DO NOT RENT FROM DOLLAR at McCarren airport in Las Vegas.
I should have known better. I know what happens in these new "centralized" rental car buildings. You get huge lines, especially at the cheaper rental companies. Of course, the rental car companies save big $$ with this arrangement: common shuttles to/from the terminal and only have to staff one rental counter for the entire airport. But do they staff the counters sufficiently, of course not.
Late Saturday afternoon there were at least 30 people in line with 5 people behind the counter. And of course, no one has a quick transaction. With a reservation, the entire tranaction should take under 5 minutes....
Here's my license, credit card, I dont want your insurance, I dont want to buy the tank of gas, I dont want an upgrade or GPS - please give me my contract. Average transaction here was 15 minutes. Needless to say, I was looking well over an hour wait.
My solution - I asked some nice folks in line to watch my luggage while I walked across the lobby to National where there was no wait. I got an on the spot rate that was only $5 more expensive. The transaction took 5 minutes and I was out of the airport 5 minutes after that.
Go National!