Fly Southwest: MKE to Las Vegas, Nevada

Oh come hither, those desirous souls seeking escape from the hamster wheel, yearning for adventure in the City of Sin, Las Vegas. Too busy toiling under fluorescent lights in the cheese capital of the world, Milwaukee? Planning to jet off into the horizon on one of Southwest’s fine machinery, your chariots of freedom? Ah, the adventure of flights!

But alas! Real life sneaks in with its fine print of mundane trivia. Just the mention of 'flight booking' can send chills down the spine of any thrill-seeker. Fear not dear traveler, as I shall slip through the Minotaur's labyrinth with you. What could be more fun than deciphering airline jargon over, say - bungee jumping?

Perchance you’ve heard about Southwest's non-stop flights? They translate into an experience best described as: "Hey, enjoy hours of immobility without the unsought delight of airport layovers!". Non-stop flights, it seems, Southwest's cunning way of ensuring you reach the land of Elvis impersonators faster, for more time loosing coins in slot machines.

Oh, and let’s talk about airfare, that adorable veil over the true cost of your trip, exclusive of taxes, frequent flyer taxes, 'let's-not-define-this' taxes, airport levies, and the rest. It has the power to transform your planned ‘cheap flights’ pursuit into a chip off your annual vacation budget. Southwest Airlines, though, tends to offer what they call 'cheap flights', but their definition may vary from yours, especially once the fine print is read.

Now, if you’re of the spontaneous ilk, last-minute flights might be your ticket to dove-like freedom. At times though, the 'beauty’ of last-minute flights is akin to walking on a minefield - you never quite know when the price will blow your budget to pieces. I’ll let you in on a secret though - Southwest usually offers pretty reasonable last-minute deals. Or so they say. Don’t quote me.

Should you be one of those unicorns who books round-trip tickets to return home after sinning in sin city; I salute you. Round-trip tickets, unlike their one-way counterparts, show an endearing faith in the likelihood of your return. Very sweet indeed. Humorously enough, one-way tickets from Milwaukee to Las Vegas often cost as much as a round-trip. Southwest's way of saying, "Vegas, baby, is a one-way street."

And just before I retreat, a word on baggage allowance. We don't want to forget your little souvenirs from Vegas, do we now? So, do take heed. Southwest cares for your belongings as long as they abide by their law of 'size and weight'. Just because your baggage fitted into the car trunk once doesn’t mean it's a fit for an overhead bin. They also have a very fair flight cancellation policy. Yes, by ‘fair’, I mean ‘read the fine prints or weep’.

In conclusion, let not the airline industry's convoluted rationality steal your joy. Should you remember nothing else, hold true to this: While booking a Southwest flight from Milwaukee to Las Vegas, it’s really all about rolling the dice and hoping Lady Luck is on your side. After all, isn’t that what Las Vegas is all about anyway? Happy flying!