Intel: Southwest international routes on sale by fall

You may have heard that Southwest Airlines is now flying internationally with routes to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau-Paradise Island, Bahamas; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Oranjestad, Aruba.

But if you want to fly to any of those places from Las Vegas, you’ll have to wait a little longer to catch a flight.

Southwest is rolling out routes gradually and hasn’t put any Caribbean flights to and from Las Vegas on sale. There aren’t any flights listed yet for Mexico City, Cancun or Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, either.

A Southwest spokesman said international routes from Las Vegas would go on sale by fall.

When they do, local passengers won’t see any nonstop routes to those destinations. Southwest’s routes to the Caribbean link from Baltimore-Washington International Airport; Atlanta; Orlando, Fla.; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

When Southwest takes over AirTran routes to Mexico later this year, it will fly from Orange County, Calif., and Houston’s Hobby International Airport.

The airline has yet to announce ticket prices for flights from Las Vegas.

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A TIME TO BOND: Parents of teenagers spend an average of $133.40 for back-to-school supplies per child, an online survey conducted on behalf of Staples shows.

Harris Poll led the survey, in which 1,011 parents of teenagers participated. The survey determined that 66 percent of parents see back-to-school shopping as a time to bond with their teenagers, while 43 percent of parents said it makes them relive their school days.

In the style department, 60 percent of parents said they will likely buy the hottest new patterns or assortment of supplies for their child while 40 percent said it is important to purchase trendy items.

The survey also revealed that the most common time for parents to shop for back-to-school items for their child is one to two months before the bell rings.

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WINE PRAISE: Bin 702, a restaurant and bar specializing in fine wine and beer at Downtown Container Park, has earned Wine Spectator’s 2014 Award of Excellence.

Bin 702 earned the recognition for its selection of quality producers and thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Bin 702, which opened with Container Park in December, offers a curated selection of 68 wines and also craft beers, beers, salads, sandwiches and appetizers.

Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. The 2014 award winners will be featured in the publication’s Aug. 31 issue, available on newsstands July 22.

Bin 702 is at 707 Fremont St., Suite 1220.

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CHANGING LUNCH HOURS: Mercadito, a Mexican restaurant at Red Rock Resort, has new lunch hours starting at 11:30 a.m.

Mercadito’s lunch menu features tacos, guacamoles and ceviches, a variety of small plates and salads, side items and a full beverage menu. Midday diners have a new menu item, the Mercadito torta, a Mexican-style pressed sandwich made with avocado, Napa cabbage, tomato, black bean purée and oaxaca cheese. Fillings include camaron (shrimp), carne (marinated skirt steak), pollo (chicken al carbon), estilo baja (beer-battered mahi mahi) and, for the vegetarian, hongos (wild mushrooms). All tortas are $12.50 and are served with french fries.

Mercadito lunch service runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday.