creating a vegas layover?

I am stumped trying to get a layover in Vegas. Flying from Minneapolis, my GF wants to do Seattle for a few days but I am only going with if I can parlay a night in Vegas. Are their any tips to try to get a layover in Vegas without actually booking a flight there? Ideally would like it to be a long day or even an overnight there.

 

You would do a three way (multistop flight) on Kayak, like this for example

MSP to LAS 9/22
LAS to SEA 9/23
SEA to MSP 9/27

 

cheapest flights for those arbitrary dates are $300 each - i hope this is what you are looking for

 

That could work.. Thank you!!

 

Try various airlines to see what they do for each leg.

A decent layover is very difficult as most domestic airlines expect to take the next available flight. If you can get one to price out with a late arrival and flight the next morning, maybe. Try it both ways. Do separate legs vs a roundtrip. Also try what is called an open jaw. Go MSG-LAS and then return SEA-MSP for example. Then a separate ticket for LAS-SEA.

 

My favorite sites for searching creative air tickets:
skiplagged.com - Try searching each segment as a one way like Dozer mentioned above
https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ - To price out a stopover in LAS you would need to click advanced routing code then input the following into the fields:

• Departing From: MSP
• In the next box down (outbound routing codes): LAS
• Destination: SEA
• Enter dates or select calendar of fares

 

Just for giggles, I tried the above with random dates and it gave a 2 day layover in Vegas and total flight cost around $650 with Delta and Alaska.

Then I tried it as 3 separate one way fares for the same dates given above and these were the cheapest:
MSP-LAS $109 Spirit (add bag fees)
LAS -SEA $54 Spirit (add bag fees)
SEA-MSP $129 Sun Country (add bag fees)

Interesting...

 

Yeah - I don't know for certain, but I believe ITA matrix doesn't search "discount" carriers like Spirit and Sun Country - or at least won't combine them with other carriers, because it's trying to find a routing you can book on one ticket. When you search one ways, it opens up options that can't necessarily be combined. (I also believe that it isn't able to search Southwest fares, so you would have to search those separately on the airline's website.)

If you are interested in finding which low cost carriers serve a route, I recommend whichbudget.com or rome2rio.com.

 

Many search engines do not include some of the discount carriers. Southwest can ONLY be booked via their site and does not show on many search engines.

 

I just put in your dates on kayak using the multicity option and it came up as $290 total.

 

Booking as a multi city trip I can get pretty flexible travel times for around 450. I am going to book that! thanks guys

 

$290 option
$450 option

Either way, looks like you are getting to Vegas.

By the way, I just read they are putting in a drop box at the airport. Instead of going into town to give away you money, you can just deposit it a the airport. No service fee either.

 

No resort fees either!??