Where Is Uber at LAS?

Where is Uber LAS? I recently wrote a post on capturing Uber and Lyft in Vegas, a compulsion on par with finding Pokémon in Central Park. One thing I left out is how to find Uber in the most critical of all places in Las Vegas- the airport. Like the hotels, McCarran International Airport doesn’t make it easy to find the ride share programs. Here are some quick directions in case you end up downstairs in the baggage claim and are tempted to take a taxi instead of searching for Uber. After retrieving your bags, head to the second floor and take the walkway bridge to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to floor 2M. Wallah, you have averted a taxi nightmare. Uber does charge a $2.45 Las Airport Surcharge but that is tolerable compared to the Vegas taxi mafia which charges whatever it wants depending on their desire to be generous or nefarious.

Skip the slots
Skip the slots
Ride Share means Uber/Lyft
Ride Share means Uber/Lyft
Take the elevator to Excalibur
Take the elevator to Excalibur
uber las
There’s Uber
Or Lyft depending on who you call
Or Lyft depending on who you call

10 M Life Perks for Non Gamblers in Vegas

Vegas is the city of comps for the gambler but what about those of us who are too unlucky to win at anything? Are we supposed to pay for what others get for ‘free’? I was in Vegas for one week which is one week too much. The eating, drinking, and lack of sleep catches up quickly to even the most astute Vegas-goer. The trip became a mini mattress run to requalify for Hyatt Diamond. Five out of the six nights I stayed at M Life/Hyatt properties including the Hyatt Place which was much nicer this time around, the Excalibur, which may look like a castle but the guests are treated like peasants, the MGM, an overrated hotel past its prime, and the Luxor, my favorite low-cost Vegas hotel. I exploited my M Life Platinum status at each hotel and at sister properties to get the most bang for my resort fee buck. Here is the Top Ten List of freebies:

  1. Free Pool Party Entrance: I went to Wet Republic, the loud, too much house in your face pool party at the MGM and was spared the $100 entrance fee.
    Bass in your face!
    Bass in your face!
    Daylight Mandalay
    Daylight Mandalay
  2. Free Beer: The Luxor and Excalibur had a mini-fridge stocked with beers for guests. The MGM said that my Platinum status wasn’t good enough for the VIP Lounge which is reserved for the Noir players. Mandalay only served coffee and snacks.
    The alternative is two buy 2 25 oz beers for $16 and get a free shot.
    The alternative is two buy 2 25 oz beers for $16 and get a free shot.
  3. Free Snacks: Sometimes you need a Baby Ruth or Kit-Kat to keep the blood sugar up between drinks. The Lounge has chips, candy bars, water, and coffee.
    Excalibur lounge
    Excalibur lounge
  4. Free Club Entrance: Vegas doormen are interesting characters. They truly enjoy their power. Although the clubs are owned and operated independent of the hotels, I used my M Life card to gain free access to the clubs.
    The door guy
    The door guy
  5. Free Peeping Tom: Entrance to the tame topless pool at the Mandalay Bay is usually $20. It is free for M Life Platinums. While it’s called the Moorea Beach Club, I saw as many similarities to the real Moorea in French Polynesia as I did with the Mandalay Bay Hotel to the real Mandalay in Burma.
    Creeper cam!
    Creeper cam!
  6. Line Bypass for the Buffet: The lines are ridiculous for the $25 fat man’s special. M Life lets you cut the line and expedite the gorging process.
    I didn't like the ribs
    I didn’t like the ribs
    And the pizza was meh
    And the pizza was meh
  7. Expedited Check-In: People are probably still waiting in line to check-in at the Excalibur from yesterday. The line is massive and the service is so slow and inefficient. M Life members get their own line. If you are staying at the Luxor, check in at the lounge.
    Excalibur is so busy there's a line for the elevator.
    Excalibur is so busy there’s a line for the elevator.
  8. Free Parking: Vegas used to provide free parking. Now MGM hotels charge for self-parking and valet. This is not the case if you have M Life status.
    I used Uber/Lyft when I could find the pick up spots.
    I used Uber/Lyft when I could find the pick up spots.
  9. Complimentary Room Upgrades: The front desk claims that M Life Platinums are given better rooms. I was upgraded at the Luxor but not at the Lower Calibur. I was given a room upgrade at the MGM which I thought w
    So Egypt
    So Egypt
    $80 up charge at MGM for spa suite which I was not told about. They later refunded it after I complained.
    $80 up charge at MGM for spa suite which I was not told about. They later refunded it after I complained.
  10. Late Check-Out: Again, this is up to the discretion of the front desk and your ability to schmooze.
    Get me on the fastest thing out of here, keep your late check-out
    Get me on the fastest thing out of here, keep your late check-out

