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Air travel from London Gatwick to Las Vegas has suddenly become a lot cheaper thanks to the emergence of Norse Atlantic Airways. Earlier this spring, Norse Atlantic unveiled a new direct route from Gatwick to Vegas on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, starting from 12th September 2024.

These long-haul flights will be priced from just £399 per person return. Stephanie Wear, vice president of aviation development at Gatwick Airport, said Norse Atlantic was experiencing “continued growth” from its hub, serving more leisure travellers in the capital and across the south-east of England.

Ever-evolving Vegas remains an in-demand tourist destination

Wear said Vegas remained a “popular leisure route”, with tourists still flocking from far and wide to experience the sights and sounds of ‘Sin City’. The Vegas Strip along Las Vegas Boulevard remains the epicentre of the city’s casino entertainment scene. Many iconic casino resorts are situated at both ends of the Strip – from the Strat and Wynn to the north to The Cosmopolitan and MGM Grand to the south.

The latter remains one of the most popular venues in Vegas for hosting live sporting events, namely live boxing and UFC bouts. The MGM brand is synonymous with the Las Vegas Strip, with MGM Resorts International also owning several other properties in the vicinity like The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Aria and New York, New York. More recently, MGM Resorts International has opted to branch out into the online gaming space. Its joint partnership with Evoke Plc led to the creation of BetMGM Casino, which has made a solid start, establishing itself inside the top ten of Casino Alpha’s most recommended online casinos in the UK market. That’s alongside another well-known Vegas brand, Bally, whose mid-Strip resort was recently sold and rebranded as the Horseshoe — its online footprint retains the Bally name and reputation.

Vegas’ casino industry has seen a levelling-off in recent years, as more tourists have flocked to the city for other entertainment tastes. This includes live music performances, live sporting events and fine dining eateries. One of the biggest developments of late has been The Sphere, bringing a new, immersive live entertainment space to the fringe of the Strip. Meanwhile the arrival of the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders to the NHL and NFL respectively has been a boon for tourists fanatical about sport. As for fine dining, there are several restaurants worthy of three-star Michelin status, including Joël Robuchon, Picasso and Restaurant Guy Savoy. There’s even America’s first Chinese restaurant to earn a Michelin star, Wing Lei.

How to utilise Norse Atlantic’s cheap fares

Source: Piqsels

Although this airline states that its fares to Vegas start from just £399 return, this does not include any checked baggage. This is the basic economy price and may work if you’re happy to travel light with just a single piece of carry-on luggage. The mid-range “Classic” price includes priority boarding and refundable tickets.

Premium economy passengers can take on a slightly bigger carry-on luggage, but checked luggage can be no more than 50lbs in weight, with fees worth hundreds of pounds applicable each way to those who show up with oversized and overweight baggage. This is where “low-cost” airlines make the bulk of their income from ill-prepared travellers.

Nevertheless, the airline promises to offer a convenient alternative for Kent-based travellers flocking to Vegas, avoiding the hustle and bustle of Heathrow at a budget-friendly price.