Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2011

pebblesmax

November / December

wdyw wrote: »

Yeah that 15 quid hike in airport tax for a standard return flight to Vegas has led to a huge rise in flight prices....... or maybe not.

I was under the impression that it would be closer to the £100 mark. I read an article about it last year but don't seem to be able to find it now. I'll keep digging.

wdyw

pebblesmax wrote: »

I was under the impression that it would be closer to the £100 mark. I read an article about it last year but don't seem to be able to find it now. I'll keep digging.

For a standard flight its now £60 (up from £45 before last November). For first class/ businees/premium it is higher - something like £120 now (up fron £90 IIRC).

So for the majority of people flying to Vegas it's only £15 more than this time last year, which is a pretty insignificant rise.

Cand

October

Dont know if it helps anyone but our flight last year was £460 ish and this year its £480 ish think it was £477 to be exact, thats direct with Virgin on a M+M fare from Manchester, was from Gatwick last year though of course.

ferf1223

March

Dangermouse99 wrote: »

Just under £700 I paid last year for decent flights and 10 days in the MGM, going by flight prices it seems I would struggle to get that separately/direct now.

If you went last year, did you gamble and did you sign up for any players club cards? Checking what you might be able to get hotel-wise through your players club account may be the best price hotel-wise.

As for packages being less hassle and less time-consuming than booking the elements direct...that may be in some cases...but in many, it's not the best value...so to a lot of us, we're OK with doing the research - booking direct with the airline then directly with the hotels to give us flexibility to cancel if a better deal comes up...I've known some here to have several hotel reservations up until a week or so before at which point they'll make a final choice and cancel the rest....for a lot of us doing the research is part of the fun...plus, as some of us gamble, if we book through 3rd parties we lose the options of any comps that might come our way in terms of room charges.

But if you see a package deal you're happy with and either can't beat it doing some additional research or don't want to bother doing additional research then that's fine too.

photome

August

Dangermouse99 wrote: »

Ok, no need to be so defensive just thought it was odd since they seem to do decent deals and are a lot less hassle/time consuming than booking direct.

Just under £700 I paid last year for decent flights and 10 days in the MGM, going by flight prices it seems I would struggle to get that separately/direct now.

I dont see any hassle in booking direct, I much prefer to book direct with the hotels and then if the price goes down, I will call them to adjust my rate.
I usually have 3 to 4 hotels booked and then cancel the one/s I dont want.

If you want (in your opinion) less hassle and you are hapy with a package and the price, by all means book it.

I am with Duchy when it comes to the MGM. I have stayed there 3 times and each time say never again as it is just to big. The last time though I couldnt resisit getting a suite for $55 a night

luci

May

In my experience, flights are significantly more expensive this year than last. I think this is only partly due to the rise in APD, but also partly due to the increase in the cost of fuel.

Our flights are actually £200pp more than last year for the same flight, but I did get last year's ones at a very good price in a sale.

wdyw

luci wrote: »

In my experience, flights are significantly more expensive this year than last. I think this is only partly due to the rise in APD, but also partly due to the increase in the cost of fuel.

Fuel is up 16% on this time last year, but (again IIRC) as fuel costs make up only about 15% of an airlines DOC (Direct Operating Costs) that wouldn't explain why your flights have gone up £200 ish - sounds like you did get a bargain last year. However, aviation fuel prices are highly variable with 400% changes (up and down) recorded over the years. In early 2009, the cost was about 50% less than in early 2008 and all this variability has to also take into account companies arranging fuel purchases up to a year or so in advance. (For us, flight prices are currently just about the same as to what we paid last time we were in Vegas.)

stoneman

October

wdyw wrote: »

For a standard flight its now £60 (up from £45 before last November). For first class/ businees/premium it is higher - something like £120 now (up fron £90 IIRC).

So for the majority of people flying to Vegas it's only £15 more than this time last year, which is a pretty insignificant rise.

Ahh but that is just the APD rise. Most if not all airlines have increased their basic fare as well because of wage and fuel increases. BTW I am in the bracket that went up £30:D:D
Also Vegas is getting more expensive with VS and BA anyway, I have noticed a sizable diference in the costs of the LAS route compared to flying FURTHER into LAX. And with VS putting on another plane from MAN and BA choosing to use a 747 from June I can see them only getting more expensive.

wdyw

stoneman wrote: »

Ahh but that is just the APD rise. Most if not all airlines have increased their basic fare as well because of wage and fuel increases. BTW I am in the bracket that went up £30:D:D

NSS - what about the other 13 or so recognised DOC or IOC costs an airline face? Did they go up/down also over the last year?

Triker

March

Advice please, has anyone hired and colleced their car from McCarran, straight from the flight, I'm looking at doing this rather than collecting the day after from the hotel.

Just wondered about others experiences, re tiredness, jetlag, I've driven in Vegas before so it'll not be a new experience.