JerryFF
Dec 10, 00, 9:49 pm
It truly must be slow season in LAS when Caesar's offers to comp us two weekend nights plus $100 meal credit - we are truly low-rollers. I headed for the WN website to pick up our 4 credits, but unfortunately flights were either sold out or available at full Y (slow season?).
Reluctantly, I switched over to AA and booked the RT at a good discount fare. I wasn't too disappointed, though, as I'd been curious if all the hype about extra legroom was true. And besides, having assigned seats, even on this short hop, made things a lot more relaxing.
Our drive "over the hill" (Highway 17) from Santa Cruz to SJC was uneventful - no jackknifed bigrigs blocking the road as happens so often and we pulled into our favorite lot - Park, Shuttle, and Fly. Not only can we park there for $6/day with a coupon from our travel agent (vs. $15/day in the regular long term lot), but this must be the most bizarre parking lot in the country. Located amidst some abandoned wearhouses, it is a maze truly worthy of Lewis Carroll. How the shuttle driver finds anyone is a true mystery - I've wondered if they tack on an invisible homing device when pick up your ticket.
Despite the general frenzy of a Friday evening at SJC, the AA boarding area was calm, boarding on time, and departure just about 2 minutes late. We were in 22AB, and there it was - at least 3 inches extra from the last time I flew AA. Now if they could only do something about the width (just an inch or two), upgrades might become passe. But then it would just be called Midwest Express. On board service was drinks only, no snacks. I wondered if this is a new AA policy.
Upon arrival at LAS, our gold limo somehow looked more like pale yellow, and the driver somehow didn't have our names, didn't meet us at baggage claim, and had this funny little meter clicking away up front. But he did get us to Caesar's the back way (through the delivery entrance to Harrah's) and avoided all the traffic on the strip.
We checked into our room in the new Palace Tower (much nicer than the two older towers) and headed for the video poker machines. I'll leave out all the details, except to say that the closest either of us came to a royal was the guy sitting on my right the 2nd night. "It's my first royal, it's my first royal", he said at least 20 times. His mother, who reminded me of George's mother on Seinfeld, was playing the machine on my left and kept saying. "Take a picture, take a picture." "I'm not doing anything until they pay me", he kept answering. This went on for at least 10 minutes, until I just cashed out, congratulated the fellow, and moved on, wondering why things like that never happen to me.
Very little else happened of any significant note, except a wonderful dinner at Aqua in Bellagio's. We weren't surprised, haven't eaten at their original place in downtown SFO, but it was great to know our memories weren't mistaken. We checked out midafternoon, having left Caesar's their fare share, and grabbed a cab to the airport.
The return flight was again straightforward. On time departure and arrival, but this time there was a snack with our drink service. All in all, AA did well on this short jaunt. Given my preference, I certainly would prefer the simpler boarding and seat assignments, but I just can't resist the temptation of 1 free ticket for every 4 roundtrips on WN and I suppose I would eventually miss all those corny jokes.
Reluctantly, I switched over to AA and booked the RT at a good discount fare. I wasn't too disappointed, though, as I'd been curious if all the hype about extra legroom was true. And besides, having assigned seats, even on this short hop, made things a lot more relaxing.
Our drive "over the hill" (Highway 17) from Santa Cruz to SJC was uneventful - no jackknifed bigrigs blocking the road as happens so often and we pulled into our favorite lot - Park, Shuttle, and Fly. Not only can we park there for $6/day with a coupon from our travel agent (vs. $15/day in the regular long term lot), but this must be the most bizarre parking lot in the country. Located amidst some abandoned wearhouses, it is a maze truly worthy of Lewis Carroll. How the shuttle driver finds anyone is a true mystery - I've wondered if they tack on an invisible homing device when pick up your ticket.
Despite the general frenzy of a Friday evening at SJC, the AA boarding area was calm, boarding on time, and departure just about 2 minutes late. We were in 22AB, and there it was - at least 3 inches extra from the last time I flew AA. Now if they could only do something about the width (just an inch or two), upgrades might become passe. But then it would just be called Midwest Express. On board service was drinks only, no snacks. I wondered if this is a new AA policy.
Upon arrival at LAS, our gold limo somehow looked more like pale yellow, and the driver somehow didn't have our names, didn't meet us at baggage claim, and had this funny little meter clicking away up front. But he did get us to Caesar's the back way (through the delivery entrance to Harrah's) and avoided all the traffic on the strip.
We checked into our room in the new Palace Tower (much nicer than the two older towers) and headed for the video poker machines. I'll leave out all the details, except to say that the closest either of us came to a royal was the guy sitting on my right the 2nd night. "It's my first royal, it's my first royal", he said at least 20 times. His mother, who reminded me of George's mother on Seinfeld, was playing the machine on my left and kept saying. "Take a picture, take a picture." "I'm not doing anything until they pay me", he kept answering. This went on for at least 10 minutes, until I just cashed out, congratulated the fellow, and moved on, wondering why things like that never happen to me.
Very little else happened of any significant note, except a wonderful dinner at Aqua in Bellagio's. We weren't surprised, haven't eaten at their original place in downtown SFO, but it was great to know our memories weren't mistaken. We checked out midafternoon, having left Caesar's their fare share, and grabbed a cab to the airport.
The return flight was again straightforward. On time departure and arrival, but this time there was a snack with our drink service. All in all, AA did well on this short jaunt. Given my preference, I certainly would prefer the simpler boarding and seat assignments, but I just can't resist the temptation of 1 free ticket for every 4 roundtrips on WN and I suppose I would eventually miss all those corny jokes.