Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2015

duchy

I'm poor and I love Dublin so maybe my perspective is different but I do think it is if you view it as a hindrance then it will be,

Dublin has lots of flights to Gatwick and I wouldn't book the very last flight out in the evening even though there is the contingency of flights early enough the next day to still catch the VS.

My annual leave is generous and I struggle to use it all anyway (I still have some left to book before the end of December this year) as my weird work pattern means even 10 days away can mean using only 4 days leave)

I'm also a tiny bit biased towards Dublin as my Mum was born and grew up there so it's a city I'm really comfortable in. Last time I did this route I flew to Dublin in the morning spent part of the afternoon at the records office doing some family history before meeting a cousin for a meal then flying back to London . It was a really chilled day and a bonus rather than an inconvenience especially as I usually find direct flights too expensive so would more often fly indirect and (to me) I'd rather spend that transist time in Dublin than Dallas or Chicago

Ultimately though this is MSE and it's all about not getting the cheapest regardless but the best value - for me that side trip to Dublin saving would pay for my hotel for a week in Vegas but if I hated indirect flights then the savings might not be worth it.

I do think there's room for both here -

But also I still think it's an amazing fare

duchy

blindman wrote: »

ITA Matix can be used to get cheapest fares from other starting points or to confirm cheap fare before using Expedia.

Expedia are certainly not the only booking option - using Kayak and Google Flights will often come up with other operators that can be cheaper and just as reliable (and some that are less reliable too so a little bit of caution can be needed). For example I consistently find ebookers have better fares than expedia (even allowing for the Nectar points Expedia give ) although I always check both.

nvh

duchy wrote: »

I'm poor and I love Dublin ... [snip] ... might not be worth it.

I do think there's room for both here -

But also I still think it's an amazing fare

Completely understand all the posts / points re: EX-EU
Appear to be valid points from all sides, and secretmachines "horses for courses" sums it up. It will work well for some people and not others depending on circumstance etc.

I'm in very similar circumstances to you on this Duchy (re: leave etc), though I didn't really like Dublin, I would use the airport at the drop of a hat for this purpose as an overnighter (we usually overnight @ MAN anyways due to the early transatlantic flights), so it makes little difference to us. As blindman does, we would also use RFS where appropriate (though used SAS to position in CPH before).

Circumstances change though too, so ex-UK is definitely worthy of mention. My old viewpoint of "by any means possible" to Vegas has altered to "as much comfort as affordibly possible", and as stated the Premium fares are where the super cash savings are to be had.

Winter_Jasmine

Horses for courses is dead right. For us, squirrelling away our Tesco points so we only pay taxes (£225-ish each) on direct Man - Las with Virgin is spot on. But I know others don't see this as the best value for their miles. We're short and, as I've mentioned before, I've got my comfort pack sorted so economy is fine for us. We've done indirect flights before and it was ok and would certainly consider EX-EU but do't think there's a hope in hell that we'd find them cheaper than £225!

newuser86

If i book flights from Dublin to London on 16th June with BA, and 17th June fly to LAS with Virgin as part of a multi trip, what happens if i dont take the dublin flight? Different days and different carriers..

pennylane99

newuser86 wrote: »

If i book flights from Dublin to London on 16th June with BA, and 17th June fly to LAS with Virgin as part of a multi trip, what happens if i dont take the dublin flight? Different days and different carriers..

If the flights are ticketed as one trip, on the same pnr, if you don't take the first segment, subsequent legs are automatically cancelled.

duchy

Winter_Jasmine wrote: »

Horses for courses is dead right. For us, squirrelling away our Tesco points so we only pay taxes (£225-ish each) on direct Man - Las with Virgin is spot on. But I know others don't see this as the best value for their miles. We're short and, as I've mentioned before, I've got my comfort pack sorted so economy is fine for us. We've done indirect flights before and it was ok and would certainly consider EX-EU but do't think there's a hope in hell that we'd find them cheaper than £225!

No but GBP274 plus a Ryanair cheapy LGW DUB comes close for the Waitrose shoppers

Just trying to work out how to convince OH I need another trip before the wedding now

martmonk

pebblesmax wrote: »

When I priced Dub-Lgw-Las for our trip in March it was only £80 cheaper than the Man-Las direct in the sale.

Being based in the north makes a difference because even if we ditch the final Dub leg, we still have to get back up north. Add to that the fact that we are 2.5 hours north of Man anyway, and it hasn't worked out for us yet.

We got our direct flights for £513 pp for the next trip. Cheapest I've seen in a while.

I'll still keep checking it because Tony wants to try a night in Dublin, but our starting location works against us.

Have you tried using kayak or similar and returning to your closest airport?
I did this for our trip in June:
Ncl-dub Aer Lingus £25 each, 24 hours later:
Dub-phl-las
Return las-Dfw-LHR-ncl

So avoiding the hassle you mention of getting back north.

Doing something similar in March for a trip to Canada and north east US. Aer Lingus to dub at £25 each, plus bags so £100 total, then what was Bewleys hotel (changed name I think now) for a night. We will explore Dublin, have a few drinks, dinner, shop etc.
Dub-LHR-Montreal
Return from jfk-LHR-ncl for £287 per person.

No way I can get anywhere near that leaving from NCL, or even from Man, LGW or LHR and I'd have to get there first anyway.

Dublin every time for me.

nvh

Ok - so which one of you started this thread then!??

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1724140-flights-vegas-august-2016-a.html

lol

stevie11

I'm currently planning 5th Vegas trip for end of Jan. In the past 3 months I have flown transatlantic ex Dublin twice and agree there are some good deals out there but come with added inconvenience of getting to Dublin especially if an overnight stay in Dub is required.


On both trips I have flown back to my local airport (Man) i.e. Dub-LHR-LAS-LHR-MAN or another trip Dub-LHR-YYZ-JFK-MAN so not had the inconvenience of the Dublin return leg. The first of those journeys in Sept we saved £750 compared to similar flights from Man for 3 of us. This saving covered part of the spending money whilst in Vegas. We could have got cheaper but wanted specific airlines for frequent flyer points.


Not saying that ex EU flights are for everyone but when the savings are considerable they make a sensible option against flying from the UK.


I use Kayak, ITA or goggle flights then got to the airline website.


Anyway just finalising a trip in January and noted there have been some good deals on Groupon.com recently especially additional discounts on local restaurant deals. Booked the spice market buffet for two for $37 and looking at Umami Burger at SLS for two for $18 on offer today (with a $7 code)