The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

stoneman

May

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

Hi guys,

Im off to Vegas with my mate on 17 Sept and we cant wait! We're flying direct from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic (booked on Expedia.uk site) I was hoping to try and upgrade the flight when we get to Gatwick but Im not too sure what my chances will be. Im in the military but my friend isnt and I was thinking maybe flashing my ID card might bag us an upgrade?

We're staying at the Stratosphere. My mate said it's quite nice she's been to Vegas before but with family.
Has anyone had any experience of the Stratosphere? Also does the $20 tip work for a room upgrade?
As 2 young(ish) ladies on holiday on our own is there anywhere we should avoid? And is there anywhere you recommend?
Also is it worth taking just US Dollars or a mix of US Dollars and Travellers Cheques? We're going to be there for 10 days and hiring a car for 2 or 3 days to go to the Grand Canyon etc. We're also going to fly over to LA for a day trip too.
Any adivce or tips on where's good to go would be appreciated. Thanks

As discussed many times before, the only way you will get upgraded is if you pay for it. Sometimes there is availability on the day for a one way upgrsde to Premium economy, cost is around £275 each. you can only book this on the day of travel. If you are doing twilight check-in go to the Virgin desk to the left of the check-in desks, you can ask them if there might be availability in Premium for tomorrow, they will be able to give you some idea how many are left. If there is availability then if you are staying in a nearby hotel, go to the airport by 5am!! by car if you have one, park in the carpark for South terminal, go to the desk and grab them tickets, then go back to your hotel for a couple more hours of sleep. beleive me it is worth it. BTW car park will cost you about £2.00

ferf1223

March

wdyw wrote: »

I've never ever had to pay upfront before getting my hands on imported goods - the invoice usually comes from the shipping company weeks/months later ....if other people have found things different I suppose it could be down to different shipping companies / prior history in paying invoices

I did when I moved here - a box full of my personal CDs and DVDs was separated from its paperwork declaring the origin of the goods and had a knock on the door from a very friendly guy with his hand out for £120 before he would give me my box of stuff. I had no problems with the other boxes (of less valuable stuff) that didn't get separated from the paperwork - but the guy told me that they can't release the parcel until the amount due are paid.

I think the comments on this point only came up as the OP mentioned having the dress shipped back to the UK.

I agree - CvPiper - if the dress can be bought off the rack then of course it could have been taken out for a wedding and brought back.

Miss_Naughty

stoneman wrote: »

As discussed many times before, the only way you will get upgraded is if you pay for it. Sometimes there is availability on the day for a one way upgrsde to Premium economy, cost is around £275 each. you can only book this on the day of travel. If you are doing twilight check-in go to the Virgin desk to the left of the check-in desks, you can ask them if there might be availability in Premium for tomorrow, they will be able to give you some idea how many are left. If there is availability then if you are staying in a nearby hotel, go to the airport by 5am!! by car if you have one, park in the carpark for South terminal, go to the desk and grab them tickets, then go back to your hotel for a couple more hours of sleep. beleive me it is worth it. BTW car park will cost you about £2.00

Thanks for the info but I dont think our budget stretches to £250 for an upgrade so we might just have to deal with what we have.
We're stopping over in the Travelodge near Gatwick overnight so will be at the airport very early on the morning of the flight.

ferf1223

March

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

We're staying at the Stratosphere. My mate said it's quite nice she's been to Vegas before but with family.
Has anyone had any experience of the Stratosphere? Also does the $20 tip work for a room upgrade?
As 2 young(ish) ladies on holiday on our own is there anywhere we should avoid?

Some luck upgrading reported:

http://www.frontdesktip.com/fhotel.php?id=22

And as you asked, I would be careful walking too much around outside your hotel after dark. There are worse places in Vegas, and if you're sensible you will be fine - we've walked from Sahara to Stratosphere a few times and it's a bit dodgy (even my husband felt a bit uncomfortable). I'm not trying to scare you, but just be aware of your surroundings...if you've had a bit to drink, take a taxi back to your hotel, don't walk to it.

