Southwest Flight 745 LAS to RNO Trip Report

Since the cost to upgrade to Business Select was minimal (less than
$60), I decided to upgrade to a Business Select ticket for my round
trip flight between Las Vegas and Reno.  Since I did not check in
until the day of my trip, I was only given a boarding position of A4.
I did get a coupon for a "free" drink, as well.

Southwest Flight 745 LAS to RNO

After my flight on Delta from Minneapolis arrived in Las Vegas at gate D37, I deplaned and headed over to the C Terminal to Gate C25 to board my Southwest flight to Reno on Monday, September 22, 2014.

After exiting the tram from the D gates, I started following the signs to the A, B and C gates, but noticed one of those ominous signs that notified me that I would need to go through security again if I passed
that point.  I stopped immediately and looked around.  I noticed a
door that was emblazoned with a Do Not Enter sign beyond which I could
see the tram to the C Gates.  I passed through the doors and took the
tram to the C Gates.

The gate agent made her first pre-boarding announcement at 7:34pm and
had us line up at 7:38pm.  We boarded the plane at 7:43pm.

As I boarded the plane, a 737-700, I noticed about 10 passengers that
must have been throughs, so I sat myself on the aisle in seat 4D.
Even though I received the email about wifi the day before, this plane
did not have wifi capability, like my flight from Newark to Midway the
previous week.

The flight attendant closed the door at 7:54pm .  We pushed back from
the gate at 7:59pm and we took off at 8:07pm.

Since the flight was not full (about 80 passengers), the middle seat
next to me remained empty.   In the window seat sat a young woman from
the southern edge of Lake Tahoe.  I asked her if she might have an
issue getting there from Reno due tontine wild fires, but she seemed
to think that the fires were on the western side of the lake and would
not hinder the drive.

When the flight attendant came by, I ordered a can of Coke Zero and
with my coupon that I received with my Business Select ticket
purchase, I ordered a Fat Tire Amber Ale.  The flight attendant seemed
a bit put off that I ordered two drinks and questioned me to see if I
thought I would have time to drink both.  I answered in the
affirmative.

She brought my Fat Tire Amber Ale to me right away, even before she
started to prepare drinks for the other passengers.  The Fat Tire came
to me very cold with a bit of ice formed, so it was quite good.
Shortly thereafter she brought my can of Coke Zero with a glass of
ice. For a snack, they handed me two packets of lightly salted
peanuts.

We started making our initial descent at 8:51pm and landed at RNO at
9:07pm and arrived at gate B3 at 9:11pm.  I deplaned at 9:13pm.

Delta Flight DL1451 MSP to LAS Trip Report

Prior to my trip, I had reserved an aisle seat in Economy Comfort, but
was upgraded to First Class seat 7C a few days before my trip.  I was
definitely glad to get the upgrade!

We boarded at Gate G22 at 5:13pm. The storage above my seat, which was
at the back of first class, was just big enough for my bag.

When I arrived at my seat, there were some Billboard headphones and a
bottle of Dasani water.  There was an inflight entertainment (IFE)
screen on the seat back in front of me and a plug in between my seat
and the seat next to me.  When I plugged in my phone, when I boarded,
it did not charge my phone.    Unfortunately, my phone did not charge,
even after we took off.

The flight attendant took my pre-flight drink order at 5:24pm and my
margarita made with Avion tequila.  It came in a plastic cup, instead
of a glass one, as I have been accustomed to.  We pulled back at
5:42pm and took off at 5:56pm.

On the IFE, I decided to watch Godzilla, starring Bryan Cranston,
since I had never seen it.  As I began watching it, before take off,
the flight attendant hurried me to finish my margarita, which
surprised me.

Another flight attendant, Antwan, later came through to take our
dinner order.  We had a choice between a Mexican Chop Salad with
jalapeño chicken and a turkey and swiss hot sandwich.  I chose the hot
turkey and swiss. To drink, I ordered another margarita.

It was nice, since Antwan starting taking orders at our row, the rear
of the first class cabin.  Usually I have found that flight attendants
start at the front of the cabin and by the time they reach me, I only
have one choice.

The other flight attendant then came through with the hot towel.
After retrieving all of the used towels, the same flight attendant
came through and place napkins on our tray.

My margarita was brought first in a glass, then they came by with
snacks - a choice of peanuts, pretzels and Biscoff cookies.  I chose
the Biscoff cookies, as I had chosen on the flight from South Bend to
Minneapolis.

When the sandwich arrived, it was accompanied by some fruit (grapes,
sliced apple and a strawberry), a Dancing Deer Baking Company maple
oatmeal cookie, and a package of Cape Code kettle cooked potato chips.
The sandwich was also accompanied by a pickle and a packet of
Hellman's real mayonnaise and a packet of Grey Poupon Dijon mustard.

I dispensed the mustard and mayonnaise on to the sandwich and
proceeded to take a bite.  Overall, not a bad sandwich.  The bread was
nice a crispy.  The fruit was fresh and the chips and cookie were
quite good.

DL1451 MSP to LAS

After dinner, I thought that I would try one of the new mixed drinks
that is featured in the Skymiles magazine.  As I talked to Antwan, he
ascertained that I would enjoy the Silver Horizon, which is Avion
tequila and Fresca, garnished with one each of lemon and orange
wedges.  It was quite tasty and was served in a glass.

I found it interesting that the New York based crew was fully African
American.  I wonder if the flight attendants assemble their teams or
if Delta determined that such a team would be beneficial.

For my last drink I ordered a Platinum Take Off.  It was Woodford
Reserve small batch bourbon, cranberry-apple juice and a splash of
club soda.  It had a nice, deep fruity flavor.

We started our initial descent at 8:29pm Central time.  The flight up
to that point was quite smooth.  The pilot came on the intercom to let
us know that it would be another 25 minutes and that we would be
heading to Gate D37 after we landed.

We landed at 6:50pm in Las Vegas - it was an easy landing.  We taxied
to Gate D37 and arrived at the gate at 6:57pm and deplaned at 6:59pm.