aztimm

I go to LAS for work and/or pleasure about 4-5 times a year. I had been there last in late Jan, and it seemed about the same as in the past.

So I flew PHX-LAS (was upgraded to F at my window), arrived Wed Jun 11 around 3:30 PM, and it seemed just a little less busy than normal. I didn't really think anything of it. I didn't have to deal with baggage claim, did all carry-on, and headed to the rental car shuttle.

But yesterday, it was a completely different story. I was scheduled for the 6:30 PM (#605) LAS-PHX. Due to some changes in my work schedule, I ended up arriving around 3:45 PM, and noticed an earlier flight at 4:10. I went to the check-in (hardly a soul there), but they told me the earlier was way overbooked. I asked about things to do to pass the time, little suggestion. So I went upstairs, not a soul waiting at security. Thankfully, I decided to try out the 24 Hour Fitness (a day pass is $10, way less than a club pass), got in a good workout, finished up and headed to security around 5:30 PM. There were a whopping 2 people ahead of me, at the regular line. Once through security it was like a ghost town, what restaurants were open, were starting to close. I ended up getting a chicken salad from Burger King. It seemed that the few US flights leaving were all concentrated in the same area. While mine wasn't quite full, there were only 2-3 empty seats (I wasn't upgraded, but did have 12A, exit window).

This starkly contrasts to what I remember about LAS. It used to be a constant train wreck in the 'goold old days' of America West. Even last Sep, I remember it being pretty busy when leaving on a Wed night, with some co-workers heading to MSP around the same time. With the way it looks now, I can't even imagine further cutting 1/2 the flights there....

trekwars2000

The LAS airport - in general and in all concourses - is not very busy between 430pm and before the redeye bank. The only flights leaving are a few to the west coast and the last flights of the day for Southwest. It is a great time to fly out of the airport though.

mersk862

Yup - anytime around dinnertime is a great time to fly out of LAS - too late for the last East Coast departures (really can't leave any later than 4-5 p.m.), way too early for the red-eye bank, too late for connections at Central time zone airports (so that eliminates DFW/ORD/MSP) so that leaves only West Coast flights and maybe some flights up to DEN/SLC to depart. I've taken a couple of west coast flights out at the 4-5 p.m. hour and can leave the Strip 75 minutes before departure and have more than enough time to cruise on through (heck, once I left 60 minutes before departure after having done OLCI and only doing carry-on).

dcpatti

Las Vegas is a ghost town, at least compared to what it used to be. I've been here 4 times for work this year including a full week wrapping up tomorrow and I'm stunned at how quiet things are. Last night, I went to 3 casinos on the Strip between about 9pm and 2am and they were all running low-dollar craps and blackjack tables. I thought at first that was just another sign of the Tropicana dying its slow and painful death--- I've been coming to Vegas for years and never heard of $5 craps on a Friday night at any of the "big name" casinos; usually you can't find a table game at all for less than $15 minimum bet on a Friday night. But when I saw the low minimums at NYNY and Luxor, I realized that it's not just the Trop that is hurting for business. I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of service cutbacks here, especially later in the year, when people's summer vacations (that they booked in January when no one really believed in $4 gas) are over. Add in the number of large trade shows/conventions that have moved over to New Orleans next year (big incentives for corporate event planners to bring business back post-Katrina plus it makes the company look all warm and fuzzy for helping contribute to their local economy) and it'll make for a pretty empty airport. Not that I am complaining--- LAS really is a train-wreck when it's full and I won't miss standing in the 40-minute cab line in the 117* heat--- but I won't be surprised a bit when the flights into LAS on every airline start getting chopped.

On a brighter note, if you've ever gotten a loyalty play card from any of the casinos and spent at least some money on it, the deals they are sending out are very good. A friend who is by no means a high roller just got offered 3 free nights at one of the MGM-Mirage properties and I (also no high roller) am staying at a Harrah's property for practically free. The big name shows (Penn and Teller, Cirque, etc) are still pricey but the mid-tier ones (Carrot Top, etc) are 2-for-1's or even free and the comps have been very generous lately. The competition for the gambling dollars is getting quite fierce and I'm going to use it to my advantage while it's still like that!