A few observations about my trip to Harrahs New Orleans

I generally have never had an issue with Southwest, but this trip I was a bit ticked off. We paid an extra $50 to get early bird check-in and were still in the A-40’s. No big deal about that, but I did have an issue with how many people were saving seats. On our trip home a person was saving a whole row and when I asked someone else about seats he said he was saving it for his wife, we ended up sitting past the emergency exit rows. I think people are having one person pay for early-bird and then saving a seat for the 2nd person. On the last leg of my flight I asked about 2 seats (window/middle) and a guy (business traveler) said it was saved. At this point I’d had it and I told him they’re not allowed to save seats. He then said “I’d never heard that before”, so I told him he could check with the flight attendant. He ended up moving his stuff but then there’s that animosity there, which is uncomfortable. I’m going to be writing to SW airlines, I think they should make announcement prior to boarding that saving seats is not allowed and have the attendants enforce it. There’s no reason I should feel uncomfortable asking someone to move their stuff, especially since I paid for early check in.


When we arrived we had two limo’s waiting for us under my name in New Orleans and my friends limo was not there, so they ended up giving them one of the limo’s sent for me and they got to the hotel first. I get to hotel check in and should have a king bed, premier view. I’m told we have 2 double beds and no view. At this point I’m tired and ticked off. My friend who checked in before me, and does not have near the tier points I have, was given a king room, no view. So, now I’m pissed, she gets one of my limos, gets to the hotel before me and a king room. I told the check in girl it was BS and she kept insisting there were no other rooms. I finally told her I wanted to talk to someone. I have 100k tier points this year, I usually don’t have any problems getting the room I want (not suites though). She runs off to talk to someone and amazingly I’m given a king room on the 23rd floor with a great view of the river. She starts telling me they have a bunch of 7 Stars and blah, blah, blah…yeah whatever.

Here are some things I learned about Harrahs New Orleans:

All drinks are comped if you’re playing. Diamond players can get 4 drinks per day without having to play, they keep track in the computer. She told me Diamond players can get “any” drink they want, premium or whatever.

I went to use some TR points for a partner restaurant and the lady at VIP gave me a comp voucher without touching my TR points, based on my play.

When I went to VIP to check out they comped everything without touching my TR points, which was a new one on me.

Later in the night the hotel attracts a different type of crowd, which made me a little uneasy, I think they are going to the nightclub.

We ate at Mannings a couple of times (decent food, charge to room) and used our partner comp at Drago’s which are known for their grilled oysters (next door at the Hilton).

My fiancée and I had a blast! We went to the WWII museum, which is within walking distance. I recommend it if you’re into that type of thing, be sure to see the 4-D movie. We also took an airboat/swamp tour and paid extra to get on one of the smaller boats, which was worth it IMO. We saw quite a few gators and turtles and took some really beautiful pictures. Harrahs is in a great location to see some of the Uptown mardi gras parades. We walked to the main parade route on St. Charles street and had seats for viewing, but the route ended right in front of Harrahs, so you can hang out in front of the hotel and still get beads etc…

We are hoping to take a trip there next year, although I was told by my host at Rincon they still haven’t set up the TR benefits for 2014, so I’m not sure if they will have the aspiration trips or not.

Thanks for the info. I am thinking of going to NOLA this summer. I have been reading a lot about the swamp tours I didn't know they had smaller boats. I totally agree with you about SW they need to make and announcement and enforce it. I like SW but the saving seat thing has gotten way out of hand.

I really enjoyed our trip and would recommend NOLA as a fun destination. The locals are really nice.

The swamp tour was great. Our boat had 6 people on it, but can fit 8. It cost $90/person, but you need to factor in tips for the guide and shuttle drivers. The only issue I had is one of the chicks on our boat was annoying and asked question after question.

I agree with the SW thing, geez to pay extra and the have all the seats saved is just BS.

I was surprised they didn't use my TR points and comped everything. I guess every property is different.

I was told by a SWA flight attendant that anyone can claim an exit row seat, in other words one can try to 'save' an exit row seat but if someone wants the one being saved, too bad. Other seats can be 'saved.' Or so she said.

I always bought Early Bird for both of us. When they raised the price I tried paying for one EB and 'saving' hubby a seat. I decided it makes me unconfortable, watching for him and hoping nobody will take 'his' seat, so I decided what the heck I'm throwing 50 times that into slot machines, so now I'm back to EB for both of us. Makes the trip much more pleasant.

Glad you had a good time in the Big Easy.

On the flight out I spoke up about it and an attendant said I can take any open seat, basically I can take a "saved"seat, but then it becomes uncomfortable to have that confrontation with another passenger. The guy on that flight just had his stuff in the middle seat hoping no one would sit there, so didn't mind moving it. He slept for the entire flight.

My fiancée just sent an email to southwest and I plan to do the same, it's ridiculous that they are willing to risk potential arguments between passengers by allowing this practice.

We always fly SWA, we never pay for early bird, we always pull out the phone for check-in exactly 24 hours prior, and we always get suitable seating. People should not be able to save seats as that defeats the whole purpose of selling early birds or pushing for check-in 24 hours prior to get the best boarding position. In regard to NOLA we love the place and are going in late May. We are nowhere near the level of erininsd as I struggle to make Platinum each year (live in Indy so not very close to CET casinos and only quarter VP player) but like the free drinks while gaming (nothing like this in the midwest - illegal) and the general ambiance of NOLA. Always a great place to have some fun.

Overall, sounds like you had a fun time. Sorry about the hastle on Southwest and the limo. The time I visited my plane was 3 hours late and arrived after midnight. Other than my plane, the airport was a ghost town. I was thankful the limo driver was waiting for me. Congrats on getting food comped without having to use points.

Thanks for the good info. We are considering going to NOLA instead of our usual summer trip to Vegas.
Checked on air fares & got a better deal on US Air instead of SW & it was a direct flight from Philly.
Harrahs will comp 5 nights.
One of my friends recommended the "Bonton Café". He said is a locals place.

Setting up different tours or attactions to see definitely made it a great trip for us. I had only been there one time before, on a Harrahs charter, and spent most of my time in the casino, so didn't experience much of the city.

Next time we want to go to somewhere for dinner in the french quarter, which has some sort of jazz band and also want to take the Mardi Gras World tour, where they give you the history and show how the floats are built (good reviews and also a lot of people we met said it was a fun tour), maybe also do a plantation tour.

Cafe Giovanni is an Italian restaurant located within walking distance from Harrah's. It is located on the edge of the French Quarter. They have a piano and 2 opera singers at the dinner hour. Also, a Harrah's partner so drop by the VIP office to pick up a comp for the restaurant.

Mardi Gras World is a great tour. Oak Alley (45 minutes from New Orleans) is something to do, but there isn't much out there other than the tour. There is a small restaurant on the grounds.