How Las Vegas' airport plans to tackle the Super Bowl rush
As any Taylor Swift fan will tell you, Super Bowl LVIII will take place Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, pitting the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs.
More than 330,000 fans of football, sports betting and celebrations of all kinds are expected to descend on Sin City for Super Bowl weekend. At least half of those people are expected to arrive by plane.
Some of those flyers will arrive on private jets, but most will catch commercial flights to and from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
“We know that Thursday, Friday and Saturday leading up to the game will be the busiest for arrivals and that Monday will be the busiest single day for departures,” LAS airport spokesperson Heidi Hayes said. “In fact, airlines have added more than 60 additional flights this weekend.”
What to expect at LAS
To welcome all those fans and send them home safely (and on time) after the big event, LAS airport has put together its own game plan.
“We want to get the fans excited as soon as they step off the plane,” Hayes said. “So we’ve added activations to greet those visitors and get them pumped for the weekend.”
Those activations include a replica “Welcome to Las Vegas" sign complete with a purple carpet for photo opportunities; official Super Bowl LVIII branding and logos at every turn; and Las Vegas showgirls and host committee volunteers on-site to greet fans and hand out swag.
Super Bowl fever will also extend to the airport restaurants, shops and concessions. Many will stay open for extended hours (and in some cases, 24 hours) after the game to offer fans football-themed decor and official Super Bowl merchandise.
The Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other local, state and federal agencies also have their game plan in place.
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“TSA is working closely with other DHS agencies to coordinate efforts and ensure that, collectively, it is a safe and secure environment for anyone who is in the Las Vegas metro area leading up to and during the Super Bowl festivities,” TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said.
What Dankers describes as the "all-hands-on-deck" approach will include TSA officers from 33 different airports around the country supplementing the local Las Vegas TSA workforce. Explosive detection canines and their TSA handlers from more than 20 airports will also join forces with the TSA canine teams based in Las Vegas.
This will provide an added layer of security at transportation venues, Dankers said, and at other high-profile events and venues around town.
Dankers said TSA’s Federal Air Marshal Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams will also work with local law enforcement officials “to provide a highly visible security presence” at the airport and at other locations associated with the Super Bowl.
How to get in: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Bonus tips for Super Bowl fans flying to LAS
High volumes of fans arriving Feb. 8-10 will mean long lines at hotel check-in counters. To skip the lines, see if your hotel is one of the resorts that has set up a check-in counter in the airport baggage claim.
For passengers leaving Las Vegas, TSA checkpoints will be open 24 hours during the post-game peak departure time, Feb. 11-13.
TSA asks Super Bowl fans to pack official Super Bowl programs in their carry-on bags rather than in their checked bags. Remove the programs, which have metal holographic stickers, for screening.
LAS airport now has remote bag drop and check-in options at the Airport Rent-A-Car Center and at the Terminal 3 departures curb. The service is available to passengers flying on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. (The car rental center is open 4 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the Terminal 3 departures curb is open 4 a.m. to noon.)
More: American will fly its swankiest plane to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas
Bags must be checked at least 90 minutes before a flight’s departure. While the remote check-in service is free, regular bag check fees will still apply.
There are other tips for Super Bowl travelers listed on the LAS website, including the 4-3-2-1 plan, which gives hour-by-hour suggestions for when to leave for the airport, make your way through security and be ready at the gate.
For more Super Bowl travel tips, check out this short video.
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| 4X | 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. |
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Why We Chose It
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. (Partner offer)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.