Triangle Trip

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 have flown Alaska Airlines a number of times but do not have a Mileage Plan account. Since Alaska Airlines’ partners are across OneWorld and SkyTeam alliances, I usually bank my airline miles with either American or Delta whenever I fly Alaska Airlines. If you have Delta Medallion status, Delta also gives you bonus miles when you are on an Alaska flight – unlike Star Alliance partners. Unless you live in Seattle or Portland, I don’t see any value in managing another mileage account.

Once you decide to bank your Alaska flight on one of their partners, you should always keep a copy of your Alaska Airlines ticket stub. Alaska Airlines does not always send your flight itinerary information to its partners. Alaska Airlines has failed to send Delta and American Airlines my flight information which led to me filling out multiple missing credit forms. Delta and American both require ticket stubs as a proof of flight in order to give you mileage credit. A credit card receipt or email itinerary from Alaska Airlines is not good enough. To save yourself the hassle of dealing with missing mileage credit (which is yours) from an Alaska Airlines partner, make sure you keep the Alaska Airlines ticket stub the next time you board an Alaska flight and are banking on a partner airline.

As a follow up to my NYC Guide post, below is a list of Chinese restaurants in New York’s Chinatown I highly recommend to tourists and locals. I am actually a frequent customer at most of the restaurants I list below. Not only are these Chinese restaurants good, they are also very cheap. Before you go into any of these Chinese restaurants (or any for that matter), make sure you have cash with you as most Chinatown businesses only accept cash.

1.  New Wonton Garden – It used to be the best wonton in the world… but quality has gone down due to new ownership. However, this is still the best wonton noodle shop in the US. I am a huge fan of wonton noodle soup and Wonton Garden in NYC has the best soup in the nation. Wonton Garden is located on Mott Street between Canal and Bayard. Each bowl of wonton noodle soup or any other dumpling with soup will cost you under US$6.

2.  Big Wong King or Big Wing Wong – Both places offer cheap Cantonese style food. You can get BBQ pork, duck and other traditional Cantonese dishes in any of these restaurants. These two restaurants are probably the cheapest on the list. You can get a wonton noodle soup or roast pork with rice for under US$4. Big Wong King is located across the street from Wonton Garden and Big Wing Wong is located on Mott between Canal and Hester.

3.  Joe’s Shanghai – There are three Joe’s Shanghai locations (NYC Chinatown, Uptown and Flushing). The Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown is by far the best. Joe’s Shanghai offer the best Shanghai soup dumpling in the world. I am not joking or exaggerating here. I have tried the best Shanghai soup dumpling deemed by local Shanghainese pundits, and Joe’s Shanghai soup dumplings was much better. For a tray of soup dumplings, it would cost you no more than US$6. Joe’s Shanghai offers many other Shanghainese dishes which are authentic. Go early in the afternoon or late in the afternoon to avoid the long lines. Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown is located on Pell Street between Mott and Bowery.

4.  Hop Lee – Located on 16 Mott Street near Chatham Square. Hop Lee is more of a casual dining place with traditional Chinese food. Like most traditional restaurants, food is served family style. I always order the Cantonese style lobster dish which I highly recommend for my readers. Hop Lee also offers fresh seafood and vegetable dishes. Go there for dining and you will not be disappointed. Your meal should not run you US$50 for two people and I will guarantee you will be full.

5.  Golden Unicorn – This place is usually packed on weekends and most tourists know about it. Despite the fact that it is touristy, I still highly recommend this restaurant. I believe Golden Unicorn serves great dim sum for breakfast and has a good menu for fine dining in the evenings. Golden Unicorn is also cleaner than other dim sum restaurants in New York’s Chinatown.

Hope y’all enjoyed this post and visit my NYC Chinatown favorites. Leave me a feedback after you have tried these places.