McCarran International Airport aka: Las Vegas Airport, LAS

I wasted almost an hour in my desperate need for a cup of coffee at one of only two eateries serving a group of about ten gates during my connection here. I’ll try to avoid this airport at all costs in the future.

Airport security destroyed one of my shoes here- apparently looking for a bomb. Lovely!

But, then again, ToddieM doesnt like flying anyways…

The airport perfectly captures all that I love and hate about my hometown.
HATE:
the tinny, manufactured sounds of minor jackpots
shifty-eyed locals at the airport for dubious reasons
the hourly arrival of groups of frat boys who are here to “get their drink on”
LOVE:
locals navigating through security in 15 minutes while tourists spend 2 hours trying to figure out where the line is
chrome palm trees and neon (where else?)
wandering around with a gin&tonic in one hand, cigarette in the other, watching an elvis impersonator get the shake-down from TSA (this really happened)

I haven’t been here since I was like, seven years old, but I remember thinking it was pretty. Things may have changed in 15 years, but who knows.

This airport sucks! With the new security regulations regarding liquids and early arrival times, the TSA branch here is SEVERELY understaffed. I have never seen such horrendous lines at the ticketing counters or at the security checkpoints. The line this morning at 5:45 AM literally went from one end of the terminal and horseshoed back around. With the way people market Vegas to death, you’d think that the local politicians would make the airport priority number one…better staffed to serve the huge market they advertize to!

My first time ever at an airport, when I was a child. We had to take my sister there. It was not the best airport. Yuck! No clean air, casinos everywhere, and alot of drunks. I have been there a few times, not recommended, unless you have too.

Don’t fly out of here during the day in summer. I was stranded for 6 hours because the runway was too hot.

The show advertisements in the baggage claim are amazingly obnoxious.

It’s 1:20 a.m. and I’m sitting here in the new wing waiting for the very late in bound flight to arrive so they can clean it and we can board and head home around 2:15a. Lots of busty women with tall guys in cowboys hats arriving throughout the evening and I wonder if there is a busty women w/ tall guys w/ cowboy hats convention because they just keep getting off the arriving planes, lock arms, talk in loud tones, giggle and head off for the Strip. Had I known my flight would be delayed by four hours I could have stayed at the casino and played more blackjack and craps, although I’m always convinced there is a reason to be one place and not the other, so I’m grateful to here, now.