Milwaukee Lounge Review, Sort Of

I wrote a few days ago that I’m switching from Southwest to JetBlue. Besides being unable to qualify for the companion pass, I am tired of Southwest’s inconvenient routing. The Vegas flight to New York left conveniently at 7AM, only it stops in Milwaukee first. From here I have to wait four hours for my flight to LGA. 
 
When booking points tickets, it’s easy to fall for the lowest award=best award trap. This mistake is compounded when arriving in an airport that doesn’t have an accessible lounge. When I got off of the plane, I Googled Milwaukee Airport Lounge. I saw that there was one for Delta and a generic one called Airport Lounge. I assumed this was a Priority Pass lounge. Unfortunately, this lounge is not connected to the airport which is why I was unable to visit and provide a more detailed review. Judging by the website, it could be a nice time. ‎
IMG_20160715_124848

Uber Vegas: Capturing Pokémon

Greetings and salutations from Vegas. I’m at the Mandalay wave pool, the geriatric hangout for those who can’t handle the previously documented pool party. Since I’m here for NBA Summer League as a basketball agent, I’ve had to run around Vegas from gym to gym. In retrospect it would’ve been smarter to rent a car and stay off of the strip but then what fun would that be? Instead of doing that, I’ve relied on Uber and Lyft to get around. Uber seems to be surging at all hours which is why I’ve been utilizing Lyft more frequently. The real issue is the city’s general disdain for these programs. At the Excalibur, Uber can only pick up and drop off at the rear of the hotel. At MGM, I was misinformed as to where the pickup location was. My Lyft driver understandably canceled because I didn’t show up in a timely manner. At Mandalay, I was scolded by my Uber driver for not asking the hotel for directions. The app says Beach Entrance and I was told to go to the pool area exit. That was not correct.  At the airport, clients have to pick up their bags and head back upstairs,  walk across the bridge then take the elevator to the mezzanine level to meet the driver. Now that I know where that is, it’s not a big deal. But the first time it was frustrating for me and the driver. Last, for Summer League, the pickup location has changed each of the days I was there. I asked a couple of the drivers about the tolerance for Uber and they said that hotels purposefully have made it this Pokémon capture game in order to dissuade guests from using the service. One driver said that Uber’s presence is such a polarizing issue that a local official is using it as part of her platform for reelection. The politician evidently took $78,000 from the taxi lobby to further their cause of curtailing Uber’s expansion. Try as they might, the Vegas taxi mafia won’t be able to block Uber’s growth in a place home to some of the worst taxis in the world. Rather than fight market forces, hotels should embrace change and do something really bold- kick the taxis out. It’ll be a cold day in Vegas before that happens. 20160711_202350

Wet Republic: Too Much Pool Party

Greetings from the desert, my home for the rest of the week. I’m here for NBA Summer League, a spectacle I will chronicle at another time. Right now I’m blogging from the serene pool at the MGM. Yesterday I was missing in action because I made the near fatal choice of going to the Wet Republic pool party, a party full of fun and filth. The cover charge to enter can be as much as $100. Luckily my MGM room key got me in for free. That savings was quickly erased when I bought my first drink for $40. To be fair, it was probably the equivalent of three to four drinks.

