Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009 part 2

Odyssey

August

Thanks for your replies Luci and Ferf.
Guess we should maybe have booked the Grand Canyon trip from here if its difficult to find people selling it when we get there.
Does normal check in open 3 hours before the flight? We're flying with US Airways at 10.10 on Tuesday and want to try and get exit seats for OH who can't fit in normal seats very well. Should I check in online before we leave tomorrow or will that mean we then can't get the extra legroom at the airport?
As you can probably tell I haven't been on a long haul flight before!

JJ-Morgan

September

Odyssey wrote: »

Thanks for your replies Luci and Ferf.
Guess we should maybe have booked the Grand Canyon trip from here if its difficult to find people selling it when we get there.
Does normal check in open 3 hours before the flight? We're flying with US Airways at 10.10 on Tuesday and want to try and get exit seats for OH who can't fit in normal seats very well. Should I check in online before we leave tomorrow or will that mean we then can't get the extra legroom at the airport?
As you can probably tell I haven't been on a long haul flight before!

Not sure how US Airways works but with Virgin if you sign up for their airmiles you can log onto their website and opick your own seat free of charge, Otherwise Long Haul flights are at least 3 hours. Get their earlier if you want a better chance of better seats.

Odyssey

August

JJ-Morgan wrote: »

Not sure how US Airways works but with Virgin if you sign up for their airmiles you can log onto their website and opick your own seat free of charge, Otherwise Long Haul flights are at least 3 hours. Get their earlier if you want a better chance of better seats.

I've already been on their website and picked our seats but couldn't choose extra legroom seats. At least we only have to roll out of bed at the Hilton into the terminal to check in! Wonder if we can go back to the hotel to have breakfast after the airport check in is done?

JJ-Morgan

September

Odyssey wrote: »

I've already been on their website and picked our seats but couldn't choose extra legroom seats. At least we only have to roll out of bed at the Hilton into the terminal to check in! Wonder if we can go back to the hotel to have breakfast after the airport check in is done?

Some airlines do night time check in. So you can check in the night before, leave your cases and then stay in bed at the hotel until flight time. Might be worth checking.

ferf1223

October , November

SimbaK2K wrote: »

Has anyone ever upgraded a flight with Virgin? We've already booked the flights but fancy an upgrade, probably on the way there. Option doesn't show on the website as booked through expedia but was curious how much an upgrade would be? I'm guessing a lot

I've never seen it show up as an option online even if you book with Virgin. Last trip we got a call a week or two before our trip from Virgin offering to upgrade us to PE for £200/pp per leg...you could also try calling and asking them the cost to upgrade. I agree with mooky - if we were only going to upgrade it would be on the way back...because it's an overnight flight as she said, and because it would suck to fly back in economy if we arrived in PE.

ferf1223

October , November

Odyssey wrote: »

Thanks for your replies Luci and Ferf.
Guess we should maybe have booked the Grand Canyon trip from here if its difficult to find people selling it when we get there.
Does normal check in open 3 hours before the flight? We're flying with US Airways at 10.10 on Tuesday and want to try and get exit seats for OH who can't fit in normal seats very well. Should I check in online before we leave tomorrow or will that mean we then can't get the extra legroom at the airport?
As you can probably tell I haven't been on a long haul flight before!

Checking in online shouldn't preclude you from getting an exit row seat if they have one available when you get there - we've checked in online and then moved seats at the airport to premium seats before more than once. Normally you can't pick exit rows before you're at the airport and they can see you to ensure you can fulfill the required duties in the event you need to...some airlines allow you to select exit row seats if you have status with their frequent flyer program. But I would check in online and then see what they can do at the airport if it was me.

We've stayed at airport hotels, checked in for our flights, and gone back to the room before - no problem. I assume you're staying at the Gatwick Hilton - I'm not sure if check-in for US Air will be in the north or south terminal - not tragic either way, but could mean a ride on the shuttle/train between the two...we did have one time we were staying at the hotel at one terminal and flying from the other and they were down to one train running and it took a lot longer than we expected to make the transfer there and back...after checking in ended up getting back to the hotel room to grab our carry on stuff and head out again straight away - but that was only once.

Odyssey

August

ferf1223 wrote: »

Checking in online shouldn't preclude you from getting an exit row seat if they have one available when you get there - we've checked in online and then moved seats at the airport to premium seats before more than once. Normally you can't pick exit rows before you're at the airport and they can see you to ensure you can fulfill the required duties in the event you need to...some airlines allow you to select exit row seats if you have status with their frequent flyer program. But I would check in online and then see what they can do at the airport if it was me.

We've stayed at airport hotels, checked in for our flights, and gone back to the room before - no problem. I assume you're staying at the Gatwick Hilton - I'm not sure if check-in for US Air will be in the north or south terminal - not tragic either way, but could mean a ride on the shuttle/train between the two...we did have one time we were staying at the hotel at one terminal and flying from the other and they were down to one train running and it took a lot longer than we expected to make the transfer there and back...after checking in ended up getting back to the hotel room to grab our carry on stuff and head out again straight away - but that was only once.

Flight should be from South terminal so hopefully just a 5 minute walk from hotel to terminal.
Thanks for advice about checking in. I'll do it online tomorrow morning and then see what happens at airport on Tuesday.
Can you remind me whether its outbound or inbound when we need to collect our luggage and recheck it in when changing planes at Charlotte? I know I read it in a past post but can't find it now. Hopefully its outbound as we have 4.5 hours that way rather than only 1.5 on the way back!

redrichie2001

August

duchy wrote: »

So go on -how much is it costing you to get "up close and personal" with Holly ?

I cost me 200 pounds sterling for two meet and greets and two show tickets (the cheapest seats). My wife thinks I'm too excited about it!

luci

September

Odyssey wrote: »

Flight should be from South terminal so hopefully just a 5 minute walk from hotel to terminal.
Thanks for advice about checking in. I'll do it online tomorrow morning and then see what happens at airport on Tuesday.
Can you remind me whether its outbound or inbound when we need to collect our luggage and recheck it in when changing planes at Charlotte? I know I read it in a past post but can't find it now. Hopefully its outbound as we have 4.5 hours that way rather than only 1.5 on the way back!

You will clear Immigration, collect your luggage, clear Customs and hand your luggage back at the first point of entry on your outward journey.

Goldust

Odyssey did you get a heli tour sorted? I'm keen to do this what is the best way to book - before I get there or when I'm there for the best price?

And what tour is recommended to make the most of it with out breaking the bank.