AlphaSigOU
Nov 6, 99, 1:56 pm
Well... here's my trip report to Las Vegas, for a well-deserved vacation in Sin City.
My previous trips to LAS have only been stops on business trips, driving the 150 miles or so to Barf-stow to do site surveys at Fort Irwin.
Saturday, October 30 -- CO 624 SAT-IAH
Left home in a steady rain as a cold front passed through the area, switching the usual departures from Runway 12R to 30L at SAT. Mom and I checked in at the airport early, in hopes that we could snag space-available first-class upgrades (the leftovers from our Prestige Packs). No problem getting them, and we were able to go F all the way to LAS.
Departing on an MD-80 took off from SAT's Runway 30L and turned eastward towards IAH in stormy weather. For the next 40 minutes, it was a very bumpy ride, and as the aircraft lined up for an approach to Runway 26 at IAH the cold front passed through, putting out some vicious crosswinds that forced the captain to abort the landing and shoot a short-final approach to Runway 33R, where the winds were more favorable for a landing.
Arriving at IAH, spent some time in the President's Club North, which was nearest the gates for our IAH-LAS flight, CO 5. Mom was impressed with the PC, though she has been to the TWA Ambassador's Club in STL (most of her flying and elite status is done on Tee-Way).
Saturday, October 30 -- CO 5 IAH-LAS
Boarded again another MD-80 (aka 'Mad Dog' or 'Skidbuggy') for the continuation of Flight 5 (the earlier two legs originated in AMS (as a Transavia Holland code share) then switching to a CO 777 for the LGW-IAH leg). Departure on time, though it was a long taxi to Runway 15L from where we were. Taking off toward the west it was a little less bumpy than the SAT-IAH flight; once we leveled off at cruising altitude we were then served dinner.
FC dinner consisted of two choices: steak with some kind of salsa on the side and ravioli Alfredo. I ordered the steak and Mom chose the ravioli. Steak was not bad, though the ravioli was actually better. Considering this was my first time on a first class flight that served dinner, I was quite impressed by the service of the CO flight attendants. (And yes, they still have glass salt-and pepper shakers! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )
The approach to LAS covered familiar territory for me; first Lake Mead and Hoover Dam on the left side, then the lights of Henderson and Sunset Station, then paralleling Sunset Road and flying by 'Casa de Shenandoah' (Wayne Newton's estate) before crossing the threshold of Eastern Avenue and a smooth landing on Runway 25L.
Since we have family in Las Vegas (my brother is a craps dealer who works dayshift at the Palace Station) we don't need to stay in any of the hotels. My brother was enjoying a nice stay-at-home vacation which also turned out for us to be a 'home improvement' project for his house up in the north side of town. But all was not work... we did have time to play tourists and check out the Strip's newest mega-resorts.
Mandalay Bay: Opulent, yet not at all snooty. Joined their slot club and fed the machines, finally hitting a $450 jackpot on one of 'em (first big jackpot I've hit in a very long time!) Highly recommended, as long as yo don't try coming in in the eveniong or when big events are scheduled - then it's a zoo!
Paris Las Vegas: Faux-French all the way, as is typical Las Vegas mega-resort style; where the staff greets you with 'Bonjour' and 'Merci' (and I also have a sneaking suspicion that they've Franglicized the staff nametags, too). Not bad, but always crowded with the tourist and convention crowds.
Bellagio: Overly ostentatious and gaudy, and the atmosphere reeked of snootiness that said "Locals not welcome", reflected in their slot club (which credited dollar play and above only) and the high-dollar shopping arcade before you entered the casino. This is the only casino that prominently posts signs and security guards barring entry to those under 18, unless they are a registered guest at the hotel. Definitely not coming back.
The Venetian: This time, Venice gets the Las Vegas mega resort treatment. (Hell, by the time you go from one end of the Strip to the other, you have traveled the world, at least according to the many varied themes at each casino). Not bad, but some areas still were getting the final construction touch-ups.
