Flying out of Las Vegas after Super Bowl? Expect heavy traffic

The weather is perfect, but the storm has arrived – a storm of travelers leaving Harry Reid International Airport after Super Bowl 58, that is.

The Transportation Security Administration at the airport reported 53,000 people had already been processed as of 11 a.m., Monday, the day after Sunday’s thrilling Super Bowl, won in overtime by the Kansas City Chiefs, 25-22, at Allegiant Stadium.

The TSA is well prepared for the onslaught of passengers. The agency, a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, had projected between 110,000 and 118,000 passengers would pass through the airport’s five checkpoints. The estimate has been trimmed to 108,000 to 110,000 based on data the agency collects on passenger ticket sales from the airlines serving Las Vegas.

The TSA had promised to have every line of every checkpoint open from early Monday morning to late Tuesday night.

TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said Monday morning the longest wait for passengers was about 12 minutes.

Airport traffic was notably high Monday morning.

Officials at the airport cautioned travelers Monday morning to be prepared to hurry up and wait.

“It’s the morning after #SuperBowl and the traffic is bumper to bumper on airport roadways and up to the departures curb,” the airport said on its X account. “If you’re flying out of LAS today make sure to allow plenty of time to get here.”

It’s the morning after #SuperBowl and the traffic is bumper to bumper on airport roadways and up to the departures curb. If you’re flying out of LAS today make sure to allow plenty of time to get here. pic.twitter.com/UYGPbJ54R6

— Harry Reid International Airport (@LASairport) February 12, 2024

Officials had estimated 330,000 people would be in Las Vegas for the city’s first Super Bowl and the Transportation Security Administration, deploying more than 60 explosive-sniffing canines and extra TSA agents from 20 other airports, is expecting 118,000 people would pass through Reid Airport checkpoints Monday.

Last week, airport officials promoted a 4-3-2-1 departure strategy. That means planning the trip to the airport four hours before flight time, arriving three hours before to check baggage, get to the TSA line two hours before flight time and to the gate one hour before.

The airport also instituted two remote baggage check-in locations, one at the zero level of Terminal 1 and another at the Reid Airport Rent-a-Car Center. Both locations, operated by Bags Inc. under a Clark County contract, were operating Monday morning and were busy.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X. The Review-Journal’s Tony Garcia contributed to this story.

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