vpFREE2 Forums

XVP: Southwest experience

#1

Recently had to make a reservation to Reno for my wife 2 days before flight.
As most reservations are to LV, was in auto mode & confirmed reservation to
LV & bought it. When she got email confirmation the next day, she told me
about my mistake.

Got back on SW site, cancelled reservation, funds were credited 100% using
original confirmation, then made correct reservation using credit from LV
reservation. All this took a little over a minute.

With abilities like this + several flights/day from San Jose to LV & Reno, I
sure don't miss the assigned seating of AA, United or Delta.

BTW, the recent price wars started by the discount carriers, JetBlue,
AirTran & Southwest are squeezing the majors hard. Remember when the majors used to
do that to any carrier who dared to compete on any route?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#2

A couple days ago we visited the Prairie Band casino north of Topeka,
owned by the Pottawatomi tribe and managed by Harrah's. They recently
made extensive renovations and added a new hotel section and RV park.
We drove our motorhome and when I checked in at the RV park, the
clerk asked for my Harrah's players card. As I showed my Diamond card
I asked if it was good for a discount and he replied it was and
Diamond players stayed for free. Well, this is getting off to a good
start. The park was, in fact, new and in great shape.

It seemed to me all the renovations went to hotel, conference rooms,
Diamond lounge, lobby, etc, and nothing for the actual casino. It is
the same old crowded, smoky casino I remembered from the last visit.

The VP pay schedules were dismal -- as in 6/5 for JoB -- with the
exception of a half dozen AA machines in 25 cents and another six or
so in $1. We had a couple pretty good runs on each denomination and
walked away with some of their money.

The new Diamond lounge was very nice, one of the nicest we have seen.
However, it wasn't getting much use and probably will sit empty most
of the time. Why? They charge their customers for food (hefty full
restaurant prices) and have no alcoholic beverages. We have been in
Diamond lounges in KC, Las Vegas (Harrah's and Rio), Laughlin, Tunica,
and Phoenix and this is the first only one that charges customers for
food or drink. When we mentioned this to the manager, she said people
were coming in from Kansas City and Topeka and eating up all the food.
She then proceeded to gripe about the snacks (pretzels, etc) that
were being consumed.

In fact food was quite expensive period. I paid $7.50 for a simple
turkey sandwich, no sides. I also got the impression they don't see
very many Diamond players -- another reason the lounge will sit empty.
When we paid for a buffet lunch with comp points the clerk seemed
quite impressed by Lucky Lucy having 20,000 points in her account.

We intended to stay a couple days but one night was enough. Scratch
this one off the list.

Rick