There's loads of advice in this thread and elsewhere on the site regarding travel money so if you have a poke around you'll see lots of options.

ferf1223

March

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

Thanks for the info but I dont think our budget stretches to £250 for an upgrade so we might just have to deal with what we have.
We're stopping over in the Travelodge near Gatwick overnight so will be at the airport very early on the morning of the flight.

Have you reserved your seats? If not, I would do so ASAP - at least you can try to get the best of what's out there. www.seatguru.com is a great resource to help picking specific sets. Edited to add - if you're staying at a Gatwick hotel the night before, use the twilight check in and get rid of your bags and get your boarding cards the night before - then in the morning all you have to do is get through security and to the gate. It's a wonderful thing.

Miss_Naughty

ferf1223 wrote: »

Have you reserved your seats? If not, I would do so ASAP - at least you can try to get the best of what's out there. www.seatguru.com is a great resource to help picking specific sets. Edited to add - if you're staying at a Gatwick hotel the night before, use the twilight check in and get rid of your bags and get your boarding cards the night before - then in the morning all you have to do is get through security and to the gate. It's a wonderful thing.

Thanks for the info but my mate says since we have booked through Expedia that we cant do the online check in. Im not too sure if this is right or not but since Ive never booked before Im going with what she's said.
I did want to do the twilight check in but we're arriving at Gatwick at different times and my mate is down as the party leader. Do you know what time the check in ends? I could hang around the airport until she arrives which I think will be around 9pm or 10pm

mookybargirl

September

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

Thanks for the info but my mate says since we have booked through Expedia that we cant do the online check in. Im not too sure if this is right or not but since Ive never booked before Im going with what she's said.
I did want to do the twilight check in but we're arriving at Gatwick at different times and my mate is down as the party leader. Do you know what time the check in ends? I could hang around the airport until she arrives which I think will be around 9pm or 10pm

Drop expedia an email to request your airline booking reference if it's not on your email confirmation. I've done this before. Then go to their website and select your seats. Think I was travelling with American Airlines when I did this a few years ago via Expedia.

pennylane99

May

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

Thanks for the info but my mate says since we have booked through Expedia that we cant do the online check in. Im not too sure if this is right or not but since Ive never booked before Im going with what she's said.
I did want to do the twilight check in but we're arriving at Gatwick at different times and my mate is down as the party leader. Do you know what time the check in ends? I could hang around the airport until she arrives which I think will be around 9pm or 10pm

I usually book my trips through Expedia, go to My Trips..and click on the itinerary, at the top part of your booked items page it will show the airline ticket number, and underneath it the Virgin Atlantic confirmation code, usually 6 letters/numbers

Just go to the Virgin Atlantic website and click amend booking, or online check-in if you are checking in... put in the confirmation code and your name and it should call up your flight.

tingtong

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

Thanks for the info but my mate says since we have booked through Expedia that we cant do the online check in. Im not too sure if this is right or not but since Ive never booked before Im going with what she's said.
I did want to do the twilight check in but we're arriving at Gatwick at different times and my mate is down as the party leader. Do you know what time the check in ends? I could hang around the airport until she arrives which I think will be around 9pm or 10pm

When we booked BMI flights through Expedia, I just phoned BMI direct, gave them the names and date / time of travel and they were able to reserve specific seats for us and confirm our booking ref. Not sure if it's the same with Virgin but can't see why not, give them a call.

ferf1223

March

Miss_Naughty wrote: »

I did want to do the twilight check in but we're arriving at Gatwick at different times and my mate is down as the party leader. Do you know what time the check in ends? I could hang around the airport until she arrives which I think will be around 9pm or 10pm

I think it ends at 9pm...though if you won't both be able to do it it may not be worth bothering - if you'll just end up queuing with her at check in the next morning. I didn't think you all had to be present to check-in at the same time but could be wrong.

Agree with the others that it's worth getting your reference number for the flights and choosing your seats (you don't have to check in to do this - you can amend your booking as penny said.