When UBER returns to Las Vegas they will likely be allowed to pick up passengers at McCarran International Airport. This is kind of a big deal since UBER wasn’t allowed to pick up passengers at the airport their first go-around in Las Vegas in 2014.

UBER is tentatively scheduled to re-launch its service in Las Vegas around September 11 once the Nevada Transportation Authority makes its final approval for ride sharing companies. Unfortunately the approval allowing airport pickup for Uber won’t be ready in time for launch.

There’s a workshop scheduled for August 25th to discuss the actual areas of operation for ride share companies like UBER and Lyft. It’s expected that UBER will be granted approval and should be expected to operate at McCarran Airport.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal the Clark County Commission will discuss any new proposed areas operation at a meeting on October 20. In preparation for approval there is already a plan of how UBER will work at McCarran Airport.

Being picked up by UBER will be a little more complicated than just hopping in the long, but organized, taxi line. Once you use the app to alert UBER that you’ve landed there will be some walking and elevating involved.

You’ll meet the UBER driver at a numbered stall in the parking area near valet parking at your terminal. When landing at Terminal 1 this means that you’ll have to walk to your Uber pickup at parking garage level 2M. Pickup for those at Terminal 3 will be near valet parking at Level V of the parking garage.

Being dropped off will be much more simple. You’ll be dropped off at your appropriate terminal’s curbside departure area.

McCarran International Airport is often the starting point for a taxi to long haul a passenger. Convenience is one of the main reasons people like using Uber but that may be secondary in Las Vegas. Depending on your source of information anywhere from 25% to 50% of taxi drivers could be long hauling (overcharging) customers.

That means that somewhere between 50% and 75% of taxi drivers are legitimate and not overcharging customers. Even then UBER will offer savings over a traditional taxi from McCarran Airport. UBER’s base fees will still be less expensive than the base fee for a taxi. Since UBER drivers are chosen based on their rating of previous passengers there’s a good chance they won’t be overcharging people.

Bottom line: UBER is set to begin operating in Las Vegas around September 11. UBER should begin operating at McCarran Airport around October 20.

Photo: Wikimedia