Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2013

nvh

luci wrote: »

I have Available points and much more Network points. How do you make your Network points available to redeem?

edit: on the basis I'm rubbish at explaining, I'll start again (with the help of a picture!)

You can pool points, so when you go to redeem, you choose your quantity, but, you have the option to pool points from your network partners into the redemption you're making...

(1 = 1000 points, 2 = 2000 points etc etc - you can only redeem in batches of 1000 points which = $10)

Hopefully the image below makes some sense, but basically:
I'm trying a 1000 redemption
I have 535 points in the programme I'm on (Caesars in this example)
I'm deficient of 465
I've chosen to use 80 from Ballys (you have to remember to tick the programme name on the left!) and I have ticked and will redeem 385 from Rio (I just need to type 385 in and the red text at the bottom will change to zero)



Hope that makes sense

luci

Magic. Thanks for the explanation.

I have around 4000 points at the moment which is $40. I am finally able to use my Twitter account after having it for 10 weeks so have a load more to collect over the next few days with being limited to 3 shares a day.

Which ones don't count towards your shares? All I've found so far are the videos.

luci

A heads up for anyone using Le Village buffet at Paris. You can now book it via Opentable to save you queuing forever.

nvh

luci wrote: »

Magic. Thanks for the explanation.

I have around 4000 points at the moment which is $40. I am finally able to use my Twitter account after having it for 10 weeks so have a load more to collect over the next few days with being limited to 3 shares a day.

Which ones don't count towards your shares? All I've found so far are the videos.

Yeah, anything on the 'video' tab doesn't count, neither does anything on the 'retweet' tab - everything else counts (from memory) - apart from maybe the 'Connect' ones (but they're one-time only)

luci wrote: »

A heads up for anyone using Le Village buffet at Paris. You can now book it via Opentable to save you queuing forever.

Does this mean you can just rock right up and walk in... that's good to know - its one of my major buffet annoyances, but as the Paris one is also usually on Groupon etc (IIRC), it makes it more appealing to me...

... that being said, there's a huge question-mark over us going back to Vegas next year ( :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ) - this is the first year since we went in 2006 that there's been an air of doubt

nvh

Well - this is interesting... I was going to take the relevant points from the article, but it's perhaps worth posting a link so people can read it all (as it all seems relevant):

Virgin Atlantic to Charge for Economy Seat Reservations
http://www.headforpoints.com/2013/12/17/virgin-atlantic-to-charge-for-economy-seat-reservations/

The bottom line is that, apart from Tokyo, by June 1st you will need to pay £50 per person, return, to select seats on Virgin Atlantic.
Exit row and extra legroom rows will cost extra. At present, the charge for these is a whopping £40-£115 per person, each way, for an exit row and £20-£50 per person, each way, for rows with some additional legroom. I assume that the £25 seat booking fee will be added onto this from 2014.

Other cabin classes don't seem affected, and it seems only Flying Club Gold status will not be charged... I don't know anyone who has ever purchased a full fare economy ticket - but if you do, then that's an exception too!

PE and UC and full fare economy (Y Class) tickets along with Flying club gold will not be charged for seat selection.

secretmachines

nvh wrote: »

Well - this is interesting... I was going to take the relevant points from the article, but it's perhaps worth posting a link so people can read it all (as it all seems relevant):

Virgin Atlantic to Charge for Economy Seat Reservations
http://www.headforpoints.com/2013/12/17/virgin-atlantic-to-charge-for-economy-seat-reservations/

Other cabin classes don't seem affected, and it seems only Flying Club Gold status will not be charged... I don't know anyone who has ever purchased a full fare economy ticket - but if you do, then that's an exception too!

does that just mean any seats not bought in a sale? i know they only give you half the air miles when you buy a sale seat.

I also saw this :eek:

"From 01 April 2014, customers flying between London Gatwick and Las Vegas will be able to pay to choose seats up to 336 days in advance."

vegasvisitor

luci wrote: »

A heads up for anyone using Le Village buffet at Paris. You can now book it via Opentable to save you queuing forever.

Never been to that buffet, I assume it will be too 'French' to be Vegetarian. That's interesting though, do you think other buffets might follow suit?

nvh

secretmachines wrote: »

does that just mean any seats not bought in a sale? i know they only give you half the air miles when you buy a sale seat.

typically, full fare economy are fully flexible (i.e. refundable / changeable etc up until point of departure)... They can sometimes cost more than the cheapest First class ticket and they tend to be used by business' or people with chaotic schedules

I've never known anyone to purchase them, it doesn't mean they don't though, I just doubt you would purchase them for recreational activities (holidays etc) where those kind of requirements don't exist

edit: found this link to a very old thread, that has a pretty good explanation --> http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage-pre-merger/163003-full-fare-economy-class-ticket.html

secretmachines wrote: »

I also saw this :eek:

"From 01 April 2014, customers flying between London Gatwick and Las Vegas will be able to pay to choose seats up to 336 days in advance."

yes, sorry, I didn't want to get bogged down with the specifics as it will apply to different people in different ways depending on your departure airport... bear in mind tho that (what is considered) the direct "alternative" BA Heathrow flight also charge for seat reservations pre check-in unless you have BA Bronze status (equivelent) or better - so soon you'll get screwed for pre-selecting your seat on direct flights, before check-in, whichever carrier you choose

wr1ght

secretmachines wrote: »

i think you'd be delighted with either... and they're both yards from each other (directly opposite each other on a sort of roundabout!)

you might get more room for your money with Vdara, as it's an all-suite hotel. It's smaller, has no casino, no smoking... so more of a boutique feel (if that's possible in Vegas!). It has a Starbucks in it, a small market place for food/snacks and a bar which serves some food. the pool (there's only one) is smallish, but relevant to the occupation of the hotel.

Aria has more 'stuff' going on - buffet, theatre (Zarkana show), casino, more people, more places to eat/drink, etc. but as I say, from the front door of the Vdara to the casino floor is about a 60 second walk.




Vdara is connected to the Bellagio by a walkway, both Vdara and Aria are very close to the Cosmo.

Location-wise it doesn't really matter which one you stay in... I'd just go by what 'feel' you want from the property and which one offers you a good deal

Have been to vegas in 2008 and stayed off the strip in Alexis park (opposite Hard rock) no casino or nightclub,want to stay on the strip this time just not sure if noise from nightclub would disturb us (have noticed a few people on trip adviser say this).

Both priced about same aargh so hard :doh:

secretmachines

wr1ght wrote: »

Have been to vegas in 2008 and stayed off the strip in Alexis park (opposite Hard rock) no casino or nightclub,want to stay on the strip this time just not sure if noise from nightclub would disturb us (have noticed a few people on trip adviser say this).

Both priced about same aargh so hard :doh:

which hotel/club? we've stayed at the vdara 3 times and never heard any club noise