McCarran Airport in Las Vegas could soon have a new name
Airports, schools and other public buildings throughout the United States often bear the names of politicians and other historical figures.
Many times, those names become synonymous with the buildings they represent — take New York's JFK Airport, for example — but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to last for eternity.
Sign up to get the daily TPG newsletter delivered to your inbox each morning
Now, as The Washington Post reports, the Clark County Commission voted this week to change the name of Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, removing the reference to former U.S. Senator Patrick McCarran and replacing it with former U.S. Senator Harry M. Reid.
Reid retired as one of Nevada's two U.S. Senators in 2017, and while it may be common to see buildings named in a prominent figure's honor after they pass, that certainly isn't a requirement.
In this particular case, several elements of McCarran's past have prompted officials to reconsider the airport's name.
While the effort has been underway for quite some time — University of Nevada professor and historian Michael Green has "joked for some years" that McCarran was "a racist, anti-Semitic, communist witch-hunting lunatic," according to this 2017 report — the movement to replace McCarran had previously fizzled.
The shift from McCarran to Reid won't present nearly as many logistical challenges as, say, renaming JFK Airport, given that New York's primary air hub bears the IATA code "JFK" and Las Vegas has a far more evergreen "LAS."
Still, if the FAA approves the transformation, it'll take some time to update signage around Las Vegas, and adjust the endless references to McCarran Airport you'll find throughout the commercial aviation system and the internet, including right here, at TPG.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app