Loungeless in Las Vegas

Me? I’m Mr. Delta. I live in the Atlanta area, so it’s pretty much Delta or Die for direct flights with several time options during the day. Somehow, in a moment of sheer money-saving insanity, I booked a 7AM return flight for my trip to Las Vegas. I know, I know, what could I possibly have been thinking? Delta doesn’t even have one of their SkyClub airport lounges at LAS! (#FirstWorldProblems right?)

The night before my flight home, I had dinner with a friend and dutifully steered myself past the Friday night crowds in the casino as I headed for my room. My alarm went off at 4:20AM and I made my way down to the lobby around 4:45. As you can imagine, the folks up at that hour in Vegas are STILL up from the night before. I felt like one of the survivors from The Walking Dead as I quietly moved through the groups of bleary-eyed partiers wandering through the casino in search of… well, I’m not really sure.

OK, I’m at the Airport. Now What?

For once the cab fare to the airport was reasonable and the security lines were short. It was 5:30AM and I had an hour to kill before my flight would board. So, I pulled out my phone and searched for other lounge options at LAS. I was leaving from Terminal 1, D Concourse, so it turns out there are 3 different LAS Airport Lounges worth considering. (Sometimes, you just do not want to play the slots at the airport.) Centurion Lounge at LAS, The Club at LAS and United Club at LAS. A little more digging turned up some interesting details.

Vegas Airport Lounges

American Express Centurion Lounge

The American Express Centurion Lounge is close enough to the Delta gates that a 45-minute lounge stay would be easy to do without having to rush to the gate for boarding. Access is available for free (+ up to 2 guests) if you are an American Express Platinum (Centurion) Card or American Express Business Platinum Card holder. Holders of other American Express cards can access the lounge for a fee of $50 per visit.

The lounge is open from 5AM until 11PM daily. Food and snacks are available all day, but they only serve continental breakfast items until 6AM when they add hot items like eggs, quiche and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Chamomile Scented Whipped Cream. The bar is extremely well-stocked and they know the LAS crowd well, as they start pouring adult beverages from a select menu at 5AM. The full bar opens at 10:30AM.

Seating is varied standard couches and chairs, leather chairs, communal tables, day beds and cafe seating distributed throughout the facility. 110V power plugs are well distributed and available from most seating areas. Wifi is complimentary. Business users have access to a conference room, printers and fax machines. There is also one shower suite available to do a full freshen up prior to boarding.

The Club Las Vegas

The Club is a nationwide chain of airport lounges. They operate 2 lounges at LAS and I was considering the one on Concourse D. There is a $35 fee for entry. If you’re a member of PriorityPass.com, visits range from $0 – $27 depending on your level of membership. The lounge is open daily from 6AM to 2AM the next morning, so it’s a good option if you have a post 10PM flight.

I’ve seen this lounge described as a “pocket lounge” on sites like LoungeReview. That’s pretty accurate, as The Club looks like it has two smallish rooms with a couch or two, some chairs and tables and barstools along a counter that looks out a window into the terminal. There is also a well-stocked bar and a limited selection of snack food replenished throughout the day. Power plugs are only available along the walls (-1 star right there). This location does not offer business center capability or a shower.

Terminal 3 – The Club Las Vegas

For those departing out of Terminal 3 there is another The Club. (The Club at Las Terminal 3) Terminal 3 departure concourses (E Gates) includes foreign flag carriers and Alaska, JetBlue, and Virgin America US Domestic flights.

(Important Note : Some carriers, such as Air Canada, Frontier, Hawaiian, Sun Country and United use Terminal 3 for Ticketing/Check-In and Baggage Claim but will operate from the D Gates concourse of Terminal 1. In which case, the Terminal 1 lounges would be applicable when departing on those US domestic airlines.)

The United Club

United Airlines is the only airline that operates their own lounge as LAS. The entry requirements are pretty long and involved so I am going to post them verbatim:

• United Club members (+2 guests, or the member’s spouse and children under the age of 21.)
• United Global First passengers departing on an international flight (+1 guest)
• United Polaris Business Class passengers departing on an international or p.s. flight (no guests)
• Business Class passengers departing on an international Star Alliance flight (no guests)
• First Class passengers departing on an international Star Alliance flight (+1 guest)
• United Premier Gold, Premium Platinum, Premier 1K, and Global Services members departing on an international Star Alliance flight in any class of service (+1 guest)
• Star Alliance Gold Members (except United Premier members) departing on a domestic or international Star Alliance flight in any class of service (+1 guest)
• United Club one-time pass holders (paper or electronic passes) (no guests)
• Active U.S. military personnel departing on a same-day United flight (no guests)
• Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus members departing on a same-day United flight (+1 guest and children under the age of 21.)
• Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members departing on a Star Alliance flight (no guests)

Let me know when you have them all memorized and we’ll move on.

The hours of operation are excellent with the lounge open daily from 4:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. Breakfast is served until around 10AM. After that, there is a selection of soups, salads, crudites and antipasto style items for the balance of the day. There is a good bar setup with many complimentary offerings. Premium beverages are available for a fee. Customers paying with the United MileagePlus Club Visa card or the Presidential Plus Visa card get a $3 discount on all premium wines, spirits and sparkling wines.  (note: This premium drink discount was discontinued.)

The club has a nice layout with ample room to seek out a private nook or communal area as your mood dictates. The furniture has seen a lot of traffic and is due for an update as the wear is apparent. Internet and Fax service is also available.

Related: Las Vegas Enhancement | United Testing New Food and Beverage Offerings At Select Lounges

So What’s The Bottom Line?

With the choice of 3 lounges, I was in good shape all the way around. As the holder of an AMEX Platinum card, I opted for the AMEX Centurion lounge where I found a comfy chair, an accessible plug for my laptop and an excellent choice of food and beverages. I had plenty of time to get online and do a little catch-up, grab a non-adult beverage and eat a quick breakfast of eggs with chives and crusty bread with preserves. I definitely made the right choice.

For more in-depth information on airport lounges, please visit LoungeReview. (LoungeReview.com)

 

[Minor Updates October 2018]