Compared to many large airports in the United States, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is fairly easy to navigate.
Terminal 1 is the main building at McCarran. Passengers can be dropped off curbside and picked up in a passenger drive through area. Most domestic flights and a limited number of international flights (if they’re done on domestic airlines) leave from Terminal 1.
Gates are navigable based on your airline:
A Gates – US Airways
B Gates – Great Lakes, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, US Airways, Virgin America, WestJet
C Gates – Southwest Airlines
D Gates – AirTran, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Sun Country, United, United Express
All airlines in Terminal 1 check in at the same place. Security for A through D Gates is on the second floor. From there, A and B Gates are grouped together on one end of the terminal. C Gates are located on their own, and an automated transit system goes out to them, if you wish to ride that instead of walking. The D Gates are located in a different building altogether and can only be accessed via an automated transit system specifically for those gates.
Terminal 2 is a much smaller building and generally caters to foreign airlines. There is a small parking lot near this terminal, and drop-off and pick-up are fairly simple. The following airlines depart from Terminal 2: AeroMexico, Air Canada, British Airways, Condor, Hawaiian Airlines, Korean Air, Mexicana, Omni Air International, Philippine Airlines, Sunwing, Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic, VivaAerobus, Volaris and XL Airways France. Many international and domestic charters use Terminal 2 as well.
If you need to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, there is a shuttle bus that runs between the two buildings. At Terminal 1, you can catch the bus by exiting the building by the luggage pick-up area and crossing the parking lot past where the limos park. Terminal 2 pick-up and drop-off is in front of the building.
Keep in mind that gate information is subject to change and you should always confirm gate information prior to arrival at the airport and at the airport itself.
Photo credit: James @ NZ