With house music played at decibels ‎far beyond what is safe for human consumption and a nonstop beat down from the sun, I feel fortunate to have made it out alive. The craziness is compounded by the massive crowd who collectively do not know the meaning of moderation. I escaped the mob and found a retreat by way of a pool bungalow. I’m not sure how much the bungalows go for but I’m guessing a few thousand dollars. When the Grey Goose ran dry and the last of the Don Julio was consumed, the tenants of the bungalow also left. Friendships in Vegas only last as long as bottle service. 
 
I’ve been to a few pool parties in Vegas and this one by far is my least favorite. Maybe I’m getting too old for this shit but I can’t deal with the pandemonium. I can’t imagine going to Rehab at Hard Rock and last time I was at Tao Beach I felt the same way. Gentler pool experiences like the main pool at XS are more my speed. ‎Pool parties are one of the best inventions of mankind so I’m hoping that my dislike of Wet Republic was an aberration. Otherwise I see no reason to come to Vegas since I don’t gamble and I don’t go to Cirque shows. 
 
The only way to test my hypothesis is to go to one more pool party before I go. That way I will know for sure. 
 
Drais anyone?‎
20160710_144446
Peaceful pool
20160710_151411
Dictatorship of Wet Republic
20160710_153922 20160710_161208 20160710_151604

Is This The Worst Person In The World?

Let me quickly state that the question should not be taken out of context. I’m talking about seemingly normal people who somehow believe their behavior is acceptable.

I had a great day at the Admirals Club JFK and was just about to board for my flight to Las Vegas. The flight is five hours long so I thought it best to have another glass of wine before takeoff. Before I could order, a woman stepped up to the bar with her AA drink coupons and asked for four bottles of water. I think it’s ridiculous that bottled water requires a coupon but that’s beyond the point. The bartender initially brought her Pelligrino to which the woman replied she wanted still. Then things got testy as she began to name her preferred water choices. “Do you have Fiji? How about Evian? Really no Fiji?” Taken aback the kind bartender brought her Dasani,  America’s version of fine agua. Sensing her displeasure, the bartender asked if that was suitable to which the lady said, “It will have to do.” Really?        

AA Admirals Club JFK Gate 42: Here All Day

I might as well get this lounge review out of the way as I still have a few hours to kill. Spending all day at a lounge is a nice timeout from life. While US airlines do not have the amenities of foreign lounges, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the AA Admirals Club at Gate 42.

Nice touch with the button AA
Nice touch with the button AA
Seating  The lounge is separated into two main sections. The ‘quiet area’ and the bar and general seating area. The quiet area has lounge chairs which I had the pleasure of occupying in a fetal position for a good six hours. The main area has basic seating for those not in hibernation.
2016-07-09 05.27.07
Empty in the AM
2016-07-09 05.27.18
Bar area
2016-07-09 05.27.31
Summer Seasonal is extra
Make yourself at home
Make yourself at home. You see the mouse?
The Breakfast The good news is that there are hard-boiled eggs, a TPOL favorite. The bad news is that they were not peeled in advance like the Delta Sky Club Salt Lake City. The bagels came in three varieties: plain, garlic, and sesame. I had two. #nocarbsaturdays
2016-07-09 05.28.13
Shrink wrapped apples
2016-07-09 05.33.04
Peel the eggs!
2016-07-09 05.38.32
Best breakfast
The Drinks  Per tradition, I had a Coors Light and Bloody Mary. Only Coors, Bud Light, and Budweiser are included in terms of beer.
2016-07-09 08.07.00
The tradition
The Lunch  After my slumber, I went back for more food. As predicted, the Admirals Lounge could host the carrot eating contest. Besides industrial grade hummus, there was two varieties of soup, and cookies. I don’t know how any of this goes together but I had a little bit of everything.
2016-07-09 14.43.07
Cheese, olives, tomatoes
2016-07-09 14.43.19
Carrots top right
2016-07-09 14.41.51
Soup was okay
2016-07-09 11.44.59
Cookies!
The Shower The lounge does have a shower which is a nice touch for the all-day lounge goer.
One of the best shower experiences
One of the best shower experiences
And great soap
And great soap
The View  The best feature of the lounge is the view of the tarmac. There’s something poetic about seeing the planes parked in unison, ready to take flight.
2016-07-09 14.41.10
Magnifique
Overall If you’re facing eviction or just sick of your NYC tin can apartment, spending a day at the Admirals Club at JFK may be the second best thing next to a day at the spa.

