We recently spent several weeks preparing for a return to the Beau Rivage under their Tampa Air Tran package hoping to connect with a half dozen Biloxi One members with concurrent visits. Our flight was cancelled because of an early afternoon thundershower in Atlanta which seemed to back up that entire airport by six or seven hours. The following days were already fully booked. So ended our gaming vacation. Once upon a time, the Air Tran flight out of Tampa was as reliable as a Swiss train. Their morning flight simply never failed us. Our flight may have originated on Florida's East Coast or perhaps it even flew down early in the morn from Atlanta. Whichever, we would arrive at the Beau before 11:00am giving us a full day of gaming fun following a faultless flight. Over the past months, the morning flight evolved into an early afternoon one and now is supposedly mid afternoon departing Tampa at 2:50. Well, the Tampa flight now seems to be a contingent one since the casinos mostly fill the plane with negotiated discounted rates leaving us at the bottom of the Air Tran food chain if they need of an aircraft for other uses. We watched three planes load and depart for the Atlanta hub around 5:30. This was our first rescheduled departure. They delayed 220 people coming and going out of Gulfport but I really think our aircraft was put to their highest and best use leaving us waiting. The next proposed flight was then at 8:00. We took heart in that our plane was inbound from Atlanta shortly after 7:00pm. At 7:30, Air Tran announced to all of us waiting that they were canceling the flight into Gulfport. We had spent over 7 hours waiting for a flight that they probably knew would be cancelled by 1:00 that afternoon. Again, I'm sure that that last aircraft arrived in Tampa and was sent elsewhere, probably Atlanta. After the last several delayed flights and now one cancelled altogether, our confidence in Air Tran is gone. We still both work and have to schedule our vacations a few weeks out. We can't just say, oh well, the sun will be out tomorrow. The hub concept is a nightmare for any traveler as each stop triples the chance for one mishap or another. The nation has allowed some airports to grow far beyond practical and safety considerations as well. We refuse to book a flight thru Atlanta. The last time we did about a decade ago, the Atlanta Airport was closed for three days with an ice storm stranding us in Vegas with our entire family. That proved to be a very costly vacation! Now, we don't even want to book a Non Stop flight originating from a hub. They simply may or may not happen and that ain't good enough. If we are to resume our Biloxi travels, I think we would be advised to forego the free Air Tran flight and fly Southwest into NOLA instead. We have to wonder if the Beau is trying to move away from Air Tran as for the first time, we see an unspecified charter offer out of St. Pete in later August.
We drove home that Sunday night from the airport with our tails between our legs disgusted with how the day had developed. Our plan was to return to work when we awoke Monday morning but we were both having a hard time putting ourselves into the right mindset. Over our last cup of coffee together, I asked BG if she would like to take the day off and we would drive down to Hard Rock to get our VP fix. The idea worked for BG and so we drove down intending to take Monday off. Well, we had such a good time at Hard Rock that we still took in my three day birthday gaming trip except it was in our own town commuting from home early each morning! With the introduction of real VP and the expansion of the Hard Rock Casino, we find ourselves feeling like we were in Vegas or Biloxi! BG got her royal and we both had numerous bonus quads w/k's. We had great luck at their Whammy VP Bar and the kids there made sure we never wanted for anything. I had one of those most unusual sessions on $ JOB where I started with a Franklin and cashed out a ticket for $1300+ and never even hit a royal. Yes, you pay for drinks (around $7) but they serve you a large (almost a twofer) top shelf whatever so it is obviously a very good deal. The Center Bar is supposed to have their VP installed in the next few weeks. One day, we had lunch at their buffet, the Fresh Harvest. Were not big Boo Fay fans but I will say that Hard Rocks is probably the best we have ever dined in and that includes the Wynn and the Bellagio. Everything was Hot or Cold and tasted very fresh. For example, when is the last time you had a second piece of turkey out? That, the flank steak and their fried chicken were all simply delicious! We didn't even get to the Italian or Asian stations. Their smaller dining sections make it feel intimate as opposed to one big open mess hall.
We confess, we both really hate flying to begin with and travel today is too much like torture. So, where does BG want to spend her August birthday gaming trip? Yup, we intend to go down and spend a few nights at Hard Rock. We will be up by 5:00am playing our hit and run style around an empty 145,000 sq ft casino. By noon, we'll retire to the pool or go take in a movie. Our early evenings will include the beautiful and elegant Council Oak Restaurant with an after dinner drink in their lounge listening to live music. We also will dine at their other fine dining option, Floyd's. I have felt that gaming would go regional for some time. I was wrong for us at least, I think it has gone local!
Dino
I do have to
ask though...why did you ever fight the whole airport thing when you have a beautiful resort casino right in your back yard? The place looks every bit as nice
as the Beau. There must be a catch here...like the deck in the VP machines are missing a card or ....?? 
Also....any good pay tables on slant tops?
Dino