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Vegas Q&A: Has Airport Security Changed?

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Question: We're flying to Las Vegas next week and were wondering how the recent changes in airport security have affected the airport there.

Mike in Boston

Answer: Pretty much the same as airports everywhere -- it was a big mess for a couple of days, and now it seems to be calming down.

The day after British authorities foiled a plot to blow up U.S. bound airliners, the TSA instituted new rules that disallowed all liquids from being brought onto airliners in carry-on luggage. Long delays in security screening were reported at airports across the country, and McCarran International at Las Vegas was no exception.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reported wait times of up to four hours to get through security checkpoints. Even though many flights were delayed, a lot of passengers didn't get to their gates on time.

Things seem to have calmed down since then, but there are scattered reports of extra-long screening times during peak travel hours.

My best advice is to arrive at McCarran about 90 minutes ahead of your flight (instead of the normal hour) if you're traveling at a non-peak time and two hours if you're going at rush hour. This may be overkill, but better to be sitting around for a while than miss your plane.

Besides, they've got slot machines and video poker to keep you occupied while you wait.

In case you haven't seen the list, this is what you're not supposed to bring on planes in your carry-on luggage: beverages, shampoo or conditioner, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel or any other "items of similar consistency." All of these things can go in checked luggage, so put those leftover bottles of tequila in your suitcase.

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