On Monday morning, you could pack lunches, take the kids to school and go to work.

Or you could drive to Natrona County International Airport, plunk down some cash and fly nonstop to Las Vegas.

Friday morning's inaugural nonstop flight on Allegiant Air was celebrated with balloons, doughnuts, a return visit by the beautiful showgirl, Porsha -- and Elvis.

Allegiant Air flights leave Casper on Friday and Monday mornings and return on the same schedule, so travelers may choose a three-night weekend stay (Friday-Sunday) or a four-night weekday stay (Monday-Thursday).

Among those on the first flight was a six-some of Riverton women anxious for an all-girl, spa weekend.

Joanne Flanagan, Tammy Cox, sisters Shanell Stanley and Shawna Edgeington, Jane Linck and Kate Martin were so excited that they left Riverton at 3 p.m., Thursday -- "as soon as we could," Edgeington said -- spent the night in Casper and arrived at the airport 90 minutes ahead of departure.

"We always do spa trips, and now we can do them to Vegas instead of going to Jackson," Cox said.

After seeing "Love," on Friday night, the six plan all-day spa treatments on Sunday before returning to Casper early Monday morning. They are staying at Trump Towers.

Allegiant Air has a fleet of 37 identical, 150-seat planes, outfitted in navy blue leather with five roomy seats across the aisle. Blue random handprints inside the plane symbolize the airline's marketing agreement with the Blue Man Group, and you can buy tickets to the show while you're actually in-flight.

Sabrina LoPiccolo with Allegiant Air says the airline currently flies to Las Vegas from 40 cities.

Porsha the showgirl was in Casper in July when the airline announced its plans to come to Casper, and she returned on Friday to accompany the inaugural flight back to Las Vegas.

For Friday's event, she brought Elvis with her, who chose a black jumpsuit with red gemstones and perhaps the largest belt buckle ever seen in Casper.

Elvis said it was his first time in Casper, quickly adding, "Honey, I never forget my first time."

In addition to escorting excited Wyomingites to Vegas, Elvis owns the Graceland Wedding Chapel on the Strip (619 Las Vegas Blvd.), which marries folks from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week at the rate of 200 happy couples a week.

Elvis says packages start at $199 and run to $1,200.

Allegiant Air's current promotion is "fly free" to Vegas, with a free flight for the second passenger when one air/hotel package is purchased from one of the airline's 50 hotel partners by Oct. 1. Seven-day advance purchase and other restrictions apply.

At the busy check-in counter, Allegiant's regional manager Joe Schrider said the airport ticket counter will keep regular hours five days a week and tickets can be purchased there, instead of online at allegiantair.com.

"There are less fees involved if you buy right here," Schrider said.

So on Monday, you could pack lunches, take the kids to school and go to work -- or ...

Reach community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com



If you want to go:

Allegiant Air's ticket counter at Natrona County International Airport sells tickets for Friday and Monday nonstop flights to Las Vegas during these hours:

*Monday and Friday, 6:30-8:30 a.m.

*Tuesday and Thursday, noon-2 p.m.

*Wednesday, 4-6 p.m.

Closed Saturday and Sunday, or;

*Go online to allegiantair.com or;

*Call 702-505-8888.