Just returned from trip (8/17-8/20). I know that many regulars advocate going to Vegas during weekends, but for those that can%26#39;t take too much time off work, I wanted to post this warning.
Yesterday (and apparently last Sunday as well) over 30,000 people were leaving Vegas on Southwest alone. Although that is typical, the new TSA regulations made the airport a NIGHTMARE. We arrived at the airport two hours and 15 minutes before our flight (I%26#39;m fairly obsessive about getting to the airport early). We faced an ENORMOUS check in line. Literally out the door, down the airport sidewalk. We were in line for almost an hour. When we finally got to the counter, we had to wait again because they were scanning EVERY SINGLE CHECKED BAG. Regular security moved pretty quickly, but still took about 20 minutes. Long story short, we made our flight (barely!), but many,many others didn%26#39;t.
So, for your reference, either clear all bags of the new banned substances and carry-on... or arrive at the airport at LEAST two hours early, probably more like three. This was worst for Southwest, but plauged other airlines as well. You must stand in line even if you%26#39;ve already checked in online.
To their credit, however, SW was doing their best to move people along.
Airport FYI (esp. Southwest!)My 4 hour drive isn%26#39;t so bad anymore.
Airport FYI (esp. Southwest!)If you only have a carry-on bag, do you still have to stand in that line? I would think you could go right to the scanning area upstairs.
Bob
I%26#39;m a little confused by what you have described. I just flew Southwest in another market (Hartford- Ft. Lauderdale ) yesterday. I had printed out the boarding pass on line and when I got to the airport just handed my luggage to the curbside check in and received a receipt for it. It took all of five minutes. No one scanned it while I was with it- I assume they were scanned after they were checked in without the owner being with them. This was how it was done at both airports. Is there some reason you were required to wait with the luggage you were checking in to be scanned?
Is there no curbside check in in Vegas?
And, as an earlier poster asked , is there an equally long delay for those with carry on luggage? The TSA checkpoint for carry ons in Vegas, shared by several airlines usually looks long but moves very quickly.
I%26#39;ll apprecite any clarification to help me decide if I want to check in or carry on my luggage when we travel next week.
You do not have to stand in the line if you%26#39;re carrying-on.
There is, in fact, curbside check -in in Vegas. That said, they were so overwhelmed with people that they were forcing everyone to stand in the same line.
I should clarify that we didn%26#39;t have to wait while our luggage was scanned, just that we had to wait in line (albiet much smaller than the one in check-in) to deposit our luggage at the scanning cite. This, as opposed to the situation you describe where they take your luggage at the counter and scan it for you.
My advice would be to carry-on. Unfortunatley, I had too many essential items that aren%26#39;t allowed in carry-ons and thus had to check.
I flew out of LAS on the 12th. On the day the crisis started they were warning people (both on TV and at the hotel) to be at the airport (LAS)at least 4 hours before your flight. By Friday night they were saying that things had calmed down considerably and you no longer had to get there that early. By the time I flew out on Saturday the check-in lines were somewhat longer than usual but nothing really outrageous. What they did emphasize- over and over again- is that Sunday is the worst time to fly out of Vegas and you would definitely need more time than usual. The hotel printed my boarding pass for me, I only had a carry-on and since I had a first class ticket I was able to use the 1st class security line. Everything went smoothly and I way too much time to kill after security. Try to use just a carry-on and print your boarding pass at the hotel. If you need to check in luggage use curbside check-in but be sure to get there about 3 hours before the flight-this what they were telling people to do. Sunday is a killer day at the airport because everyone wants to get home in time to go to work on Monday.
Why was Southwest worse than the other airlines - just the amount of people flying them?
brian,
My guess is (and it%26#39;s really not a guess) SWA hire%26#39;s some of the most incompetent people in the industry. But HEY! you fly cheap!
(Sorry in-flight personnel, I didn%26#39;t mean you)
Actually, that%26#39;s not the cause. The true cause is their policys and if your not a regualar SWA flyer you probably are completely unaware. With them, there is a rule and dammit, you better live by it.
I haven%26#39;t travelled with them, (unlikely I will) but knowing many people in the business, they all have the same opinion. Let%26#39;s just say you don%26#39;t see too many private pilots fly them.
I flew out of O%26#39;hare on AA. It was the same thing: once you check in, you have to deposit your bag with TSA yourself. AA has curbside check in, self check in and regular checkin. Things seemed a little disorganized but it moved at a decent pace considering how busy it was.
They had signs posted at both airports that stated that if you are checking baggage, you must check in no later than 45 minutes before your flight or you will not be able to board. If you get stuck in a long line and don%26#39;t make the cutoff, you may be SOL. So make sure you show up in plenty of time to get checked in.
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