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| - Alright, let me break it down to y'all here, my first time going to Vegas was when I was 18..many, many years ago...all I remember is getting off the plane and seeing slot machines!!! Okay, back then I couldn't even put one damn quarter in but, oh well, what the hell do I care, I'm in VEGAS biatches!!! Well, let's just say that my many trips to and from McCarran after that was all a blur cause I was NEVER sober coming or going.
Fast forward to 2004 and I now live in Vegas and where do I happen to work? At McCarran! So what I'm gonna break down to you, take it to heart..after working at McCarran for over 6 years and at all the checkpoints, I kinda know it like the back of my hand, so I'm gonna try and get as in-depth as I can.
Busy travel days: Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday are busier than the rest of the week so keep in mind to give yourself plenty of time if you are traveling out on these days. I would recommend getting to the airport at least 1 1/2 hrs just to give yourself some cushion (2 hrs if there is a large convention in town) unless you are the type that likes the last minute heart pumping energy rush of maybe missing your flight and begging to cut the lines while everyone rolls their eyes at you...Busy travel times- Mornings tend to be busier then evening flights so if you can, book your flights for later in the day.
Checkpoints- A/B Gates, can get busy but since it's the smallest of the three checkpoints doesn't have such a long wait line as the other checkpoints.
C Gates services mostly Southwest Airlines so on certain dates (see busy travel days above) can also get pretty busy as Southwest probably has the most flights in/out of Vegas. There are actually three ways to access C Gates now, one lane at the D gates and now, a connection to A/B gates so even if you went through A/B you can access C gates after security. There is also the new C Annex located at the end of ticketing by the Southwest counters and has plenty of lanes and also allows you access to the A/B gates since they are now connected after you get through security.
D Gates is the busiest of all the checkpoints as they service all the major carriers (United, Delta, Continental, American, Alaska, and a few others). Again, refer to the busy travel days and give yourself plenty of time.
Food- YES, there is food after you get through security...I really don't know why people ask that question over and over again..don't all airports have food/drink/bars/lounges by your gates?? Why would McCarran be any different? Are there better restaurants at certain gates? Well- it really depends on you right? Burger King is king at McCarran so don't bother looking for a McDonald's cause there is none. Sit down restaurants? Sure there are some but nothing notable except Chili's at the A/B gates... Also, keep in mind that some of these places close early during the week as it can get pretty dead some nights, so if you are traveling out on a red eye on a Weds night, you might want to pick up something on the way since you probably won't have a lot of options.
Bathrooms! Okay so here's the deal, at D Gates, the bathrooms are BEFORE security, once you get through security, there are NO bathrooms until you get off the tram to the gates SO if you gotta go, then you need to do it before you start lining up. A/B gates, there are bathrooms close by both before and after security, the same goes for C Annex Gates. Now- as far as where the cleaner bathrooms are, D gates is kept up okay, same with A/B gates. C Annex bathrooms before security only has 4 stalls and can get pretty nasty so I would advise you wait until after you get through security and use the bathrooms by the gates as they tend to be cleaner.
Baggage claim- can be a nightmare cause it seems like the airlines are always changing which carousel your bags are coming out on after they tell you so just check the monitors when you get down there before you ask us, cause some of us don't work for the airlines so asking us where your bags will be arriving will only get a blank stare as we point you to the direction of the monitors that tells you which carousel to look for...
Taxis are readily available but that taxi queue can get pretty long when there is a large convention in town (CES and AVN together is always a mess) and can cost a pretty penny ($20-$30) but gets you to your destination quicker than the shuttle. Airport Shuttles are cheaper ($7 per person one way) and you have to ride with others as they stop to drop off people along the way so depending on your needs, you can make the call.
Overall, McCarran has some good, some bad, and definitely some ugly, especially on Sundays when people are coming through hung-over or still drunk...whatever you do though, please don't put your face or body on those carpets...I couldn't tell you the last time I saw someone clean them, but I sure have seen people up-chuck on them!!
Stay safe folks and have a good flight!!
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