After Billy picks me up at our new location, he whisks me to EWR where like last week Rachel is all along handling check-ins at the RCC. I asked her if she minded and she said before 12 it's normally slow but the other agent takes a short break.
Bahau had my Sams Ready but I asked for the SUmmer Ale instead... very good and she joked "I'm surprised you didn't ask for it before!"
Out of the RCC and I walk alongside an F-A who was on MY LAX flight but in coach. I said she should be upgraded and she said "it's ok, this was a last minute trip."
One of my angels, Dana was back in first as usual, her last trip before her vacation in OZ so she had my coke ready and I told her this was the PremEx qualifying flight. She was the purser and greeted everyone with a smile. There was Angie in first assisting and Dana and Jeanine and the other F-A's filled her in on "the legend of the Catman.
I don't remember much about the flight except a good chicken and Angie remembering that I liked the Geyser Creek Chardonay and then falling asleep during "Where the Heart is" staring the very cute Natalie Portman (now at Yale.) I loved Stockard Channing and Ashley Judd should do more drama.
Dana woke me to a bottle of Geyser Creek she said to share with my friend MileCrazy. Then Jeanine came up and asked if I wanted a bottle of the French Red for making PremEx. I was so shocked I took that as well.
The F-A's announced before landing that "we thank Mr. Blanchard for his business and requalifying as PremEx" Some appaluded and I thanked everyone for their support.
This guy in the back of first said "I requalified for 1K can I get a bottle of something?" He got a bottle of champaigne.
A Welcoming Committee
Mentioned on F-T that I was goign to be at LAX for awhile and there to greet me at the gate was the Noble QUiet Lion and the great Craig6Z, who were startled at the bottles of wine falling out of my hands. We headed to the RCC where Jailer and then AUsTxHiker joined us for drinks and talking about my last trip to LA and all of them telling me to come back soon.
My plane was a bit late but I didn't mind. It's always nice to have friends meet up with you. I gave my schedule to Lion for our meeting in Vegas on Sunday.
THE STREAK IS OVER!
I dread the shuttle and even more so when I got to the gate and the snarley agent said when I asked for an upgrade "No, just get on the plaen." LUckily I got 3C, on the aisle bulkhead, but I was in ZONE six. Lion and Jailer were there to lend me moral support as I moaned "After 22 months I'm flying ... drat... COACH!"
Most of the bins were filled with shopping bags and when I went to move one big one this woman yelled "Keep you ahnds off my bag" I said "these overheads are meant to be shared..." and she told me to shut up. SO I shoeved her bag aside and put my big rollaway bag in sideways. She glared at me the whole trip.
I found a space for my backpack and waited for 35 minutes before take off. A lot of epople went to sleep.
No drinky drinky drinky
If the delay was bad enough, the pilot announced "because of reports of turbulance, we ask that all passengers remain seated for the duration of the flight. ANd I have asked teh F-A's to remain seated for the duration of the flight so no drink service.
There was many an angry passenger on that flight, especially since there turned out to be NO turbulance. Plus some in first got mad when the F-A in first brougth water into the cockpit. They said "well the captain is thirsty." and they said what about us? THe F-A ignored them and spent the time chatting with the other F-A about everything.
Everyome stormed off the plane upon landing in VEGAS. I didn't care, I was safe and I was ready tro get to the Flamingo.
NEXT: ALL NIGHT GAMBLING IN VEGAS
[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]
Catman
Sep 4, 00, 3:23 pm
A Bedding PRoblem...
Thanks to reading the fine trip reports of QUiet Lion brother I decided to give Las Vegas limo a try. For four dollars each way... I got a nice room stretch limo and a freindly driver. The girl next to me though was very scared of people I get, she kept slurping her soda and jumping around her seat. There was a couple from asia and another From Brazil and they talked in tehir various languages but mz nervous kept slurping or trying to move away from me. Maybe it was because I was whiskerless.
Reach the Flamingo in excellent time and after the hike thru the casino to check-in find thankfully an HHonors check-in line. I check-in and the agent says "congratulations Mr. Blanchard we are ready to give you a junior suite as an HHonor smembers with a nice KING BED."
