V-Flyer

A trip report not from the pointy end but from the rear cabin because not everybody can be sat at the front after all.

Yes, a very rare report from the economy cabin here on this site.

We fly Virgin once a year to the Caribbean for a week of winter sunshine. It is our second main holiday of the year and for that reason the task is to get it done as cheaply as possible. This year it was going to be extra cheap because we had enough miles for a return reward flight to sunny BGI. Hotel (Savannah Beach) booked direct with a 30% discount. Add to this BDS$800 worth of "Barbados Island Inclusive vouchers" to be spent at selective restaurants and attractions and as far as we were concerned, we had a great deal.

After the booking with the flying club was done back in September, I was surprised to learn that most of the economy seats upstairs were still available for selection. A couple were bagged and confirmed as ours when we checked in the night before at LGW.

On the morning of departure we boarded straight away without any queues when we arrived to the gate. The return leg in BGI was going to be a different story as the return report will show. Because of the very light load (from memory just over 300 passengers) we had the row of 3 seats to ourselves making the very short 7.5 hour flight just that more comfortable.

Food was the usual which is best described as "edible". Service was fast, efficient and friendly. I guess that it does help to be sat up in the bubble with a much smaller cabin.

Quite a more bumpier ride across than usual but despite that, we landed ahead of schedule.

We disembarked fairly quickly off the plane which is only a good thing considering the immigration queue at BGI was getting longer and longer and longer and longer not helped by the arrival of the British Airways flight from Gatwick a few minutes after us landing and the arrival of an American flight shortly after that. Barbados authorities didn't help either with having just the 2 immigration clerks to get everybody through. Yes, that is right - 2 clerks to process some 600 people!

Overall, a good flying experience.

Some two days into the holiday an email was duly received from "Plusgrade" advising that my upgrade bid on the return leg had been succesful. Premium Economy on the way back it was going to be!

Thanks for posting , nice to hear of positive Y flights ,I think being upstairs does enhance the overall perspective though but good to hear positive feedback

We generally fly Y to ensure we can have as many holidays as possible so it is always great to see a positive economy TR Also sounds like you got a great deal

Good to read a report in Y, especially as you enjoyed the flight.