Harry Reid, Henderson or North Las Vegas: choosing your airport

Most travellers flying commercially to Las Vegas never think about which airport to use, because there is only one choice. Fly privately and there are three: Harry Reid International, Henderson Executive and North Las Vegas. Each can be the right answer, and each can be the wrong one, depending on your aircraft, your hotel and the weekend you have picked. Here is how to choose.

Harry Reid International (LAS)

Harry Reid is the city's main airport, a short drive from the Strip: about three miles from its center in a straight line. Its long runways handle every category of private aircraft, from turboprops to ultra long range jets, and private terminals operate on the field alongside the airline traffic.

That convenience is why most private trips land here, and also its main drawback. On the busiest weekends, Harry Reid is where congestion shows first. Ramp space at the private terminals is finite, and when a major event brings in hundreds of extra aircraft, parking can be limited or require a reservation. For most trips on most weeks, though, it is the simplest choice.

Henderson Executive (HND)

Henderson Executive sits in the south of the valley, about ten miles from the central Strip. It is a dedicated general aviation airport, so there is no airline traffic, and arrivals tend to feel calm even when the city is busy.

Its runways are shorter than Harry Reid's. They suit light, midsize and many super-midsize jets comfortably. Larger, heavier aircraft can sometimes use Henderson, but whether they can on a given day depends on the aircraft's weight and on the temperature, and in a Las Vegas summer the temperature matters a great deal. That decision belongs to the operator.

North Las Vegas (VGT)

North Las Vegas airport lies about seven miles northwest of the central Strip and is closer to downtown and the north side of the valley. It is the smallest of the three and is best matched to turboprops and light jets; some midsize jets can use it depending on conditions. For travellers staying downtown or in the northwest of the city, it can be the most convenient choice of all.

Straight-line distances to the middle of the Strip. Suitability is a general guide; the operator decides for each flight.

Start with the aircraft

The aircraft narrows the choice before anything else. A large-cabin jet carrying a full group and bags will usually be planned into Harry Reid, especially in summer. A light jet or turboprop can use any of the three. Super-midsize jets often have a real choice between Harry Reid and Henderson.

Heat is the reason this is not a simple rule. Hot air reduces engine thrust and wing lift, so an aircraft needs more runway to take off on a hot afternoon than on a cool morning. Las Vegas regularly sees summer temperatures well above 100°F, and on those days an operator may prefer the longer runways at Harry Reid, or a cooler departure time, even for an aircraft that would normally use Henderson without a second thought.

Then think about where you are staying

For hotels on the Strip, Harry Reid is the natural fit and Henderson a reasonable alternative. For homes and resorts in Henderson, around Lake Las Vegas or in the south of the valley, Henderson Executive is usually closer. For downtown or the north and northwest of the city, North Las Vegas can save time on the ground. The difference between the right and wrong airport can be the better part of an hour in traffic on a busy evening.

Big weekends change the answer

On the weekends when the whole world seems to fly in at once, the calculation shifts. Harry Reid's private terminals may need parking reservations, and some aircraft may have to drop passengers off and reposition elsewhere. Henderson and North Las Vegas can be calmer alternatives, provided the aircraft suits their runways. If you are flying in for a major fight or Grand Prix week, it is worth asking for options at more than one airport.

Arriving from outside the US

Private flights arriving from abroad must make their first landing at an airport where US Customs and Border Protection can clear them. Your operator plans the route around that, which can mean clearing customs somewhere else first. The rules are published by CBP, and the operator handles the arrangements.

What arrival looks like at a private terminal

Whichever airport you choose, you arrive at a private terminal rather than the airline terminal. These buildings are small, with a lounge, restrooms and a desk that coordinates your aircraft and your car. Bags are usually carried from the aircraft for you. Where the airport allows it, your car can wait close to the aircraft; where it does not, the walk through the terminal takes a minute or two. Departures work the same way in reverse, which is why private travellers usually reach the terminal only a short while before their flight.

Leaving Las Vegas

The choice of airport matters on the way home too. If your aircraft waited at Henderson but you spent the last night downtown, North Las Vegas might be the shorter drive, and an operator can sometimes reposition the aircraft between airports for the departure if that saves you time. On busy Sunday afternoons, leaving from a quieter airport can also mean fewer aircraft waiting ahead of yours.

A quick checklist

• Which aircraft, how many people and how much luggage?
• Where are you staying, and what time do you need to be there?
• Is it summer, and is your departure in the heat of the afternoon?
• Is it an event weekend that might fill the ramps?
• Are you arriving from outside the US?

Answer those, and the right airport usually chooses itself. When it does not, your quote can include the same trip priced into two airports, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.