I told him thanks but I mentione don my reservation I MUST have two beds. I can just picture MileCrazy, my roomie for the weekend walking in the room and and seeing a king bed. I told the agent "I like the guy but not that much!"
After 20 minutes they found a non-smoking double bed in a junior suite. I took it and after a mile long hike to the room found an adequate room with hard beds (No Heavenly beds here) and the pool obscured by trees.
NO car for MileCrazy
After taking a cat nap and having Las vegas limo show up too early for my pickup I reach the airport, have a 32 oz Sam Adams and head to the gate for MileCrazy's flight on CO from IAH. He kept joking "And how late was your UA flight." I forgive him for his teasing about my wonderful airline, his was three minutes late.
M-C went ot Alamo, tried to used his QUick Silver card and it got rejected at teh machines. The lines were long but we found someone who found us a nice Red car. After Being stuck on Las Vegas BLVD for like a half hour We hiked to the room. I told him I gave up a beautiful suite on the top floor with a King bed for him. He said I made the right move!
We were ready for some late night gambling so we went to Lindy's for chicken tenders and other snacks and beers first. But after getting stuffed we both were practically falling asleep at the table. SO up to the room and in like five minutes we both were earning serious double snoring miles in unison.
Who's That Knocking at Our Door?
It was barely 7:45. I did not have to leave for the airport until 11:30am. MileCrazy and I were in the middle of beautiful dreams about beautiful women when we hear a knock on the door. We go back to sleep. The KNock gets louder. We go back to sleep. Then there's a pounding. I walk up to the door in my boxer shorts and see this angry looking southern sounding man (who looked like a sheriff from the south) saying "I'm here to pick up your luggage." I went "HUH? I'm not checking out till MOnday." He said "My Boss told me you have luggage to give to me" and I said no and he kept being insistant> he says "I just follow my bosses orders." and I told him he had the wrong # and he said "the computer is never wrong."
He stormed off. And came back two minutes later to show me the receipti and I said "No, Dan and I are here till Monday." He growled "Well I hope you and Dan have an really nice time at the Flamingo," glared at me and stormed off again.
I called downstairs and sure enough, there was this angry elderly couple on the ohter phone in 4173 (I was in 4137!) so sure enough the southern boy got it wrong.
Now that M-C and I were awake we decided to so some gambling before I went to the airprot for part two of my mileage run.
DownTown doings...
Our first stop was the L.V. Hilton where after I gave up 40 bucks in Slingo (M-C susupected they tightened the payouts after my 200 dollar payday the last time) we made our money back and some more at the Blackjack tables. Then off to Downtown where we went with our traditions:
*Start with a Bailey's at the Lady Luck
*First to California casino to see if our favorite Blackjack dealer Phong, was there. Sadly, no.
*Off to the Don Yeyo Cigaro Facotry, 510 E. Fremont where this time M-C treated me to some Rum flavored Cigars which were very tasty. It's a pretty good cigar store and a great humidor.
*Then TO Las Vegas Club for our favorite old bartender FRED (who looks likes an N-F-L referee( and his famous Long Island Iced Tea (I thought L.I. Iced Tea was a variety made by Lipton( with the perfect kick of everything.
*Off to Fitzgerald's to find the most beautiful blackjack dealer in Las Vegas, Gladys (an exact twin for Gloria Estefan!) Again, no luck.
(Because of time constraints, we did not go for Jack Daniels, our late night drinky.
We decided to add a new tradition: Steak dinner at the top of Binion's Horseshoe Sunday.
Well while playing Blackjack at Fitzgerald's (revenge play to get back at them for losing M-C's reservation!) We realized I had 50 minutes to make my flight. SO off to the car with another round of Bailey's in our hands!
Never Underestimate a Fast Cat
The woman at Check-in for United saw the time and said "you better hurry but you'll never make your flight." She did remember to take my certifcates for the flight and would nto let me go unti lshe read the expiration dates.
A Mad dash thru the the terminal, luckily all I had was a backpack with a change of clothes and a bottle of wine in it. More on that later.
