Triangle Trip

Everyone is used to their accruing airline miles, and then redeeming those airline miles to get their free airplane ticket.  This is good for most of us who try to find the cheapest ticket possible because we still get the same number of miles independent of ticket price.

However, Virgin America‘s (VX) loyalty program (“Elevate”) is a good reward model in favor of themselves, and not the consumer.  That combined with no status wonders how they will attract the business flyers.

You earn 5 Virgin America Elevate points for every pre-tax US dollar spent on a ticket.  I had flight of total of $49.60, pre-tax was $36.10.  I earned 36 * 5 = 180 Elevate points.

On Virgin America’s website, you can switch back and forth between dollars and Virgin America points when booking a ticket.  The rough conversion is 46.51 points per US dollar.

Examples: A $38 flight is 1768 points, and a $101 flight is 4698 points.

So if you are stuck with a short mileage flight but expensive ticket, go with Virgin America. Virgin America offers you more bang for the buck! You will also enjoy the nice new planes – before they go out of business per The Captain’s previous post.

For those of you don’t know, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) was the first airport to implement the multi-airline check-in kiosk.  You no longer need to find your airline at the airport, find any open kiosk that is working.  All LAS check-in kiosks are integrated with all carriers flying in and out of Las Vegas McCarran.

The first thing you pick on this kiosk is the airline, and from there it behaves like the normal carrier kiosk.  This is great for people who don’t need to check in baggage because you can go to any kiosk.  No longer will you need to go to your airline.

LAS multi-airline check-in kiosk

The real big advantage is these multi-airline check-in kiosks can be put anywhere in the airport.  Not only at LAS airport, these airline check-in kiosks can be put anywhere around town.  We found airline check-in kiosks at the central rental car building.  And even better, there were several multi-airline check-in kiosks at the Las Vegas Convention Center — North and South.  For those leaving direct from the Las Vegas Convention Center, or wanting to check in the 24 hours in advance to get a better seat, they can check in at the Convention Center.

If you know of other multi-airline check-in kiosk locations, please feel free to comment.

I highly recommend two sushi restaurants in San Francisco’s Union Square area.  No big fancy, upscale restaurants where they overcharge for mediocre sushi.  In fact these two places are relatively close to each other in Nob Hill (a few blocks from Union Square).  I am a frequent visitor of these places when I want quality and fresh nigiri or sashimi.

1) Ryoko’s Japanese Restaurant – This place is hard to see, with two doors which immediately leads down stairs to the restaurant.  Ryoko’s is located on Taylor near Post. Portions isn’t very large, but the sushi quality is great.  First good sign upon entering is Japanese people run this Ryoko’s.  They know what they are talking about when they make suggestions about sushi.  They always have sushi and sashimi specials which they import in from Japan.

The fish at Ryoko’s is great. I don’t know if its just the freshness or quality, or the way the chefs cut the fish.  It just melts in your mouth.  Albacore and Himachi are my favorite which I always get, but if they have toro available, I’m going to get it.  And if you bring your non raw fish eating friends, don’t worry the rolls here are excellent as well.  Ryoko’s have a a lot of different rolls, and my personal favorite is the spider roll.  The crab is fried to perfection and not mushy like other places.

Ryoko’s menu is quite extensive, from appetizers and salads to entres, sashimi and rolls, modern and traditional.  We always get the salmon rice balls, delicious!

On weekend nights, Ryoko’s have a DJ who plays music, so the place will loud. Don’t expect fine dining, but more of a hip and trendy sushi restaurant. The downside is this place only opens for dinner, but the upside it opens until 2am.  Late night eaters, and party goers, come eat at Ryoko’s before you go out.

2. Sakana – Sakana is a small casual restaurant.  I come here to eat with my roommates, or friends when we want to relax.  The fish quality here is amazing, and the selection of sushi is outstanding.  Alongside Sakana’s menu, they have a specials of all sorts of weird things I never see in normal sushi restaurants.

When I come to Sakana, I come for the sushi, no rolls, no noodles, no teriyaki.  This place is for some high quality and variety of sushi.  When I have a sushi craving, I come here, and my stomach is completely satisified.