Non political

JMHO, vacation, i.e. Vegas, flights are part of the fun, and I'll pay a little more to have the best flight times/hours/total trip times.  I don't fret about $100 or so more than the cheapest fare if it gets us 1) non-stop, 2) shorter total trip time, 3) arrive in Vegas by at least early afternoon, 4) arrive home no later than early-mid evening.   That's worth the extra money, when I can find that perfect flight schedule.  And I'll keep looking until it presents itself.

Candy

Good point...but you have to factor in gasoline to drive there and the price of airport parking.     The best thing about Indy Southwest is they have a nonstop coming back that leaves at 6pm Vegas time....so you really almost get a full day of fun on your last day there.

When I was younger, I would drive a couple of hours to save a couple of hundred bucks..........or less.  I'm way to old and lazy to do that now.  I can get to my gate in Indy 45 minutes after I leave my couch.

Candy, I like those things too but at the closest airport to me that has direct flights to Vegas they often aren't available. For example my closest direct option was $330 out of Louisville on Spirit both ways. The departure time was 5 AM my time which means allowing for drive time and early arrival at the airport I'd have to leave my home at around midnight my time. On the other hand, driving 3 hours to St Louis gives me more direct options, shaves 30 minutes off the flight times both ways and allows me to leave for the airport in the afternoon which sets up staying up late in Vegas better than the early departure.

PJ, I always do. Eventhough the Louisville airport is the closest to me the drive through Louisville to get to the airport is unpleasant starting with the bridge over the Ohio river only having one lane open. The drive to St. Louis is pleasent. It's all rural until you actually get to St. Louis. The airport is easy to get in and out of. There is a lot of parking available and numerous shuttle buses run back and forth to the parking lots. Surface parking is only $7 a day and there is off site parking available for less if you want to go that route.

Those direct Delta flights out of Cincinnati depart early in the morning from Cincinnati and the return from Las Vegas departs late in the evening maximizing your time there.

I absolutely cannot stand the airport experience any longer, to the point where if I can drive there in nine hours or less, I'll do that instead.

Case in point: SF Bay area to Vegas. Nine hour drive, and when you get there, you already have a car. Fly, and door to door, including renting a car...8 1/2 hours. Big whoop!

Of course, if you're coming from the Midwest, you really don't have the option to drive. So I would never endure the airport agony unless I was staying for a week or longer.

Kevin, if I get to the airport and it's not too early in the morning or late in the evening, I mange to have a good time. I like to have a few drinks before my flight departs. The drive to the airport is the worst part about the expirence for me.

When I booked my flights, I could have saved about $100 if I took a late morning flight or and early evening flight.  If it was a trip with three guys from the same town, I might have done that.  We are 15 guys coming from about 8 different states, and I don't have the luxury of arriving at an odd time.

Also, at my age I'm hell bent on non-stop flights.

Since we fly out of NY we prefer early am flights, to minimize the risk of delays which increase the later the day gets. 

With the issues of flight delays, we aim for non-stop & third on the list is to get seats with extra legroom 

It may cost more but the convenience is worth it. We arrive reasonably rested & at a time to enjoy the day 

Another advantage about early flights here; driving to LGA, JFK & Newark takes 30, 40, 50 minutes respectively at 5am.  By 7am you can at least double the time.  

Just have an enjoyable trip. It's refreshing to read a non-politically themed thread with normal conversations here. Good for you.