Next: Steak in Salt Lake and a New Friend!
[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]
Catman
Sep 4, 00, 3:52 pm
My First Real Trip TO Salt Lake
Been to Salt Lake as a connection point before but never left the very nice airprot. After a very nice F-A on the LAS-DEN flight and a professional but unsocialable male F-A on the DEN-SLC flight (which had 20 people on it and myself and a pilot in first...) I landed at Salt Lake.
Henwood, one of the members of the Flyeratlk family, took a few minutes to recognize me but he found me and said it was hard to see me without my whiskers. I am growing them back! I give up.
But I instantly like Henwood and we went to the American AIr wing to wait for Burkey's late flight from Chicago. Burkey arrived and he told Henwood of Flyeratlk get togethers and I told him he and his wife must come to NYC for next year's CATMAN DO TROIS (DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED!)
Better time at a Sheraton
My luck with Sheraton's has been hit or miss. We arrived at this new looking Sheraton and had a nice man hold the door for us. The young girl at the front desk (who looked no older than 18, she turned out to be 19!) efficiently checked Burkey and me into nice rooms. Our ammendity kits were a mix of chips, candy bar, apple and Perrier water (I found that strange, Perrier water in Salt Lake.) We dropped off the bags and Henwood patiently waited for us to take us to steak dinner.
A Tour of Salt Lake
Henwood is a great tour guide and if you go thru Salt Lake it's worth the drive with him as guide. We saw the Mormon complexes, nice diverse city and clean city.
We ended up at this steakplace called Rudy's SUnrise (?Help Gordon! I lost the card!) and while the outside looks nothing special inside are some of the best steaks around! The local Microbrew was excellent as well but best of all the good times and laughs and hospitality of Henwood and the always sociable Dr. Burkey.
After a long dinner henwood drove us back to the Sheraton. Burkeya nd I called it a night but he mentioned to me tha the found "the Red green Show" on t-v!!! Whiel I don't know if we have another convert to the Possum Lodge, he did he enjoyed it.
Morning came very early at 5:15am. I walked past the doors of snoring people to Shawn at the desk and Joseph who was driving the shuttle bus to the airprot. We had time so I told them about NYC and invited them to the city. They both said I was the nicest New Yorker they ever met. I confessed I was really from new Jersey.
So after a nice ride to the airprot and NO UPGRADE Certifs taken I flew back SLC-DEN-LAS and slept most fo teh way.
Next: two brothers from AZ and Two Felines from Flyertalk at the MGM!
I think The Vegas experience has best been told by our fine Travel Writing Feline in Residence, Quiet Lion, so I hope this report is just as good!
Boarding my flights SLC-DEN-LAS flights upgraded (without upgrade certificates being turned in!!!) I saw the happy smiling pilots and congratulated them on the contract. Both pilots thanked everyone for our support and I said "I never left United."
Getting off the plane Quiet Lion called and told me to meet him by the escalators past the shuttle mono rail. His bright smile was welcome and he brought me to meet his buddies Arnie the CompMeister and Gary who made me feel very welcome.
We went for the Rent a car and got out quicker than MileCrazy did.
The Comp-MASTER at work!
He is known as the "Compmeister" but to me Arnie is a MASTER at getting the best service out of hotels and casinos and I stood there opened mouthed and shocked as he worked out good rooms for himself, his brother Gary and QUiet Lion. Check-in took a bit but I suspect we would have been there longer if we waited in the long line (the non-hotel guest line was even longer!)
After dropping off the bags, we headed to the casino to play some rounds. The boys went off for card tables while I tried my luck at the Megabucks machine. I never learn that this machines EAT coins!!! I also was bothered by this creepy looking man staring right behind me saing "big winner, eh? Big WInner eh?" and bending down and looking at me play the machine. I was up 40 bucks and in the 3 minutes he haunted me I went down 60, cashed in teh rest and ran out of there.
i went to the Family Feud slots but my luck was still poor. But I made over 150 AA miles.
