Confused over flight number

When we booked our VH to Barbados we were given VS29 as our flight number, last week after we have received the tickets we had a letter saying that our flight number had been changed to VS37.

VS37 is what is on the ticket and the online details with VS.

But yet today's flight (a week earlier than ours) still has VS29 as the flight number.

Is this a seasonal change that only kicks in next week i.e the beginning of May?

When I search the VS website for VS37 it says nothing found.

[Neil]

For a few dates in May & June the Tuesday & Sunday flights to BGI change to the VS37 as AFAIK the flight continues on to UVF, whilst the other days (and the odd additional Sunday flight) operate as the VS29 just straight to BGI.

If you have a look at the schedules page on here you can see all is perfectly normal with your flight.

Neil

Our Sunday flight to UVF in October changed from VS31 to VS37 too so we are now going via BGI on the way out, but coming home it's the VS31/32 that's running.

Thanks guys, its so confusing!

So our flight is going onto UVF after stopping at BGI.

[Neil]

So our flight is going onto UVF after stopping at BGI.

Indeed it will.

Just wondering now, once those heading for BGI get off will there be anyone else boarding or will we just carry on to UVF as we were? I know VS38 goes back via BGI from UVF but just wondered about people island hopping or on a twin centre holiday.

There are all sotts of rules that apply which would prevent VS taking these sorts of short hop pax - essentially related to immigration and customs.

Not quite the same but a few years ago I flew to Montreal with a stop at Halifax (Nova Scotia). We were all told in no uncertain terms to remain on the plane if we were travelling to Montreal as getting off would 'break the bond' and ALL pax would then have to get off, clear customs and immigration then re-check in for the short hop and this would take three hours minimum.

That was also given as the reason why no pax boarded at Halifax as it would mix international and domestic travel

Thanks tontybear, I was just curious.
Just got to keep everything crossed now that most people get off in BGI, would make it a lot easier and quicker for us getting through customs and immigration

[Pete]

The term you're looking for there is cabotage - and although there are plenty of examples where this does happen, it is a negotiated right between countries that allows foreign airlines to pick up domestic passengers and transport them to a second domestic location.

For instance, sInce 2007, the UK has granted cabotage rights to Singapore carriers within Britain.

One knock-on effect of the plane going on to St Lucia is that the departure time from Barbados is likely to be later than on the original flight number. When we came back on VS37 last May, the departure time was 2 hours later from St Lucia and then the plane called in to Barbados on the way back. It gave us a welcome extra time at the resort.