In no particular order, here’s how the party went: flash the wrist band, grab a drink, chat with a few other OnePass members, grab a drink, grab some food, take picture with show girls, become tempted by the “deep-fried Twinkies” sign, grab a drink, listen to some music, grab more food and grab a drink and repeat as needed.

Seriously, a nice turn out for the opening party and several familiar faces, I just can’t remember if it was the Cleveland flight, the last connection through Houston or the President’s Club there at Newark, but these members just look familiar.

The main party location right in the middle of the famous Fremont Street Experience.

So I get out the Polaroid camera and shoot away. How do you like these pictures:

No wristband, no entry. It’s the rules.

And the Band Played On.

The Man Behind the (OnePass) Miles, Mark Sullivan, Vice President Marketing Programs and Distribution,Continental Airlines, with friend.

The Special OnePass Poker Chip Fills in The Fremont Street Experience.

While the players came here to win the big miles, they weren’t disappointed by the add-ins that Continental provided them. There’s the handy dandy President’s Club pass (which I will be giving away later on – stay tuned) good at the newly reopened P-Club here in Las Vegas or wherever your travels may take you. Then there is the custom deck of OnePass playing cards, a very cool special anniversary luggage tag, and other small perks to make your first days winning pretty nice, especially since we haven’t even had to ante up yet.

Later, the first party (of many we are sure) held at the Fremont Street Experience. I’ve got the menu and it looks like you can join me feasting on Assorted Bruschettas, London Broil BBQ Sandwiches, Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Tart and of course a refreshment since it’s still 100 degrees out: Summertime Sangria.

More later from the home of the 21 million mile poker tourney. Actually it’s much more than that. The total payout from poker alone is 26,250,000 miles and then there’s the mini-slot tourney on Saturday that’s even more miles (265,000 to be exact).

Front desk knows about the OnePass Poker Tourney, or maybe they learned about it from the many OnePass members who already checked in. But into the room, dialed on, and to the registration desk we go.

As I mentioned, I’m sitting in 7D – coach class for the rest of us. And who do you think is sitting right behind me? Now, this is a flight destined for Las Vegas right? I’ve got this Ken guy practicing his lap-top poker across the aisle and behind me is … The Prince of Poker? OK, doesn’t ring a bell yet? How about The Train? Gee, I thought as a poker aficianado that you’d have guessed who I’m getting my poker strategy in-flight from when reading the title of this blog entry.

Yes, none other than the winner of five World Series of Poker bracelets: Scotty Nguyen, winner of the 1998 World Series of Poker Main Event. He gave me all sorts of tips and of course gave me the “good luck”. Here’s Scotty and I (hey, we’re buds now) at the Las Vegas Airport:

And speaking of “good luck,” here’s proof:

OK, here I am, Las Vegas bound and settled in seat 7D. Across the aisle is a OnePass Poker player named Ken who is completing his final prep for the tourney. Just like a highly tuned athlete (OK, I had to ask this question, is poker a sport?), Ken spent the entire flight from Denver to Las Vegas with his hand-held Texas Hold’em game player winding down his training for the big event. Geeez, the least he could have done was listen to the safety announcement on the plane before his last practice.

Short of hanging out at the airports across America looking for passengers bound for Las Vegas with a lucky rabbit’s foot hanging from their computer bag, I actually found a few of the upcoming players for this tourney to chat with and here’s their story:

Q: OK, as a poker player, have you adopted or been given a nickname, such as “Big Money” or anything like that from your poker playing time?

Dean: No nickname… sorry.

J.: Trick question; accountants don’t play poker.

Michael: Weatherboy.

Stephanie: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyone who has played with me will tell you I’m a horrible poker player.

Q: What’s your favorite card game outside of Texas Hold’em?

Dean: Omaha Hi low. It’s insane with both a high hand winner and a low hand winner.

J.: House – as in building one of said cards.

Michael: I love blackjack. And can play blackjack for eight hours at a stretch easily. And occasionally do!

