Layover in Vegas

I will be going to San Diego in January for a conference and have a 1 hour 50 min layover in Las Vegas. First, is it possible to leave the airport and return when you have a layover? Second, would there be enough time to go gamble a bit at a casino (not the airport) and come back to make it worthwhile?

 

Thats pretty tight, unless if your flight arrives and you disembark early, I dont think you could get more than 20 min gambling in. Figure at least 20-25 min to get anywhere, and then back, finding a table, buying in, cashing out. Then you have to clear security on the way back in, plus most flights board early. I'd just play some slots at the airport if you're desperate for action.

 

Agreed... i would just play at the airport.....

 

That's what I figured, but thought I'd ask anyway. Thanks!

 

I agree that trying to get to a casino with that short a layover isn't an overly good idea. Assuming you get back in time to make your flight, you're bound to be stressed up the wazoo; and should you lose, you'll probably be kicking yourself for having bothered. You'll be checking your watch continually, which doesn't make for pleasant and relaxed gambling; and should you get on a winning streak, you'll have to tear yourself away. No fun either way you look at it.

Maybe there's another way. For the past few years, Ms Gecko had to travel to San Diego from Atlanta on business. Believe it or not, r/t between ATL and SAN cost mucho bucks more than r/t ticket ATL and LAS, INCLUDING the cost of a r/t "puddle jumper" between LAS and SAN on Southwest! Sometimes the San Diego business trip would be at the beginning of Vegas, sometimes at the end, and even occasionally in the middle. She'd spend a weekend or longer in Vegas and end up saving her company money. That's what I call a win-win situation!

Next month, she has to fly into Arkansas on business. As before, r/t between ATL and XNA (Fayetteville) cost several hundred more than ATL to XNA to Vegas and back to ATL! Yeah, it's ridiculous, but the crazy airline fares gets her a free trip to Vegas!

Maybe you can look into something like that if it's not too late to change your plans.

 

If I'm reading your post correctly, I think our situation is the exact opposite here in St. Louis! It costs much more to fly from STL to Vegas than it does to fly from STL to San Diego with a layover in Vegas. So let me pose this question. Hypothetically, could you buy a flight from STL to San Diego with a layover in Vegas, and just never get on the connecting flight to San Diego. Anything wrong with doing that?

 

No, you can do that, the problem is with the return, where you are supposed to leave from SD, if you dont get on there, I dont think you can hop on in vegas - I could be wrong though.

 

Yeah, if the ticket prices are higher from St. Louis to Vegas, you're pretty much out of luck. As for not completing a connecting flight (and assuming you're not checking luggage), the airline will automatically cancel your return flight! Buying two one-way tickets might work, however. Don't give up!

 

I was thinking of buying a one way ticket from STL to SAN with a layover in LAS. Then buying a one way return from LAS to STL. You are right that I would not be able to check luggage. I worked the numbers doing this on Southwest and I'd save $103. Not too shabby. Would missing your connector completely get you on a no-fly list or something?

 

I'm not sure I totally understand, but Ms Gecko tells me that our friends at TSA will flag anything out of the ordinary, which might cause future hassles.

These days, you don't usually pay a penalty for two one-way tickets vs. r/t, so doing something that way may be your best bet.

 

People miss connecting flights all the time, usually due to delays, but for other reasons as well, just as people make flight reservations and never show up all the time(which is why airlines overbook) doing what you have in mind is not a crime in any way and you dont have to explain anything to anybody. A one way to SD(gettng off in vegas) and a 1 way home from vegas is fine if it saves you money.

 

Carry-on luggage only, please. No problem at all w/ two one-way tickets, although if you were doing it once a month your airline would be calling you asking what the problem is. You could choose to be polite and notify the airline you won't be connecting - let's them get the next flight away on-time. Or not....

As for the original question:

0:00 Touchdown (on-time? early?)
0:06 Gate arrival (+-4 min)
0:10 Disembark; check flight board for delays (+- 4 min)
0:13 Cab line (+ 6 min)
0:15 Depart McCarran (+10 min)
0:20 Arrive casino near airport (+10 min)
0:22 Gambling....no time to check your bag(s) w/ bell hop
1:13 Leave table
1:15 Casino cab line
1:16 Leave casino (+10 min)
1:22 Arrive McCarran (+10 min)
1:25 Arrive TSA line (+2 min)
1:30 Clear TSA line (+15 min)
1:32 Gate Arrival (+6 min)
1:40 Potential for doors to close
1:45 Probably flight closed for boarding
1:50 Scheduled push

At absolute best, 50 minutes at the casino instead of 90+ minutes of airport slots. If you're at Gates C or D, hack 10 minutes off. If you're coming in during a busy period, hack 15 or 20 minutes. If it's late afternoon and you're trying to get to a Strip casino instead of Hooters or Hard Rock, another 10 minutes gone. If you pull up and see a long cab line at the casino, whack another 10 minutes. All of which assumes you walk rather briskly. And enjoy gambling while watching the clock.

But if you're asking if you could hit Hard Rock for an hour at 9:30 in the morning connecting on US Air? Probably, if everything lines up for you. Especially if there's lots of frequency on your connecting flight - reduces the impact (but not the likelihood or cost) of missing your connection. But with the substantial risk involved, you'd have to be rather desperate to play tables instead of slots.

 

You could change your flights such that your connecting flight was LATER - with a longer layover. Probably can not do it online, but a human could help you.

 

And when dealing with humans, especially over the phone, if you don't get the answer you like, call back and try again! You'll almost certainly get someone else, and the second or third attempt is often successful. After three strikes, however, you're usually out.