The Return of the Brown Derby
I don't remember seeing the ORiginal Brown Derby in L-A when I was there was wanderlust a few weeks before but the MGM version I guess captured the spirit and the flavor of the great Hollywood restaurant. The singer was a Frank Sinatra Clone who sang "That's All" (and I bawled because it brought back memories of my aunt singing it to me as a child.)
Arnie and Gary and Quiet Lion found me and they were munching on the most delicious lamb chops which were very good (sorry PremEx! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
MileCrazy joined us later and we enjoyed a feast of every fine food imaginable, and I went back for 5ths on teh Lamb legs (again, Sorry PremEx! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Then the biggest plate ever of crab legs came over and we munched on that. Arnie was able to get us Tiramusu (SP?) and I shared this most rich Chocolate sin cake with QUiet Lion, who never eats desert except this time!
We were all so stuffed and feeling so great it took a few minutes to get out of the restaurant. But what a great experience and thanks Arnie and gary and Lion for that place!
No SwimSuit, No Service
I had to go to Harrah's to get my 100 dollars that I won in a check back so Milecrazy drove me over there. M-C also had a voucher for free use of the spa so we wanted to get massages. The desk person told me that 1. We needed an appointed and 2. We needed swimsuits. (we left ours at the Flamingo.) I guess we were not G-Q model looking enough to go suitless (I think we're both goodlooking) so M-C Decided to save the voucher for our next trip later this year.
We went to the casino and lost around 50 bucks each to this very frightening looking woman blackjack dealer who if she cracked a smile her face would fall in.
We took Harrah's as a loss and decided to move on.
No Free Corkscrews at the Flamingo
Still stuffed from Brunch we decided to grab some frequent sleeping points back at teh Flamingo. I remembered the bottle of wine I got and wanted to share with my buddy M-C so we needed a cork screw. Called downstairs and was told if we wanted it we had to pay $3.75. I said "even as a HHonors members?" and the cold sounding room service person said "It's $3.75 for everybody, even the Mayor of Vegas." I said fine and told them to send it up.
15 minutes pass. Both M-C and I stretch out on our beds and in 2 minutes are earning double snoring miles. Then a bang at the door. M-C goes "OH NO! IT's that horrible man wanting our luggage again!" Instead it was a nice woman who apoligzed for keeping us wating 45 minutes fo ra cork screw. I gave her a $1.25 tip.
We drank the wine quickly and M-C first went off to dream land, then me. It was very good. What was not very good was the loud sounding phone like 30 secs later with our "wakeup call!" SO off to steak we went.
Never Judge a Steakhouse by Its Building.
We drove to Binion's and after some hunting found the elevator to the top floor Binion's Steakhouse Restaurant. We were expecting a buffet place but walked off the elevator and both said WOW! M-C said "I've died and gone to steak paradise."
It's like a classic, clubby style steakhouse where men in suits and shorts alike can dine in steak heaven. We got a window table with a great view of Downtown Las Vegas.
The New York Strip was heaven. Dan's Porterhouse was immense and he decided to take the rest on the plane back to munch on later. The food was so good and we were disappointed we were still stuffed from brunch we could not enjoy it. We promised next time to go back. It's another place I propose we flyers do on the someday GREAT FLYERTALK STEAKHOUSE RUN! I can't wait ot try this place again!
Just Another Friendly Star named Tommy
M-C had some time so we went over to ORleans to catch up with QUiet LIon, Arnier and Gary who were enjoying dinner after seeing the Smothers Brothers. They are such cool guys, they shared their wine with us and offered to get whatever we wanted. We were very stuffed from Bruncha nd then Binion's.
Over at the next table: Tommy SMothers and his family. Arnie went over to thank him and his brother for a great show. Tommy later came over and introduced himself to us, shook our hands and thanked us for our support. SUch a regular guy (unlike some stars who could up hairballs if you even look at them!)
What a great guy and Ihope he and his brother keep performing.
The Party's Over
MileCrazy had to get his flight so we hugged and he thanks the boys for a great day and drove off. The boys and I went to the Flamingo where they gambled and I was ready for bed. Four hours later off to the early flight back LAS-LAX=EWR and while the F-A's were not as sociable as the one's going down, the flight was a half hour early getting in.