Stephanie: 21- I am a horrible poker player and generally only play charity events.

Q: Do you play online?

Dean: Never. Too much risk of collusion. You can’t tell if two guys have three different Internet connections each, and they are playing every hand at the table except yours. It is unbelievably easy to cheat. Plus, they have software to track your play. They aren’t playing you alone. They have help. And there is no real regulation of the Web sites. Big risk on getting your money out. The tribes supposedly regulating or third world countries… what a joke. Go try and get your money. And it is illegal in the USA. But, ultimately, lets see computer boy beat me face to face.

J.: Yes, there’s this horrible site called FlyerTalk where I’ve played away an egregious amount of time!

Michael: I tried playing poker online (within AOL’s free gaming area –so nothing serious) last week. Other than that, I’m a newbie when it comes to poker.

Stephanie: No.

Q: How long have you been an active poker player?

Dean: Over 15 years.

Michael: I’ve never ever played poker; walking into the poker pit for the OnePass event will be the very first time I’ve ever played (outside of the online practicing I’ve tried to do over the last week). I’m a loyal blackjack player …and will step over to the slots once in a blue moon. Otherwise, I never venture into other areas of the casino –especially the poker rooms. To me, they’re somewhat mystical and confusing. And based on how poorly my practice runs have been online, I don’t know if that view will change much this week.

Stephanie: Since college – so I’m dating myself here – 23 years.

Q: Do you typically play for fun, low stakes or high stakes?

Dean: Depends on how you define “High stakes” doesn’t it?

Michael: I gamble for fun; some spend money on going to the movies, I save up my disposable cash for casino action.

Stephanie: Low stakes and for fun.

Q: What are your plans for the 21 million mile jackpot?

Dean: I have seven children. So taking my family anywhere, is nine reward tickets right there!

J.: With 21 million OnePass miles – and Platinum status – I think I’d use them to get oh-so-sweet revenge on revenue management. “Oh, there’s no saver awards on the flight? I see. Well than how many seats are left for sales…173 you say…great! I’ll take all of them as I might need to go, and am deeply, deeply, worried about being bumped (hence the extra seats!) but the in the worst case I can always refund them the day of travel should my plans change. What’s that you say? Something’s opened up at the standard level? Excellent! In that case I’ll just take one reward.”

Michael: I bought a first class ticket on Continental from the east coast to attend the event; with those fare bonuses and my OnePass Platinum status, this trip will net me 11,456 OnePass miles. As much as I’d love to win 21 million miles, the only miles I’m “betting on” returning home with are those 11,456. In the extraordinarily unlikely event I do win miles, including 21 million, I’ll donate a chunk to one of OnePass’s charity partners …and use the rest to facillitate a lifetime of free leisure travel on Continental and it’s soon-to-be Star Alliance partners.

Stephanie: If I was playing; which now I’m not (I’ve had to pull out because I had a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City that I had to go to and there was no way out  The only upside is flying BusinessFirst to Hong Kong!); I would have taken the winnings and taken my entire family in BusinessFirst to Australia then had lots of miles left over for fun travel for the upcoming years.

OK, it’s clear that you haven’t been able to qualify for a kitchen pass to attend this event in Las Vegas, either to try the mini-Slot tourney or to take your place at the table and just for the rush on the first deal, yell … “All in.”

But I’ve got something for you to humor yourself and play pretend.

Looking to the left of this blog near the top, you’ll see a image of a slot machine with the words “OnePass Slots Practice.” Clicking that image will bring up a new window with a very real sounding slot machine for you to pretend with or practice, either because you are coming to Las Vegas or just to get in shape for the next opportunity if this thing catches on.

Play as you want and enjoy the sounds and the sights of our version of “You Are There.”

Just one thing – don’t try signaling me for another free drink, my shift is over in just a few minutes.

OK, one of the visitors to this blog wanted to know what this might be in their own programs’ measure of kilometers. So, with trusty iPhone calculator in hand, and if you are more familiar with the metric system: The winner earns 33,796,224 kilometers.