lounge up till it closed operations in 2001 or 2002. ALso the US (formally AW lounge) is in the process of moving. While the airport may not outright ban them, they may have a high price tag for them....

All that being said... I dont think that LAS is opposed to lounges by any means. Our contact on the CO board is in higher management and I believe he would have told us if the airport was not allowing any new lounges and not that the CO PC team was looking into getting a lounge out there.

Only time will tell... I think if anyone gets a lounge in the D gates that they will have lots of people in there as the lounge would be the only one in those gates and all the non SWA and non US flights go out of those gates. That means people flying CO, NWQ, AA, Delta, UA, Alaska, Jet Blue, Frontier, Alligent, etc. would be going out of those gates.

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