All About Las Vegas McCarran International Airport

Have you heard? Las Vegas is one of the most budget-friendly destinations for a weekend getaway or longer. It's true - even TripAdvisor ranks it the top vacation value for 2012. If you do a bit of looking online, you are sure to find a hotel and airfare deal for less than a few hundred dollars.

Your trip to fabulous Vegas, of course, starts at the airport. After you get your car parked in the airport parking lot and jet on over to Sin City, you will step foot inside McCarran International Airport, which services and is owned by Nevada's Clark County. Recent renovations have made the airport just as glitzy and memorable as the city itself. Here's what you need to know about the Last Vegas airport.

History of McCarran International

It may surprise you to know that the Las Vegas airport has been in operation since 1929. Back then it was just a dirt runway in the middle of the desert used by the Army. Later it was bought by George Crockett, an aviator and descendant of the famous Davy Crockett of American lore. In those days, it was best known for a tragic plane crash that took the life of popular actress Carole Lombard; all 19 passengers and three crew members were killed. Clark County took over the airport after this tragedy and renamed it McCarran Field in honor of Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, author of the Civil Aeronautics Act.

Although McCarran International served 1.5 million passengers in the 1960s, it was not until the mid-1980s that the airport was expanded, updated and renovated. It continued to expand at a fast pace thereafter, adding terminals and airlines on a regular basis.

High Technology

One of the things the airport is best known for is its early adoption of technology. The Las Vegas airport was the first to install SpeedCheck kiosks so passengers could get their own boarding passes without having to wait at the airline ticket counter. It was also one of the first facilities to implement RFID tracking on luggage.

McCarran International is also a Wi-Fi hotspot, offering free wireless internet service throughout the facility's public areas - one of the first airports to make this perk complimentary. It was also the largest facility with free Wi-Fi at the time (2005).

Newest Terminal, T3

After spending $2.4 billion, McCarran International Airport unveiled its newest, state-of-the-art terminal, dubbed T3, in June of this year. The 14 gates of this terminal are easily accessed by passengers who can check their bags and check themselves into a flight without any human assistance.

In addition to its seven international terminals, T3 features seven restaurants and retail outlets and even a spa! While waiting for your flight, enjoy free Wi-Fi access and lots of handily accessible power outlets for your laptop or tablet. Of course, it wouldn't be Vegas without gambling and the new terminal even features hundreds of slot machines to help you while away the time before your flight arrives or departs.

All in all there are three terminals at McCarran International Airport but with its advanced technology and more user-friendly layout, you are sure to find the facility easy to get around.

Next time you fly into Las Vegas, take a minute to appreciate how far the city has come in terms of offering convenience, luxury and fun to the millions of passengers who fly into Sin City each year.