Time

In looking at departures for a future trip, I have the luxury of many departures from Minnesota if I fly a major carrier that absorbed our former headquartered-in-MN airline.

I like the late afternoon departure here in MN. YYMV based upon where you are traveling from, but what time of day works best for you, and why?

 

If I am travelling to Vegas...and actually flying...I like to leave later afternoon early evening (4pm-7pm) so I avoid having to use a vacation day at work and when I arrive I can just go straight out for the night...there isnt the short period of day vegas stuff before the transition to night vegas.

If I am flying somewhere else I plan my flight so I can arrive at my hotel right around check in time (after rental car pick up etc.) this maximizes my time the first day to explore whats around my hotel and get familiar with the streets and stuff.


Is your countdown to vegas really 677 days!?!?!?!?? (as of 5-22-13) talk about planning ahead haha wink

 

Usually the 3pm departure. Late enough not to have traffic to the airport but lets me in with time to get checked in and changed before dinner.

 

I don't have a trip booked, but I have a special trip planned in 677 days. It coincides with a friend's birthday. For now, it's all I got.

 

I used to leave early in the AM to arrive as early in Vegas as I can. I do the same on the way back due to the time change. I have found that I am waaaaay too tired when I arrive and end up going to bed early. I live far from the airport and having to be there at least an hour before the flight, I'd have to wake up at 5AM EST so by 9PM Vegas time I'm ready to call it a night. On the way back I pretty much miss out on the last night, having to wake up at 3AM to catch the 7AM flight.

My next trip in a few weeks, I'm going to change it up. I only have one option for direct - on Southwest. Almost 5 hours on that plane is not something I'm looking forward to, but I think the savings in time will be worth it. I'm used to first class, with big seats, and free food and drinks. I'll just grin and bear it. The flight out leaves at 1PM and the flight back at Noon. I think having the time to get ready in the morning both ways is worth the savings in time and money. I'll find out!

 

We fly as early as 6am and no later than 9am.
Coming from the east coast it can be a long day.
Figure about 7-9 hours from leaving the house to finally checking into the room provided its a direct flight.

By leaving at this time it still gives us a full day of gambling and drinking due to the time difference.

 

I assume you're talking Delta out of MSP? I think they have an approximately 9am weekday flight direct to Vegas....I like that one.

 

I like the late morning flights. I don't have to get up too early (which is especially annoying considering it's three hours earlier here) and I still get into town with plenty of time to unpack, relax with a cocktail and get some gambling done prior to dinner.

 

Like to get there around 8-10 PM. After all these years I still love the sight of getting my first glimpse of the trip at night on the strip. I like to take a quick shower, grab a bite to eat and get in a few hours at the tables.

 

It's way simple for us: load the car, start driving. We're six hours out (I miss three-plus). We like to get going early, get in some shopping or a spa visit or golf before check in.

 

I love the non-stops and 10 AM works for us, but this trip the only non-stops were 7 AM and 3:30 PM and later. So we took a connector to PHX at 11:50 AM and it adds an hour to our trip, but we still get there at 3:20 PM. There is just no way I want to get to the airport at ~5AM. Not a morning person.

 

We almost always take the early morning flight from Atlanta or Charlotte so we can arrive in Vegas in time to hit the ground running at a pool party right after we check in or check our bags at the hotel if the room isn't ready.

 

I typically fly Delta out of MSP. I like either the flights around 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. - whichever is cheaper.

 

We usually take the 10AM flight.

That is the earliest flight to Las Vegas, if there was an earlier one we would probably take it instead (there used to be a bunch of earlier flights, but they got rid of those).

Why so early:
- I'd probably have a hard time sleeping the night before anyhow
- We've never had a problem checking in early
- The sooner we get there the sooner the vacation starts
- If I am tired from being up so early I'll just take an afternoon nap. A nap in Las Vegas is better than an extra hour or twos worth of sleep back home

 

Can't refute the logic here!!!