VS131 today LHR-UVF

Does anyone know why G-VWOW is operating a flight numbered VS131 from LHR to St Lucia today? VS don't fly there on a Weds, let alone from LHR so I can only assume it's some sort of charter??

Thanks,

Matt

[Nottingham Nick]

Hurricane Tomas has been wreaking havoc around St Lucia over the past few days.

There have been flight cancellations, so I assume the VS131 was the relief flight, to make up for the cancellations.

See the VS website for the latest updates.

Nick

Thanks Nick, I'd heard about Hurricane Tomas but hadn't connected the two!

Cheers,
Matt

I'm booked on VS31 this Friday which is looking questionable at the moment. I've been looking forward to chilling out for a week at LeSport but as I read about the damage and injuries the hurricane has left, my holiday seems rather unimportant.

I'm in the pleasant position of being able to roll with it - if VS operate the flight and the hotel is open and wants guests then I'll go. If not, then I'll just find something else to do for a week. Meantime, I hope those on the island are recovering as quickly as possible.

Best wishes,

David

that is exactly why V- WOW has gone to UVF

The hurricane in St Lucia happened on Sat & Sun, the Sunday pax arrived back this morning on Ladybird, and the pax due to come back yesterday are being collected on this relief flight.

My son was on ladbird into LGW today, he was there for the hurricane, the highways from the south (Airport) to the north are still impassable as there are two bridges out, the only way to get to the north is by Sea. yesterday Virgin holidays took the pax by boat to the south to get flight last night. Have very up to date info on UVf if anyone interested

David M - dont know about your hotel, but as of yesterday the swimming pools at Almond Smugglers cove is still "Brown", because airport only opened yesterday at 3pm local time there have been nothing in/out, they say there is a food shortage and roads and beaches still not very nice, aparently 14 people died during the hurricane and it is absolutely awful for them. Some hotels do not have generators, so try and check, as there could still be power cuts.

Hi David,

I've got a few friends out in St Lucia and there is apparently quite a lot of damage to the road network. I've seen several photo's on Facebook of collapsed roads etc.

What I do know though is that the staff at LeSport will have worked 24/7 to get the resort back up and running. My best friend was a senior manager there until last summer and was there during "Ivan" a few years ago. The resort was back up and running within a couple of days.... minus a LOT of sand from the beach!
The only problem may be the airport transfer, as i'm sure you know the resort is about the furthest away from the airport that you can get. A helicopter transfer to the northern airport at Castries may be an option??

Matt

Matt and Tracy - many thanks. I know it's still pretty rough in St Lucia at the moment, although I'm sure there will be a lot of people trying hard to get everything fixed as quickly as possible. The staff at LeSport are great, and even if the place is not up to its normal high standards I'd like to go if the management is keeping it open for business. Travelling on my own makes it easier as I don't have to worry about anyone else. And LeSport at its worst is still going to be a lot better than some of the places I've worked over the years! As I said before, if the flight is going and the hotel is open then I'll go - I've always been good on blitz spirit!

Matt - thanks for the advice on transport. I'm actually booked on the helicopter both ways so, fingers crossed, I should make it to Castries and be able to get a taxi up to the hotel.

Best wishes,

David

Good luck with the journey, you'll have to post an extended trip report! Have a Piton in the piano bar for me...

I'm seeing my friend this eve, so if I find out any more info i'll let you know.

Matt

Thanks, Matt. Well, the website says that it is 'unlikely' the flight will operate, but I've just been allowed to check in online (seq #1 - yoohoo!). I think this flight isn't going to happen, but it looks as though they'll take cancellation up to the wire. It's a miles booking in UC and I'll lose 25000 miles if I cancel, rather than VS doing so, so I'll hang on in there and see what happens.

Best wishes,

David

As predicted, tomorrow's normal VS31 flight has been cancelled, and will now go as a relief flight (but will return to UK tomorrow night as the scheduled VS32, bringing out some of those who've been stranded.)

For my part, the Prem team contacted me with several options and I'm now booked out to BGI on Sunday. They also offered an UC inbound on the 14th from St Lucia - UC is apparently very busy on the return trips from BGI next week. That was looking to be just workable with a connecting LIAT flight to SLU, but it was complicated. I've therefore grabbed a CW seat on BA (with miles), returning from BGI on the 13th. So all I've got to do now is find a hotel, which I'll do tomorrow. The premier team were great (thank you Bobby M, Fabian and Di F), and the whole event was as well managed as it could have been under the circumstances. Very professional and helpful throughout - what more can anyone ask for?

A final thought - if anyone wants a LGW CH invitation on Sunday morning, let me know.

Best wishes,

David

Glad you've managed to get an alternative booked, I think you've done the right thing in changing to BGI. Even if you did manage to get to UVF I don't think you'd have had much of a holiday.

VS always seem to be great in situations like this. I was in NYC during the whole ash cloud thing at easter and I honestly couldn't speak highly enough of their level of communication and care.

Hope you have a great trip!

Matt