Latest Laughlin Trip

[onemoretry]

Our most recent Laughlin trip was not exactly a roaring financial success. We stopped at Seneca Niagara briefly on the way to Laughlin, and for two nights on the way home. My wife and I each had a rather improbable $2000 royal at Seneca, hers on a three card draw, and mine on a four card one. Despite those two royals, we finished the trip about $1500 in the red, overall, as not much really good happened otherwise.

I didn't do too bad in Laughlin (down around $400), but she got slaughtered to the tune of around $2200. However, my reason for posting this is not so much about the video poker results as it is about our adventurous trip home.

Let me start by stating that the current supplier of charter flights for Caesar's Entertainment, Sun Country Airlines, is, in my opinion, by far the best of the bunch so far, in terms of level of service and timeliness of flights. But, sometimes, things happen.

Our departure from Bullhead City last Thursday was at just after 8 a.m. Nevada time (actually, it was 9 a.m. Arizona time). Our flight time was to be a bit over three and a half hours, with an arrival time, in Buffalo, a bit before 3 p.m. eastern time.

Shortly after takeoff, however, the normal climb out was terminated, power was noticeably reduced, and we started cruising slowly around in circles. After a few laps, the Captain informed us that they had an "indicator" in the cockpit, and they were proceeding through a checklist to determine what to do.

A bit later, he told us that we would be flying to Las Vegas, where the problem would be fully identified, and, hopefully, fixed. As we approached Las Vegas, he mentioned that we would be landing at a higher speed than normal. He added that we shouldn't be alarmed if we see fire trucks deployed, as that was just a normal precaution.

Other than the severe braking that accompanied the higher landing speed, the landing was uneventful. In discussing it with a flight attendant, I learned it was called a "yellow". She said that the only other non routine landing category is "red", and you don't really want to experience one of those.

Once we had docked, they told us we could either stay on the plane, or get of and go into the terminal. Most people chose to deplane, which was just as well, since about thirty minutes later we all had to get off.

A problem with a part in the flap system had been diagnosed, and they were either going to be able to locate and install a replacement part, or they would bring in another aircraft for us. Unfortunately, they would have to bring it from Minneapolis!

They did manage to locate and install the necessary part, but overall, we were on the ground in Las Vegas for about five hours. The flight to Buffalo after that was normal, but, obviously, we were late, arriving in Buffalo about eight hours after our scheduled time. And, there was a shortage of ground staff.

The lone inside airport staff person had trouble with the several sets of doors we had to go through, as he hadn't yet updated his access card from November to December. He was successful with two or three sets, albeit setting off alarms, but for the final set, he had to telephone someone else who then had to come from elsewhere in the terminal to open the doors for us.

Once we got to the baggage claim area, we had to wait close to an hour for our luggage, due to the lack of staff to unload it.

We were remiss in not advising Seneca of our late arrival, and when we called to check on our reservation there, found it had been cancelled! Fortunately, we were able to reinstate it. Other than all the forgoing, there were no more problems.

The maintenance person/mechanic who identified the problem and installed the replacement part had been with us on the plane. I commented to him that it was a lucky coincidence that he was with us. He advised me that it was not a coincidence, and that all airlines, when operating charter flights such as ours, have a qualified person on board to deal with such situations as ours. I certainly didn't know that.

My apologies for the lengthy post, but I thought it a story worth telling.   

[Galeygoo]

FIrst of all; I don't think you should ever have to apologize for a lengthy post of such detailed, interesting information. Secondly; yikes....what a horror show!!

[ko king]

Our most recent Laughlin trip was not exactly a roaring financial success. We stopped at Seneca Niagara briefly on the way to Laughlin, and for two nights on the way home. My wife and I each had a rather improbable $2000 royal at Seneca, hers on a three card draw, and mine on a four card one. Despite those two royals, we finished the trip about $1500 in the red, overall, as not much really good happened otherwise.

I didn't do too bad in Laughlin (down around $400), but she got slaughtered to the tune of around $2200. However, my reason for posting this is not so much about the video poker results as it is about our adventurous trip home.

Let me start by stating that the current supplier of charter flights for Caesar's Entertainment, Sun Country Airlines, is, in my opinion, by far the best of the bunch so far, in terms of level of service and timeliness of flights. But, sometimes, things happen.

Our departure from Bullhead City was at just after 8 a.m. Nevada time (actually, it was 9 a.m. Arizona time). Our flight time was to be a bit over three and a half hours, with an arrival time, in Buffalo, a bit before 3 p.m. eastern time.

