Las Vegas Passengers Spend Double On In-Flight Drinks, Survey Finds | HuffPost Life

Guess Who's Boozing And Cruising

On most trips to Las Vegas, the party starts long before hitting the Strip... and apparently even before hitting the airport landing strip.

In May, passengers on Vegas-bound flights spent over twice as much on drinks than the average passenger, a survey found.

Technology group GuestLogix reviewed data from six North American airlines to determine spending patterns among travelers. Check out some of the most intoxicating findings:

Of all product sales made on flights, 62% were beverage sales.

Of those beverages, 55% were liquor, 24% were wine, and 20% were beer.

On an average flight, airlines raked in $55 from beverage sales. On flights to Vegas, however, they made an average of $116. [For the record: The route with the most income from beverages was Washington to Dubai, with $320 per flight in drink sales.]

In May, drink sales from all flights to Vegas totaled $1,063,328. Compare that to planes bound for Fukuoka, Japan: They made $28 from drinks. In a month. That's essentially only two people buying martinis... in a whole entire month.

Some drink facts are hard to sip on.

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Before You Go

Best Pools in Las Vegas (PHOTOS)

Boulevard Pool, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas(01 of07)

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The largest of Cosmopolitan’s pool areas, the multilevel Boulevard Pool has an unobstructed view of the Strip below. Big shareable daybeds give cover from the sun, and you can hang out in the wading pool, play ping-pong and foosball, or belly up to one of three bars. The pool springs to life at twilight, when either Dive In movies play on the 65-foot screen or the Set Your Life to Music concert series brings live performances. At Bubbles and Brunch, roving waiters serve items like blue claw crab Benedict with Creole hollandaise, and guests sip champagne while DJs spin until 6 p.m.

When to Go: Saturdays and Sundays for Bubbles and Brunch; Thursday evenings for Set Your Life to Music; Monday nights for Dive In Movies.

Admission: $20, but varies according to the event.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Hotel guests only during the day; open to non-guests for special events.

Family Friendly? Family friendly during the day; adults only for special events.

Photo: Courtesy of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Liquid at Aria, Aria Resort & Casino(02 of07)

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The modern Tahitian vibe at Liquid is less frantic than higher-volume dayclubs, and its 16,000 square feet qualifies as intimate, so you can enjoy a good mix of local DJs and the industry’s A-listers without battling a throng of crazed dancers. Eight cabanas are each outfitted with flat-screen TVs, a private pool, two daybeds, and a fridge. Handcrafted wicker daybeds and lounges surround the pool. Order from Light Group executive chef Brian Massie's menu poolside or at Liquid's own restaurant.

When to Go: Saturdays are busiest; Sundays are relaxed.

Admission: From $10 for women and $20 for men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

Photo: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

Rehab, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino(03 of07)

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Break out your best swimsuit for this Sunday institution: three acres of beautiful people downing bottle service and signature cocktails around the 50 Tahitian-style cabanas and along the man-made sandy beaches and lazy river. The raucous party—which originated the dayclub concept in Vegas in 2003—shows no signs of slowing down. In 2012, Hard Rock introduced Summer Camp Fridays, another reason to start the weekend early. If Paradise Beach (which hosts Rehab) is too intense, hotel guests can migrate to Nirvana Beach. Breathe Pool is even more private—right above Nirvana with views of the Strip.

When to Go: Sundays for Rehab, Fridays for Summer Camp Fridays.

Admission: Free for hotel guests daily and the general public Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, from $20 for women and $40 for men; on Sundays, from $30 for women and $50 for men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? YesFamily Friendly? Monday-Thursday. Adults 21 and over only Friday-Sunday.

Photo: Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ erikkabik.com

Bellagio Pools(04 of07)

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If a gyrating crowd of thousands isn’t your thing, you’ll likely appreciate the scene at the garden pool area that the Bellagio has transformed into its Cypress Premier Lounges. Sedate and private, this is all paid seating, and includes a personal host, infused water, smoothie shots, Evian misters, and chilled towels. Order food, drinks, and poolside massages from a menu. For extra privacy, reserve a cabana at one of the four other pools—it comes with Wi-Fi, HDTV, a fully stocked refrigerator, and pool rafts.

When to Go: Monday through Thursday for the best rates.

Admission: On weekdays, lounge chairs cost $50, daybeds $150, cabanas $300; prices increase for weekends and holidays.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Hotel guests only.

Family Friendly? Must be 14 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Photo: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

Mandarin Oriental Pools(05 of07)

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Few know that they can gain entry to one of the Strip’s most rarefied spaces with the rental of a cabana—for a relatively low price, compared with others around town. On the eighth floor, the sleek pool deck has fabulous views over CityCenter, and two pools, two Jacuzzis, and one intimate plunge pool. The vibe is serene, if not downright hushed, and attendants circulate to clean sunglasses and distribute mini-smoothies and frozen fruit. Inside the cabanas: a bottle of Moët Ice champagne, fresh fruit, sun care products, Oshibori towels, a 42” flat-panel TV, PlayStation 3, and pitchers of iced tea and lemonade.

When to Go: Open seven days.

Admission: Free for hotel guests; others must pay for a cabana reservation.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes, with a cabana rental.

Family Friendly? Yes.

Photo: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Palms Casino Resort Pool(06 of07)

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The crowd at the Palms is young, thirsty, ready to party—and happy to get sticky during regular "champagne showers." The party goes on seven days a week around two big pools, 27 cabanas, three large bars, and on seven lily pads in the water. Weekends are even wilder: the "Ditch Friday" party (pictured) encourages guests to do just that, with live Friday performances by Busta Rhymes, Wiz Khalifa, Chris Brown and DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a live blackjack pit, open on the deck on weekends. Heraea serves poolside food like piquillo pepper poppers and retro drinks like the Cîroc Coconut frozen cocktail.

When to Go: Fridays, for Ditch Fridays. Mid week for a bit more quiet (and lower prices).

Admission: $20 women, $25 men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Family friendly on weekdays; adults 21 and over Friday–Sunday.

Photo: Courtesy of Palms Casino Resort

Wet Republic, MGM Grand(07 of07)

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Otherwise known as the ultra-pool at MGM Grand, Wet Republic packs thousands of revelers into two saltwater pools, plus lounges, daybeds, cabanas, and bungalows. The pool has been overhauled as part of the hotel-wide “Grand Renovation.” An expanded DJ booth sits under massive new LED displays with special effects, and the marble bar now stretches for 95 feet. Order pitchers of summer drinks like mojitos, all served in the crisp blue and white venue by models—Wet Republic doesn’t hire; it holds casting calls.

When to Go: Sundays for DJ Robbie Rivera.

Admission: $10 for women, $20 for men.

Open to Non-Hotel Guests? Yes.

Family Friendly? Adults 21 and over.

Photo: Courtesy of MGM Resorts International

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