Hopper Editors - Thu Oct 26 2017
Covering a whopping 2,000 miles across the heartlands of the United States, the various indirect connections on offer between Richmond and Las Vegas’ McCarran International are a Richmond local’s ticket into the West. They also represent a chance to leave behind a pretty town of red-brick historic homes and interesting museums for a dose of America’s biggest party, which makes it easy to see why Sin City is now the first most popular destination on offer from Richmond International overall.
Here’s a selection of eight tips that should help budding travelers bag cheap flights from Richmond to Las Vegas, ranging from details on the best departure dates to information on yearly price trends. Enjoy…
By looking at more than 2 million pieces of data relating to searches for flights between Richmond and Las Vegas in the last four weeks alone, we’ve been able to determine that average prices will remain low until around 14 days before departure. In fact, our stats have shown that in the days leading up to take-off prices swell massively, with last minute bookings on the route costing around $300 more on average. That’s a whole load of money that would surely be better spent at the casinos!
While this one may disappoint all the college folk and Spring Breakers of Richmond looking to hit the strip for the summertime, it’s great news for any travelers looking to capitalize on Vegas’ low season hotel rates and ebbing crowds. What’s more, it’s a guaranteed way to knock some money off flights, with our stats showing that average return trip fares on the route continue to fall from September onward and find their low in December, when they are around $100 cheaper than at their peak.
If you’re lucky enough to leave for the lights of Las Vegas before the weekend crowds clog up the airport lounges, then why not opt for a Tuesday or a Wednesday departure, which our statistics have shown are the cheapest going for travelers out of Richmond International. In fact, judging by data from the last four weeks, travelers leaving on one of these two days could save as much as $75 on the total price of their flight!
When it’s finally time to return back to reality from amid the opulent gardens of the Bellagio, the bubbling volcanoes of the Mirage, the winding gondola wakes of the Venetian Hotel and the ancient facades of grand Luxor, then why not consider grabbing a flight on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, which could help save as much as $115 on the price of your homeward journey. That, or you could just stay in Vegas forever—you certainly wouldn’t be the first!
While American Airlines, budget carrier JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, United and US Airways all offer passengers out of Richmond indirect connections to Vegas’ McCarran International, it’s United that come up trumps as the cheapest, boasting an average round trip fare in the last four weeks of just $309! Perhaps surprisingly, the most expensive option were JetBlue, at $343—a price that would no doubt increase even further with hidden charges and baggage fees.
Airlines offering connecting flights from Richmond to Las Vegas:- American Airlines makes the journey in 7.5 hours via Philadelphia International Airport for $308 round trip, on average.- JetBlue Airways makes the journey in 11 hours via Boston Logan International Airport for $343 round trip, on average.- Delta Airlines makes the journey in 7 hours via Atlanta International Airport for $313 round trip, on average.- United Airlines makes the journey in 7 hours via Washington's Dulles Airport for $309 round trip, on average.
If you happen to be a member of United Airlines’ frequent flier program then you may be able to transport yourself to Vegas this year for absolutely nothing (well, that is if you don’t count airport taxes and booking fees). All that’s required is a total of 25,000 air miles in the bank, which is actually one of the cheapest price tags on United’s entire rewards program. Of course, if you have even more miles stored up, then you can also opt for upgrades to business class or even first, to arrive at Sin City in style.
Staying up to date with the latest statistics and trends relating to all flights on the route between Richmond International and Vegas’ McCarran International is crucially important if you want to bag the best bargains. So, be sure to check out Hopper’s When to Fly and Buy Reports page, which offers detailed statistics on everything from the best departure dates to yearly highs and lows, all updated on a monthly basis and making use of more than 2 million pieces of data sourced from right across the web.
While searching for bargain flight prices to Vegas it’s important that passengers out of the Richmond International Airport also consider the various additional fees they may have to pay on top of their fare. These range from checked baggage costs to less common add-on charges for things like increased leg room or in-flight pet coverage, and have been known to raise the total cost of tickets considerably. To stay ahead of the game, be sure to check out Hopper’s Airline Fees Calculator, which offers a comprehensive breakdown of all these extras.
Granted, our stats have shown that some of the luckiest passengers flying between Richmond and Las Vegas in the last four weeks have managed to bag seats for as little as $280 return. However, it’s worth remembering that such attractive prices are reserved for only small minority of passengers on every flight, with most paying upwards of $500 for their seat. So, as a rule of thumb, it’s probably a good idea to think of anything at or around $317 as a real steal.