Turo, the renowned car-sharing rental platform akin to Airbnb for vehicles, now boasts an official drop-off location at Harry Reid International Airport. This development came to fruition on July 16 when the Clark County Board of Commissioners granted a two-year permit for Turo’s operation in a remote lot opposite the Airport Rent-A-Car Center.
Having earned approval from Clark County for business licenses two years prior, the San Francisco-based app has been facilitating its service in Las Vegas. However, until now, most Turo users who flew into the city lacked a designated airport location to retrieve their vehicles. Hosts typically left their cars in one of two economy parking structures, communicating their locations via text. This method conflicted with airport regulations, as parking at Harry Reid is strictly for individuals entering and exiting the airport, leading to some renters finding parking tickets on their dashboards.
While this new arrangement addresses the pressing issue of parking, it introduces two significant challenges. Firstly, there’s an airport fee appended to the rental experience, undermining the cost-effective appeal of Turo compared to traditional rental car services. This fee is transferred to users because the Clark County Department of Aviation demands 10% of Turo’s monthly gross revenue from Las Vegas operations to permit business at the airport.
Additionally, the remote lot’s location presents logistical hurdles. Travelers must disembark at the rental shuttle bus stop, navigate a crosswalk, cross a street, and then double back a few blocks to reach the remote lot. Reports from KVVU-TV/Las Vegas indicate that those burdened with heavy luggage or accompanied by children often resort to dangerous jaywalking across high-traffic areas to shorten the distance, especially in the sweltering heat.
In other cities, Turo hosts benefit from being able to park their vehicles in park-and-ride lots and economy structures without incurring additional airport fees. Some vehicle hosts in Las Vegas revealed to KVVU that the inconvenience and additional costs have led to customers canceling their bookings, disillusioned by the disparity in experience.
A spokesperson for Turo acknowledged the feedback from both hosts and customers and conveyed that the company has reached out to airport officials with suggestions to enhance the overall experience.
