LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE MANDATES A DIVERSION TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT BY THE FLC OF AN MD80 NEAR LAS; NV.

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THE CAPT CALLED BACK TO THE CABIN AND TOLD US THE CABIN PRESSURE WAS DROPPING. HE ASKED THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT TO STAY ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. HE TOLD US TO GET EVERYONE SEATED AND BUCKLED IN THEIR SEATS. SEVERAL PAX WERE STANDING AND 2 FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE BACK WERE DOING THEIR SECOND BEVERAGE SVC AND HAD THE CART IN THE AISLE. THE #5 FLT ATTENDANT AND I (#3 FLT ATTENDANT) WENT THROUGH THE CABIN AND GOT EVERYONE IN THEIR SEATS; TOLD THE 2 FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE AISLE TO PUT THE CART AWAY; THEN I BEGAN PUTTING CATERING ITEMS AWAY IN THE FIRST CLASS GALLEY. MEANWHILE; THE CAPT REPEATEDLY ASKED THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT IF THE OXYGEN MASKS HAD DROPPED YET. THEY NEVER DID BECAUSE THE CAPT DSNDED FAST ENOUGH TO A SAFE ALT. A FEW PEOPLE FELT LIGHTHEADED; INCLUDING ME; AND A FEW PEOPLE COMPLAINED OF EAR PAIN. WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT; BUT AS A CAUTIONARY MEASURE THE FIRE DEPT MET OUR FLT. THEY CHKED ON THE PAX FOR ANY INJURY AND SPOKE WITH ONE LADY WHO WAS STILL HAVING EAR PAIN. THE COM BTWN PLTS AND CABIN CREW WAS WONDERFUL AND THE IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN BY THE PLTS WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. THE PAX WERE GRATEFUL AND RELIEVED WHEN WE LANDED AND THANKED THE CREW AS THEY DEPLANED. THE PLTS HAD INFORMED THE PAX OF THE PROB AND ASSURED THEM IT WAS UNDER CTL AS HE EXPLAINED WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING.