Vegas 2014 - Travel details....

We decided to return to Las Vegas this year for a short stay.  Due to some previous obligations our trip was going to be only a few days long. Because of this the decision was made to fly out of Victoria.  We arrived at the airport in Victoria way to early due to the miscalculation that we would be needing the time to clear customs.  But, because we were laying over in Seattle before boarding Alaska Air we actually cleared Customs & Immigration there. 

Planes lined up behind us in Seattle

So this is what happens when you do not know the routine.  I originally thought that a 2 hour layover in Seattle was a pain..Little did I now that we were going to need every minute of that layover.  When we arrived in Seattle we had to pick up our luggage and then head to C&I.  By the time we disembarked, picked up our luggage, got through C&I, caught the train over to the domestic terminal, and made our way to the our gate, they were loading 1st class..Wow..there is a definite learning curve there for us newbie travelers.

Thinking that is Mt. St Helen

On our return it was so much simpler.  We went through security in LV, arrived in Seattle and had approx 30 minutes to make our connection.. Just reverse the whole thing, except you are not picking up your luggage, or going through C&I.  You do have to catch the train to the International terminal and we arrived at our gate as they were starting to load.  And getting through Canadian C&I in Sidney was a lot easier...
So, a word to the uninitiated....you need all of the time between flights and hope that the flight that you are arriving on is not late....
With that said lets talk about extra charges...We paid $25 each both ways for checked luggage.  This was through Alaska Air.  I was talking to someone in LV who flew in from Michigan on Spirit and they got their flights real cheap.. But, they got dinged on their luggage and carry on to the tune of approx $70 apiece one way. It would be prudent to check before you go just how much extra you are paying for your change of clothes..
And there are now so many pieces of carry on (small luggage w/wheels) that there is no room in the overheads for even your coat...All has to go under the seat.  
This is definitely my learning curve of traveling.  Next time I will be packing just a little different..