V-Flyer

Hi all

Sorry to be boring!!!

Need some advice, plans keep changing so need some help if possible. I want to take the other half to Barbados (never been to the Caribbean before) for her 60th b'day as a surprise, I have 160,000 miles and my wife has 81,000. Now question is, I can buy 2 upper class tickets for around £900 + 200,000 miles and there seems to be plenty of availability for the month of July next year. We want to go In August next year so will the availability still be plenty in a few weeks time? By booking direct with the hotel and booking the flights direct using miles I can save thousands, especially flying upper class, when compared to the Virgin holidays price!
Will my mileage totals be acceptable, if I'm correct us need enough miles in each account to cover all legs, so I could book 3 legs (150,000 miles) and my wife 1 leg (50,000 miles).
Why does there seems to be loads of availability for premium and upper class flights to Barbados? As I said, never been before so if anyone can help with advice on hotels, location and general information, that would be great.

As I said sorry to be so boring with the questions, hope you didn't mind to much

Thanks In advance

Trevor

Yes that would be fine. Your dear wife would have to authorise you to be able to access her miles (phone call to VS) which might mean it's not a total surprise. Unless of course you use yours to book her a return and yours a one way'

We usually price direct and end up booking with VH as they generally price match (in store at a local department store) but if you find a bargain, snap it up!

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time but be mindful the start of the hurricane season is when you want to be there. However, don't let that deter you, we find the start or end of the 'season' brings nothing more than a few spells of liquid sunshine!

I will try and dig out a TR from a June/July trip.

Thanks Marshy11

That would be great, one of the reasons I want to book direct it the fact that I'll be able to use airmiles to book upper class seats, don't think I'll be able to do that if I book with Virgin Holidays?????

Thanks

Trevor

No, sorry for confusing matters. You can't use miles and book the entire thing with VH. But you can book hotel only. We've managed this with it being as cheap as booking direct.

Hi, the great miles availability is not an anomaly so I'd be confident it will be the same in August. I presume it's because a) July/August is hurricane season therefore low season and b) unlike MCO and LAS which use the 747's with small Upper cabins Barbados is an A330 with a much bigger Upper section on a leisure route.

I've just come back from a twin centre in Antigua and Barbados, for which I managed to get 4 upper rewards no problem. I booked as soon as they came out but there was still availability even as late as July/August this year, infact I changed my outbound day due to having a hospital appointment 1 week before we were due to leave and still managed 4 Upper rewards. I'm hoping to do the same this year (but just Barbados), already booked the outbound, just waiting for the inbound to be released. Fingers crossed. May see you onboard
And by the way the weather was glorious, only saw rain twice, one in the evening, once in the afternoon, both times only lasting 15 minutes.

I'd be happy to answer any questions on places to stay, things to do etc, just post here or pm me.

And as Tontybear has mentioned, no problem using the miles from the 2 accounts, we used 3 different accounts to book ours.