First it was air traffic control then later in the day it became maintenance, but I got saved by the United 1K line Thursday. I was sitting in SAV waiting for my flight when I got the phone message about a 30 minute departure delay to Washington. I had a 45 minute connection. Twenty minutes later it became a one hour delay and I was now officially a mis-connect. I called the United 1K line and when I gave them my member number they knew why I was calling. Instead of leaving on my original flight departing at 2:35 I left on the Continental flight to Houston at 2:10PM. That was OK with me as either flight was a Embraer 145. My connecting flight from Houston to Vegas was on a 737-900 series which I have never been on. Power plugs back to row 21 (my row) and  Direct TV ($7.99 for flights over 2 hours). I’m “sittin’ in tall cotton” as they say in the south. I lost my first class upgrade, but weaseled my way into an exit row aisle for the much shorter flight to Lost Wages. I’ll submit my original itinerary to United for the extra miles unless they bumped me up to full Y and extra EQM if that is what happens on CO flights. I haven’t checked. I kept getting the updates on my United flights on my cell phone. The last one indicated my scheduled 2:30 departure would be leaving SAV at 8:30 PM and my flight from IAD to LAS was delayed 1 hour and 20 minutes.I’m happy with my Continental experiences. The Presidents Club is a vast improvement over the Red Carpet Clubs I’ve been in.the snacks arre the same but they offer free booze. Not that I partake, but for most of you it will be interesting to see what happens with the merger.

IAH is huge, clean with lots of eateries and the train between terminals seems efficient enough. It is still decked out as a |Continental airport with most of the signage still Continental but banners are appearing.

Las Vegas Hilton Works for Me

My room Thursday night was $62.95 plus tax. With the Hilton Gold status I got a free breakfast buffet ($13.95) and free internet ($15). I wanted to pick it up again Saturday night but they were sold out with the Daytime Emmies that night. The location is somewhat out of the way, but I was really not disappointed as I was hotel hopping anyway.

Friday Texas Holdem was less than profitable. I came in 12th out of 58 entries in the morning tournament (they paid 7 places) The afternoon event was 295 entries and it felt like I finished about 200th and played awful. And the evening event had 91 entries and I came in 22nd with them paying 9 places. It is really hard to see the weakend economy in Vegas on weekends. Everything is packed and all the tables appear full.

Thanks for the Card Suggestions

Readers have sent in lots of ideas with the two newest being a Virgin Atlantic or America card that can be used on Continental and the Delta Gold Business card which I have never had. I also got a link for a 26,000 point sign up bonus on the Citi Thank You Points Preferred Card. This is one of the offers I’ve been looking for. I am really tempted to do a massive card application day this time. Katy’s scores are unbelievably high and I’m just itching to try a large number of cards all in one day. There is a new Bank of America Alaska offer for 40,000 miles

Imagine this, walking into a grocery store (small mom and pop or regional chain), buying a coke and $500 to $1,000 of money orders from the service desk with a card that pays 5 points per dollar at grocery stores like the Preferred card.

This technique is successful maybe 1% of the time, but when you find a store that will sell you money orders with a 5 points per dollar bonus category credit card, guard it with your life and don’t overdo it. It seems to be employee related or chain related in small stores. large volume stores tell their employees notto accpet credit cards for money orders. Some stores don’t. Your job is to find them. If you find a clerk that likes you, you will be a big winner in the free travel world. I cleaned up the last time Thank You points cards paid 5 points for gas, groceries and drugs.