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Las Vegas sets flat rate taxi fares between the airport and the Strip

Sept. 27, 2019
3 min read
Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas sets flat rate taxi fares between the airport and the Strip
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Save the gambling for the casinos: By the beginning of next year, you'll no longer have to wonder how much your taxi fare will cost or if you should request the "no tunnel" route between the Las Vegas airport and the Strip.

The five-member Nevada Taxicab Authority board unanimously voted Thursday to implement flat rate fees between McCarran International Airport (LAS) and most destinations on the popular Vegas Strip. The new fare structure will be implemented on a rolling basis, officially going into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

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The proposed one way rates are as follows:

• Zone 1 — $19 from Sunset Road north to Tropicana Avenue (think Luxor and Mandalay Bay)

• Zone 2 — $23 from Tropicana Avenue north to Flamingo Road (think Bellagio and Aria)

• Zone 3 — $27 from Flamingo Road north to the Stratosphere Hotel (think Stratosphere and Sahara)

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Las Vegas Bellagio (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Related: Status matching your way to a Las Vegas trip

Standard pricing will remain in effect for destinations outside of the specified zones. These prices shouldn't be too far off from a normal route now, though may be slightly more budget-friendly in some cases. On a recent trip to Las Vegas, TPG's Summer Hull was charged a $24.42 base fare in a cab from McCarran Airport to the Bellagio, but that amount jumped to around $30 (pre-tip) once all the additional fees were added. A flat $23 fee to that zone would have been an improvement.

Flat-rate airport fares should officially bring an end to the pricing scourge that once plagued Vegas visitors, who often were at the mercy of local cab drivers with a city-wide reputation for padding taxi fares by taking the "scenic" route from the airport to hotels on the Strip.

While the advent of Uber really helped curtail some of the Vegas taxicab shenanigans, the new flat rate pricing should go a long way toward leveling the playing field between traditional cab companies and rideshare drivers, while providing greater pricing transparency for customers across the board.

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto

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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.