Las Vegas travelers hit an unexpected jackpot over the weekend — up to $2,500 just to go absolutely nowhere.
Brutal desert heat threw Harry Reid International Airport into chaos, delaying thousands of passengers and forcing airlines to plead with dozens of flyers at a time to surrender their seats because fully loaded planes were too heavy to safely take off.
A staggering 580 delays were recorded from Friday through Sunday as temperatures scorched Sin City at 114, 113 and 112 degrees respectively.
Friday was the worst, with 284 delays affecting roughly one-third of scheduled departures.
Published reports showed airlines dangling travel vouchers worth up to $2,500 to coax enough passengers off planes and get them into the air.
One traveler named Trish told KSNV that around half the passengers on her United Airlines flight were asked to get off because of weight restrictions.
“We got offered $2,500 to volunteer to deplane because of weight restrictions due to the weather, so that’s something I’ve never experienced before,” she said.
Trish arrived at the airport at 1 p.m. on Friday and did not make it home until around 8 a.m. on Saturday.
A viral video from an American Airlines gate captured an agent asking for a whopping 50 volunteers to five up their seats as the temperature outside hit 114 degrees.
Another American Airlines flight Saturday asked 32 passengers who were already seated to voluntarily deplane before it could take off, according to FOX5.
“So it’s either 32 people decide to alter their plans, or all of us are going to alter our planes,” Texas-bound passenger Jared Guynes told the station.
“This is like sensational. Like this is crazy.”
The flight eventually departed after enough passengers agreed to stay behind.
American Airlines confirmed that the blistering heat forced the unusual weight reduction.
“When temperatures are especially high, we — like other airlines — may need to reduce the weight of an aircraft to ensure it can operate safely,” the airline said in a statement.
The FAA explained that searing temperatures make the air less dense, reducing the amount of lift generated by an aircraft’s wings and forcing planes to use more runway to get into the air.
Airlines can compensate by removing cargo or passengers or loading less fuel, which could require an extra fuel stop. If temperatures exceed the aircraft manufacturer’s operating limits, the plane cannot fly at all.
Harry Reid boasts a 14,835-foot runway — one of the longest in the country — but flight expert Reed Yadon said even that may not be enough when the air becomes exceptionally hot and thin.
“The wings aren’t generating as much lift, and the engines aren’t generating enough thrust,” Yadon told KSNV.
An X user who identified himself as a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and current Boeing 737 captain explained that a fully loaded jet may technically be capable of taking off — but could be unable to safely climb over surrounding terrain as an engine failed.
“It’s very unlikely we’ll lose an engine, but we don’t roll the dice,” he wrote.
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