And checking my money, I found I ended up about 80 bucks richer. I guess my blackjack at the Fitz was more profitbalbe then I expected.
Until the next Vegas trip.
EL FINE"
[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 09-04-2000).]
markbach
Sep 4, 00, 5:09 pm
Purrrrrr-ific report, as always. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Originally posted by Catman:
No SwimSuit, No Service
I don't know why, but for some reason I thought that was the funniest part!
compmeister
Sep 4, 00, 10:06 pm
Catman, we also enjoyed meeting you in Las Vegas and showing you the finer points of not paying for anything and enjoying it more. Let me know the next time you plan to be there, as Gary and I go quite often.
BillMorrow
Sep 4, 00, 10:58 pm
No corkscrew? You must have been traveling extremely light!
A corkscrew is probably my most frequently used travel accessory. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
geo1004
Sep 5, 00, 12:08 pm
Great report, Catman. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
RichG
Sep 5, 00, 6:51 pm
All these Las Vegas trip reports have made me very itchy to go visit my money again next month or the one after. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I'm curious about whether all of this was on one ticket or if the LAS-DEN-SLC-DEN-LAS was a separate round-trip.
Tute84
Sep 5, 00, 7:36 pm
Sounded like a good time!
Catman
Sep 6, 00, 6:04 am
Rich G there were 2 separate tickets:
The EWR-LAX-LAS cost $190
The LAS-DEN-SLC Cost $120
Grand total: $310.
And with the bonuses and stuff over 22K miles!
I don't know the miles per dollar and I won't even try to do the math but I think I did pretty good.
chexfan
Sep 6, 00, 7:24 am
Originally posted by Catman:
Grand total: $310.
I don't know the miles per dollar and I won't even try to do the math but I think I did pretty good.
Yes, you did. Mathematician Chexfan here: $310/ 22,122= $.014 per mile
Indurain
Sep 6, 00, 7:06 pm
Great report Catman, and a heck of a deal on that mileage run!
I agree with RichG, I'm itching for a trip to LAS now!
RichG
Sep 6, 00, 8:49 pm
Yes, that's an outstanding value of miles for money! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
QuietLion
Sep 7, 00, 12:47 am
Five Stah Trip Report Cat Man! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
RichG
Sep 8, 00, 1:14 am
QL's been pahking his cah again. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
SCMM
Sep 8, 00, 2:42 pm
Glad you had a great time Catman.
Stewart.
burkey
Sep 9, 00, 5:22 pm
Catman, my brother, I forgot to mention to you about that shuttle bus driver from the Sheraton. He is "on assignment" in the US to learn the "Sheraton Way" from guess where?
None other than the Cancun Sheraton I told him he'd better take notes!! What do you other Cancun Sheraton party goers think about that one??!!
doc
Sep 9, 00, 6:10 pm
Great report, as always CATMAN! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
My moms favorite casino- the Flamingo!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
Does anyone by chance know if they still run the old shuttle bus from the LV Hilton to the Flamingo Hilton? I use to take it in the old days! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
AS Bill noted, I too nearly always travel with a cockscrew. I usually know right away when I've forgotten it, since at the trusty airport security checkpoint I typically reach in my pocket to pull out my old original corkscrew equiped black Swiss Army Knife, with my name engraved (a gift from a friend long ago after their return from Switzerland).
Glad you had such a great trip and enjoyed the vicarious pleasure in sharing! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
DOC, I am not sure fi they run the shuttle bus. MileCrazy rented a car and that made it so much easier to get around. Have to confess I never even knew they was a shuttle bus between the Flamingo and the L-V Hilton.
Yes, I have a corkscrew as part of a great gift I got last Year from My brother and sister NJDavid and Helen. It was a Sharper Image traveling kit with a razor, tweezer other items including the Corkscrew and one of the best gifts I got.
Of course it's in my traveling business case but after the $3.75 cent corkscrew charge I now make sure it's in my suitcase before I zip it shut.