My return trip report coming up in the next day or so... stay tuned to this post!
------------------
AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.
My previous trips to LAS have only been stops on business trips, driving the 150 miles or so to Barf-stow to do site surveys at Fort Irwin.
Saturday, October 30 -- CO 624 SAT-IAH
Left home in a steady rain as a cold front passed through the area, switching the usual departures from Runway 12R to 30L at SAT. Mom and I checked in at the airport early, in hopes that we could snag space-available first-class upgrades (the leftovers from our Prestige Packs). No problem getting them, and we were able to go F all the way to LAS.
Departing on an MD-80 took off from SAT's Runway 30L and turned eastward towards IAH in stormy weather. For the next 40 minutes, it was a very bumpy ride, and as the aircraft lined up for an approach to Runway 26 at IAH the cold front passed through, putting out some vicious crosswinds that forced the captain to abort the landing and shoot a short-final approach to Runway 33R, where the winds were more favorable for a landing.
Arriving at IAH, spent some time in the President's Club North, which was nearest the gates for our IAH-LAS flight, CO 5. Mom was impressed with the PC, though she has been to the TWA Ambassador's Club in STL (most of her flying and elite status is done on Tee-Way).
Saturday, October 30 -- CO 5 IAH-LAS
Boarded again another MD-80 (aka 'Mad Dog' or 'Skidbuggy') for the continuation of Flight 5 (the earlier two legs originated in AMS (as a Transavia Holland code share) then switching to a CO 777 for the LGW-IAH leg). Departure on time, though it was a long taxi to Runway 15L from where we were. Taking off toward the west it was a little less bumpy than the SAT-IAH flight; once we leveled off at cruising altitude we were then served dinner.
FC dinner consisted of two choices: steak with some kind of salsa on the side and ravioli Alfredo. I ordered the steak and Mom chose the ravioli. Steak was not bad, though the ravioli was actually better. Considering this was my first time on a first class flight that served dinner, I was quite impressed by the service of the CO flight attendants. (And yes, they still have glass salt-and pepper shakers! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )
The approach to LAS covered familiar territory for me; first Lake Mead and Hoover Dam on the left side, then the lights of Henderson and Sunset Station, then paralleling Sunset Road and flying by 'Casa de Shenandoah' (Wayne Newton's estate) before crossing the threshold of Eastern Avenue and a smooth landing on Runway 25L.
Since we have family in Las Vegas (my brother is a craps dealer who works dayshift at the Palace Station) we don't need to stay in any of the hotels. My brother was enjoying a nice stay-at-home vacation which also turned out for us to be a 'home improvement' project for his house up in the north side of town. But all was not work... we did have time to play tourists and check out the Strip's newest mega-resorts.
Mandalay Bay: Opulent, yet not at all snooty. Joined their slot club and fed the machines, finally hitting a $450 jackpot on one of 'em (first big jackpot I've hit in a very long time!) Highly recommended, as long as yo don't try coming in in the eveniong or when big events are scheduled - then it's a zoo!
Paris Las Vegas: Faux-French all the way, as is typical Las Vegas mega-resort style; where the staff greets you with 'Bonjour' and 'Merci' (and I also have a sneaking suspicion that they've Franglicized the staff nametags, too). Not bad, but always crowded with the tourist and convention crowds.
Bellagio: Overly ostentatious and gaudy, and the atmosphere reeked of snootiness that said "Locals not welcome", reflected in their slot club (which credited dollar play and above only) and the high-dollar shopping arcade before you entered the casino. This is the only casino that prominently posts signs and security guards barring entry to those under 18, unless they are a registered guest at the hotel. Definitely not coming back.
The Venetian: This time, Venice gets the Las Vegas mega resort treatment. (Hell, by the time you go from one end of the Strip to the other, you have traveled the world, at least according to the many varied themes at each casino). Not bad, but some areas still were getting the final construction touch-ups.
My return trip report coming up in the next day or so... stay tuned to this post!
------------------
AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.