Tips for Avoiding Long Hotel Check-In Lines in Las Vegas

^{The check-in line at Luxor (and elsewhere) four days before WrestleMania was so long you’d think you were waiting to meet John Cena, The Rock and the real King Tut. (Image: Marc Meltzer / Casinos.com)}

The last thing anyone wants to do when landing in Las Vegas is stand around for an hour or more waiting to check into a hotel. However, more and more people seem to be OK with this.

On Tuesday before WrestleMania, the line at Luxor was easily 100 people long around 4:30 pm. It makes sense that Luxor would be busy before the big event since it’s both close to Allegiant Stadium, where WrestleMania is taking place, and relatively inexpensive.

What doesn’t make sense is why people would choose to stand around and not enjoy a beautiful Las Vegas afternoon. The weather outside was perfect, and between Luxor, Mandalay Bay and Excalibur, there was plenty to do within a short walk.

Las Vegas is good at a lot. Checking in isn’t one of them. Three-hour wait at Horseshoe tonight. pic.twitter.com/qCjRDYq47G

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) January 27, 2025

Long check-in lines aren’t surprising anymore. There are people waiting to check into hotels as far south on the Vegas Strip as Mandalay Bay and as far north as Resorts World, and many hotels in the middle, like Horseshoe (above).

There are ways to check into a hotel without waiting in these lines. You don’t have to stand for this kind of treatment!

Free and Easy

There are a few free and easy ways to check into most Vegas Strip hotels. Visitors can even check in before they arrive.

Mobile Check-in

The two largest Las Vegas casino operators, Caesars and MGM Resorts, offer mobile check-in and kiosks. These options are most easily accessible for Caesars Rewards and MGM Rewards members.

Mobile check-in can begin at the airport while waiting for bags or a ride. Simply open the mobile app for the casino operator, follow the check-in instructions, and you’ll receive a notification when your room is ready.

Guests who book directly with the hotel operator shouldn’t have any issues using this service. It may not work when booking through a third party, such as Expedia. In some cases, it may work if there’s an option to enter a casino rewards number, but that isn’t guaranteed. Call the hotel to confirm if mobile check-in is available when booking through a third party.

If rooms aren’t available right away, at least you won’t have to stand in line. You can roam around with your bags or drop them off with bell service, if available.

Kiosks

Caesars, MGM Resorts and other Las Vegas properties offer kiosks for hotel check-in. This is ideal for guests who don’t want to wait in line or interact with a person. 

The process is fairly simple: Enter your reservation details on the kiosk screen, scan your ID and provide the credit card used for booking.

If a room is ready, you’ll receive a key right away. If not, you’ll get a notification when it becomes available. App users may be able to use a digital key. This can be especially convenient when there’s a long line at the front desk.

While kiosks are available for international travelers, they may encounter issues using either check-in option. Another drawback is that upgrades or preferred views are harder to secure when checking in without speaking to someone face-to-face.

Invited Guests 

Some properties have an “invited guest” line for those who booked a promotional offer through the casino. There may still be a wait, but these lines are typically shorter and faster, as casinos give priority to these guests who are usually loyal customers.

The photo above is a few years old, but these lines still exist at many properties. I miss Identity Rewards, but that’s a story for another day.

Paying for Shorter Lines

Lines are for the general population, and in Las Vegas, that often means bargain hunters looking to spend the least money for a hotel room. There are a few ways to get into a hotel room by spending money. 

Some of the spending could be a direct payment for early access. Indirect spending at a casino could also lead to skipping the long check-in lines.

Paid Early Check-in

Casinos may offer a variety of upgrades when booking a room. Early check-in fees typically range from $30 to $70, depending on the property. While not ideal, the cost could be worth it to get the party started sooner rather than later.

Most casinos also have a separate line for rewards members. These lines are usually shorter than the general check-in line for guests who aren’t part of a loyalty program.

More often than not, you’ll need to be an upper-tier member of the program to use this line. Unless status was earned through a tier match, the usual way to qualify is by spending money.

Higher-tier rewards members may also have access to VIP check-in, which is typically located in a private room off to the side of the main lobby and away from the long lines. 

Some gamblers spend enough with a casino operator to receive personal service from a host. These members of the marketing team can book rooms and code them to allow access to VIP check-in.

Players shouldn’t spend money just for early or VIP check-in, but it’s definitely a nice perk, especially when you arrive and see hundreds of people standing around wasting time instead of enjoying their Vegas vacation.