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Aborted landing leads to a shortened trip

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Molder66, Jul 22, 2013.

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  1. Molder66

    Molder66 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2013
    Messages:
    135
    Location:
    Phoenix Area
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12

    My Trip Report

    Wednesday I decided to make a short weekend trip.
    I was ready for some stress relief and I wanted to do some scouting for some friends that will be meeting up for my August trip.
    They have rooms booked at the Quad and after reading all the different reviews here, I wanted to check it out for myself.

    I booked a Friday evening flight out of PHX. I usually drive as it saves $$ and with the time going to the airport, sitting around, cab lines and everything else it only saves about an hour.

    Our summer rainy season is in full effect and I see the storms building to the north of phoenix.
    I board the plane and our flight leaves on time.
    I have a window seat on the right side of the plane. As I expected the flight was bumpy but nothing I had not encountered before.

    As we approached LAS, I noticed from my window that there were some storms in the Vegas area.
    We were on final approach, full flaps, wheels down when the plane rolls left and tail drops
    The pilot reacts, increases the throttle and aborts our landing.
    As we were turning away from LAS I saw the dust storm heading down the strip.
    In the last couple years they have started calling the dust storms “Haboobs”, makes me laugh every time I hear it.

    The pilot comes on the intercom and says “sorry for the bumps but we just experienced a 180 degree 40 knot wind shift and he decided to abort our landing”.
    He then explained that there was also severe lightning and we would circle for a few minutes as the storm passes. “Please stay seated with your seat belt fastened as it will be bumpy for a little while longer.
    20 minutes later he comes over the intercom and informs us that the storm is not passing as fast as he expected and we need to go and get some fuel,

    In Ontario CA.

    45 minutes later we land in Ontario and pull up to a gate in Ontario.

    Next announcement,
    “We will be a few minutes until they can get fuel to us”.
    The pilot also lets us know that 4 flights were diverted to Ontario,
    3 flights to another California airport and 3 flights to Phoenix.

    Well 45 minutes later they start fuel the plane and we finally start our 65 minute trek back to LAS.

    Airport is busy

    I head down to catch a shuttle and find a huge line and looks like it will take forever.

    No limos anywhere and a long line at all the booths.

    I decide to head across to the taxi line.

    It took about an hour and I finally make it into a taxi.

    I asked the driver to take me to the Quad. He said no way that area is still flooded but he would get me as close as he could.
    He suggested The Flamingo but I talked him in to trying Harrah’s.
    We were lucky and Harrah’s was open so my walk was shorter than walking through Flamingo
    I entered The Quad and saw the mess and worked my way over to check in.
    The regular line was long but no one was in the Plat-diamond line.
    I was able to walk right up to the window. I was welcomed and upgraded to a suite on the 7th floor. I walked over to the elevators and low and behold, only 2 were working and the line was huge. I looked around and found the stairs.
    Made it to the room, dropped my stuff off and headed back down for something to eat.

    Found my way to the Hash House, I looked at my watch and it was 1:08am. 6-1/2 hours. wow

    I just had the "basic" with sausage and eggs over medium. It was perfect and I didn’t need to throw half of it away.

    After filling up I went to the casino sat at the bar, slid 20 into the bar top selected the coveted 6/5 bonus deluxe and ordered a beer. I had 2 beers and went through 40 dollars listening to all the stories of flooding.

    I was tired, and decided to head to the room.
    I tried to use the service elevator but was busted by security and resorted to the stairs again.

    The suite was nice, (back in 1980ish)
    everything was outdated but it was clean enough for me. I did see some stains on the walls and furniture but with the age of everything it should be expected.
    I didn’t find any hair in the bathroom and the tub was clean.
    Wow, that tub was huge, 5’ by 6’ oval about 18” deep, with a shower head sticking out of the wall as an afterthought.
    There were mirrors everywhere even above the bed,
    I felt like I was stuck on a 70’s porn set without my lovely wife to play with. (if she would even walk into the place)

    I woke up early Saturday morning and readied for the day.
    I pushed the elevator button, waited for about 5 minutes, took the stairs down.

    I walked out through the casino and started my walk south on the strip.
    I stopped off in PH for a Starbucks and went all the way down to MGM.
    I stopped and gave the Lion’s Share a hundred dollars and worked my way across the strip and headed back north. I worked my way through the casinos and shops all the way to Mirage.
    I went back across the strip and back through Harrah’s and I grabbed a bite to eat.
    I sat down at the bar; I slid in a hundred and ordered a beer. I managed to hit a couple quads made it up to $220 before I cashed out.
    I worked my way back over to the quad and found a $1 slant top with 8/5 bonus deluxe and started to play that.
    I proceeded to pump $800 into it before I gave up the chase.

    I can’t bitch about it, I’m the dummy who sat down at that pay table machine and then went into full meltdown chase mode.

    I ordered another beer, didn’t help my mood much, now it was only $160 a beer instead of $200.

    I went back to the elevator, waded through the people to the stairs and made the climb to my room.

    I had checked out the Quad and my scouting was done.

    I thought I would take a break and then take a cab downtown so I could play some actual VP.

    The flight in, the stairs, and then my VP stupidity had me down.

    I was looking forward to relaxing and so far I wasn’t feeling it.

    I opened my Laptop to make some notes.

    I ended up rescheduling my flight.

    I cleaned up, caught a cab back to the airport and was home for dinner.

    This wasn’t a planned trip for drinking and gambling,
    somehow I had let the bad VP run get to me.
    I have had way worse runs but my mood was soured and I didn’t see it getting any better.
    I decided to save someone a sarcastic ass chewing which they most likely wouldn’t have deserved and got the hell out of dodge.

    See ya all in two weeks
     
  2. Rush

    Rush MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    2,983
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    76
    Tough way to go, but smart move to head out if there was no "fun" on your radar.


    Next time, baby!
     
  3. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,249
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Tuff start to a trip but better safe than sorry!

    Where is that Starbucks in PHo? Curious where I can get my fastest morning fix.
     
  4. Molder66

    Molder66 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2013
    Messages:
    135
    Location:
    Phoenix Area
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12



    Thanks, Starbucks is on the north side of casino floor midway back..
     
  5. Big Tip

    Big Tip VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2008
    Messages:
    2,392
    Location:
    Austin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    67
    Not that I am superstitious or anything, but I let the flight to Vegas color how my luck is going to run once I get there. If I have an empty seat next to me going out, I feel lucky. If a small, cute, girl sits next to me, I feel I'll do good in Vegas.

    If I had been on your flight to Vegas, I would have turned around and come home without leaving the airport!

    Next time buddy. Get'em next time.
     
  6. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    Messages:
    9,892
    Location:
    Northern Nevada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    248
    Thanks for the report!!! I absolutely "resemble" this remark... I'm normally very upbeat, but when I'm tired and cranky and things aren't going my way, I get a mouth on me. Sorry, this trip was "the one", but glad you'll be back to fight another day!!! Hope it's SOOOOOOO much better!!! :peace:
     
  7. Blueberries

    Blueberries Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2008
    Messages:
    342
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    :beer: Here's to great luck in August!
     
  8. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    Messages:
    4,097
    Location:
    Bradenton, FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Thanks for the entertaining report – glad you survived! I've been on diverted flights a couple times, but thankfully always on the return trip to Atlanta (once to Austin and once to Jacksonville, not counting holding patterns).

    Changing IP to the Quad is truly a case of putting lipstick on a pig! :)
     
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