How Long Is Too Long at the Lounge?

The answer to this depends on where in the world you are. In Auckland I was at the lounge for 12 hours and was not ready to leave. Today I’m at JFK in the AA lounge and the hours have ticked by. Thus far I’ve eaten breakfast, waited for the bar to open, and am going to take a nap following this post. When I awake, it will be time for lunch, more drinks, and a shower. Besides enjoying the perks, I anticipate that I will get more work done here than I would at the office, if I had one. If there was a gym here I’d consider making the daily commute to Queens.

Work, work, work, work
Work, work, work, work
 

Air New Zealand to Tahiti: In Coach to Paradise

The Air New Zealand Auckland Papeete Flight Review is part of the Tahiti Triumph Trip Report. It covers the following cities:

See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
There are worse things in life than flying coach. At the moment, I can’t think of any of them. I did everything I could to get United, Air New Zealand, and the island nation of French Polynesia to upgrade my ticket from coach to business for the AKL-PPT-AKL legs. The original ticket from PVG-AKL-PPT-AKL-PVG was in business but Air New Zealand would not release any business class seats to United points travelers. When I boarded the plane, the business class was empty. As I walked by the deserted business class cabin and dropped my head in resignation, I came to the realization that this coach ordeal was a small price to pay in exchange for ten days in paradise. Furthermore, the flight was only five hours long so I’m sure I could manage. (see How to Survive a 17 Hour Flight)
2016-05-15 18.00.48
Whatever, it’s a 767 anyway
The Seat  767’s are old and cramped. It’s hard for me to distinguish one economy class seat from another. This one was certainly more spacious than Allegiant but not particularly comfortable. The Entertainment  My ticket said ‘The Works’ which meant that I was able to watch movies for free. So at least I had that going for me. In terms of the selection, there were a few new Hollywood releases and the usual airplane flicks. The rest of the time I started at the flight information, giddy that I would soon be in Tahiti.
AKL-PPT time travel
AKL-PPT time travel
The Food  When I flew EgyptAir in coach, the food was great. This wasn’t the case on this flight. The saving grace was free New Zealand wine. Here are the pictures:
2016-05-06 15.27.55
Chicken?
2016-05-06 15.28.06
Or beef?
Arrival I did it! I survived and am a much better person for it. Overall, I was more annoyed that the business class seats were empty than I was at having to fly coach. I’m sure this flight didn’t have the Air New Zealand PVG-AKL burger on it but I would have appreciated the service nonetheless.  

Goodbye Southwest, Hello JetBlue

And I can’t fight this feeling anymore. I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for.

Chase rejecting you on recon? All your Southwest points burned? No chance of requalifying for a companion pass? Then do as I did and take your FICO to Barclays and point your AwardWallet to JetBlue.

After enrolling in the JetsBlue Points Match, I completed step 2 of my conversion from Southwest to JetBlue by applying for a Barclays JetBlue Plus Card. That comes with a sign-up bonus of 30k points, 5k anniversary points, and 10% rebate on all points redeemed. The $99 fee isn’t waived but the value of those three benefits more than makes up for it. Incidentally, Lucky just wrote a piece on it so you can find his complete breakdown of the card on his site.

After I take the Points Match qualifying flight and spend 1k on the credit card, I’ll have 105k JetBlue points to utilize. I’ve never flown on JetBlue before but I’ve only heard good things. I will miss Southwest but what else can I do if Chase won’t participate in my points way of life?

Something strange about not flying Southwest to Vegas
Something strange about not flying Southwest to Vegas