Early arrival warning startles air passengers

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 10:07 a.m.

McCarran International Airport's busiest airline geared up this morning to resume service -- and jarred its Las Vegas passengers with a security advisory telling them to arrive three hours early.

Southwest Airlines, which has 169 daily flights in and out of Las Vegas every day, was to begin operations at 9 a.m. after being grounded since early Tuesday because of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Dallas-based Southwest would be one of the last of the air carriers with flights into Las Vegas to return to the skies. The company announced Thursday that it would operate a modified flight schedule today, giving priority to getting stranded and diverted passengers to their destinations. Southwest recommended that customers with reservations call the airline for flight details.

Continental Airlines, which has 15 flights a day in Las Vegas, also was scheduled to resume operations today.

Other airlines began flying again Thursday.

Lines that had a one-hour wait began forming at noon at the ticket counters of America West Airlines, the No. 2 McCarran air carrier.

America West, Delta, United and Aloha were among the airlines that began flying out of Las Vegas just after noon Thursday. Some of those flights were nearly empty as airlines started positioning aircraft to prepare for their normal schedules.

Las Vegas-based National Airlines began shuttling diverted aircraft late Thursday and planned to return to normal operations today.

McCarran spokesman Bill Keller said today there were 100 arrivals and 75 departures at the airport Thursday. After midnight, he said there were an additional 35 operations, some coming and some going out. On a normal day, there are 450 flights in and 450 flights out.

While conditions weren't normal Thursday, stranded passengers anxious to get home said they were appreciative of stepped-up security procedures and didn't mind the extra delay they created. But whether that cordial attitude continues may rest with how long the delays are when a full schedule takes effect.

Reynaldo Pagdonsolan, an officer with Argenbright Security, the airport's private security company, said supervisors are warning that delays will grow when all airlines resume their normal schedules and Southwest gets up to speed.

Southwest reservation agents are recommending that passengers arrive three hours before flight time to assure that they clear security and get to their gates on time.

John Bungert, a representative of JGB Group, a packaging equipment company, arrived for his America West flight to Atlanta in plenty of time. He was in line at the airport seeking information on his flight just before noon. His flight left just after midnight.

"I'll probably go get something to eat and write a couple of post cards," Bungert said. "This is my first time here (in Las Vegas), and I've really liked it. I feel very safe here."

Rick Lashbrook, an independent filmmaker from Manhattan Beach, Calif., said he didn't mind when America West representatives requested that he remove every golf club from his bag for an inspection before he could check in his luggage. But he was surprised that he was able to board his flight without his carry-on bags getting the same scrutiny.

Lashbrook, who last month visited the top of the World Trade Center with his wife, Janie, and some relatives, said delays were a small price to pay to protect passengers from terrorists, such as the ones who crashed two jumbo jets into the New York City landmark. He said he chose his flight to Los Angeles based on the type of aircraft it was on, an Airbus A-320. The terrorists who seized four planes earlier in the week, he reasoned, knew how to fly Boeing jets.

"While I refuse to let these sick freaks alter the way I live my life, I'll admit I chose today's flight, maybe subconsciously, because it was an Airbus 320," Lashbrook said.

Honolulu passenger Hans Weiler, of Hans Weiler Foods, an imported and domestic food products distributor, got caught by a change in the rules when he went through a McCarran security check point. Weiler, who attended the International Baking Industry Expo this week, left behind a small Swiss army knife he couldn't take aboard,

"Can I take this on the plane?" Weiler asked an Argenbright agent while showing the knife.

"Not any more," came the reply. "No knives."

A greater police presence is key to the beefed-up security. Some lawmakers are calling for U.S. marshals to be aboard airplanes on domestic flights. In the meantime, McCarran is adding more security and Metro officers.

To handle increased security duties, Metro officers assigned to the airport will work overtime, Metro Commander Doug Gillespie said.

The 39 officers, six sergeants and one lieutenant assigned to the airport will start working 12-hour shifts five days a week instead of the normal four 10-hour shifts a week.

Sun reporter Keith Paul contributed to this report.