Flamingo Early Check-in Fee Sparks Heated Debate about the Feature

When a guest tried to check in at the Flamingo Las Vegas shortly after 1 pm on May 31, the hotel’s digital kiosk notified them that check-in wouldn’t be available until 3:30 pm and the only way the user could check in earlier, would be for them to pay half the average weekend room rate, equal to $60.

Flamingo Guests Disgruntled at Hefty Early Check-In Fees

This prompted the guest to make an angry post on X (formerly Twitter) to lament the climbing extra taxes and payments that Las Vegas visitors now have to pay. According to many, this is just the latest blow to the budget-conscious Vegas traveler. 

While most Strip hotels charge between $20 and $50 for early check-in, Wynn and Encore, two of the most upscale resorts on the Strip, ask for $75. So a $60 fee stands out at a property that hasn’t been considered luxurious since the 1960s. Additionally, early check-in fees are often waived in person by front desk agents, either out of sympathy or in hopes of a tip. But that flexibility disappears with the automated kiosks that seem to be popping up more often in Las Vegas hotel foyers. 

With hotels and casinos seemingly charging customers for everything, such as utensils and check-ins, perhaps it is a surprising trend that some venues have started offering discounted parking solutions. Such is the case with Resorts World Las Vegas, which is now offering free self-parking throughout the summer, making it one of a few Strip hotels that offer such a service.

People Criticize and Caesars Entertainment Responds

Back to the Flamingo case, not long after the disgruntled guest made their post, a lot of the casino’s social media users also criticized it for the new taxation policy. Some users said that Vegas operators of old would instead check in guests as early and as easily as possible because that way, they could start gambling earlier.

Others joked that hotels should start paying customers when rooms aren’t ready for check-in. Another commenter said that they had been a Caesars fan for years, but the various cash grabs like this often strip away the small perks that loyalty programs offer and tarnish the brand’s reputation.

Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo hotel, explained that the fee for early check-in varies depending on demand. According to the company, guests are offered the option to secure early check-in through a paid upgrade, with the cost of that upgrade fluctuating based on availability.