Southwest to pull three daily flights from McCarran, adds $10 fee

By Richard N. Velotta

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 | 2:07 p.m.

McCarran International Airport will lose three flights a day from Southwest Airlines when the Dallas-based carrier, the largest operator at the Las Vegas airport, modifies its schedule in January and February.

The changes are part of a systemwide modification announced Tuesday by Southwest. In addition, the airline today unveiled a new online check-in program that will enable passengers to get a better boarding position — for a price.

Southwest will cut six round-trip flights, but add three to its Las Vegas schedule early next year.

The airline on Jan. 10 will add nonstop round trips to and from Baltimore and Salt Lake City, but delete one each to and from Albuquerque, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, St. Louis and Oakland, Calif.

On Feb. 11, Southwest will add a round trip to and from Buffalo, N.Y.

When the changes are completed, Southwest will have five daily round trips to and from Albuquerque, three to Baltimore, two to Buffalo, eight to Denver, 12 to Los Angeles, nine to Oakland, seven to Salt Lake City, two to Seattle and three to St. Louis.

The schedule change is part of Southwest’s efforts to fortify its service to Boston’s Logan International Airport. The airline routinely enhances its schedule, adding service where demand is high and shedding it where it’s low.

McCarran officials say Southwest offers an average of 216 daily flights here, by far the largest operation in Las Vegas. That’s 8 percent fewer than it had a year ago.

Southwest introduced its new “EarlyBird Check-In” service that for $10 per one-way flight lets passengers get a boarding pass ahead of those who check in online. The service is available today for flights beginning Thursday.

Southwest does not assign passengers seats, and people generally board in the order in which they get their boarding passes. Experienced Southwest travelers log on to get their boarding passes as soon as they are available, 24 hours before flight time.

The new check-in feature is available 25 hours before flight time and will enable a passenger to board just behind Business Select — those who pay a premium price for seats — and Rapid Rewards A-List passengers — those who fly the most on the airline.

Customers can access EarlyBird Check-in through a link on the “Travel Tools” section of southwest.com or from a confirmation page online or from confirmation e-mail.

The airline estimates that the new service would generate $75 million in revenue a year, although some analysts say that is conservative.

Southwest said EarlyBird Check-in would not guarantee a passenger a seat in the A boarding group, but ahead of most other passengers who check in online.