Shortly after takeoff, however, the normal climb out was terminated, power was noticeably reduced, and we started cruising slowly around in circles. After a few laps, the Captain informed us that they had an "indicator" in the cockpit, and they were proceeding through a checklist to determine what to do.

A bit later, he told us that we would be flying to Las Vegas, where the problem would be fully identified, and, hopefully, fixed. As we approached Las Vegas, he mentioned that we would be landing at a higher speed than normal. He added that we shouldn't be alarmed if we see fire trucks deployed, as that was just a normal precaution.

Other than the severe braking that accompanied the higher landing speed, the landing was uneventful. In discussing it with a flight attendant, I learned it was called a "yellow". She said that the only other non routine landing category is "red", and you don't really want to experience one of those.

Once we had docked, they told us we could either stay on the plane, or get of and go into the terminal. Most people chose to deplane, which was just as well, since about thirty minutes later we all had to get off.

A problem with a part in the flap system had been diagnosed, and they were either going to be able to locate and install a replacement part, or they would bring in another aircraft for us. Unfortunately, they would have to bring it from Minneapolis!

They did manage to locate and install the necessary part, but overall, we were on the ground in Las Vegas for about five hours. The flight to Buffalo after that was normal, but, obviously, we were late, arriving in Buffalo about eight hours after our scheduled time. And, there was a shortage of ground staff.

The lone inside airport staff person had trouble with the several sets of doors we had to go through, as he hadn't yet updated his access card from November to December. He was successful with two or three sets, albeit setting off alarms, but for the final set, he had to telephone someone else who then had to come from elsewhere in the terminal to open the doors for us.

Once we got to the baggage claim area, we had to wait close to an hour for our luggage, due to the lack of staff to unload it.

We were remiss in not advising Seneca of our late arrival, and when we called to check on our reservation there, found it had been cancelled! Fortunately, we were able to reinstate it. Other than all the forgoing, there were no more problems.

The maintenance person/mechanic who identified the problem and installed the replacement part had been with us on the plane. I commented to him that it was a lucky coincidence that he was with us. He advised me that it was not a coincidence, and that all airlines, when operating charter flights such as ours, have a qualified person on board to deal with such situations as ours. I certainly didn't know that.

My apologies for the lengthy post, but I thought it a story worth telling.   







Wow, sounds like some of my adventures. As far as Laughlin goes I've been twice, slaughtered both times.

[onemoretry]

Wow, sounds like some of my adventures. As far as Laughlin goes I've been twice, slaughtered both times. Since we started going to Laughlin in the spring of 2008, we have made a total of 22 visits there. Twice, we have driven down from Las Vegas. The other trips have all been Caesar's Entertainment junkets, 18 from Buffalo, and 2 from Toronto. Airfare and room are complimentary.

We haven't done too badly there, overall. I am down around $7500 in total for all those trips. Although I don't have my wife's numbers handy, I believe she has done somewhat better than I have. She did have one monster trip in June of 2015 where she hit three jackpots totalling a little over $12000, and brought most of it home.

[royal flush]

only marginal games at aquarius 10/7 db 100% job and 10/6 ddb other games garbage

[FAA]

Guess Laughlin got the last laugh!

[Lucky Larry]

Now instead of getting stuck telling how your gambling went Laughlin you can tell the much more exciting plane story.

Keep up the posts.

LL

[onemoretry]

Now instead of getting stuck telling how your gambling went Laughlin you can tell the much more exciting plane story.
LL To be honest, I would prefer to be posting about exciting and profitable gambling results, rather than plane trip adventures.

[Vman96]

[QUOTE=Lucky Larry] Now instead of getting stuck telling how your gambling went Laughlin you can tell the much more exciting plane story.
LL To be honest, I would prefer to be posting about exciting and profitable gambling results, rather than plane trip adventures.[/QUOTE]

This is true, but I still enjoyed reading the story!

[Lucky Larry]

[QUOTE=Lucky Larry] Now instead of getting stuck telling how your gambling went Laughlin you can tell the much more exciting plane story.
LL To be honest, I would prefer to be posting about exciting and profitable gambling results, rather than plane trip adventures.[/QUOTE]

You know the old saying, "All play and no plane, makes it hard to get to Laughlin." especially from Buffalo.   

PS We really enjoyed playing Seneca when we were up there a few years ago.

Best Wishes.