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Virgin Atlantic launches flights to The Bahamas

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Virgin Atlantic has announced a new route to The Bahamas. This will apparently give you the chance to see swimming pigs ….

The airline has also announced a large increase in services to Barbados.

Virgin Atlantic to launch Bahamas flights

The service to The Bahamas will operate twice per week from London Heathrow from 20th November.

The Cove Atlantis Bahamas

Tickets are not on sale yet but will be available from 11th August.

Flights will use a Boeing 787-9 so you will not get the new Upper Class Suite. These aircraft have 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy seats.

As Virgin Atlantic says:

“With 16 major islands surrounded by the world’s clearest waters, The Bahamas is an unrivalled destination boasting beautiful white sand beaches, sailing adventures, fishing and diving as well Exuma’s world-famous swimming pigs!” 

What will it cost in Virgin Points?

The Virgin Points flight redemption chart is here.

All of the Caribbean routes have the same pricing. You will pay, plus taxes and charges:

  • Economy: 40,000 points peak / 20,000 points off-peak
  • Premium: 55,000 points peak / 35,000 points off-peak
  • Upper Class: 135,000 points peak / 115,000 points off-peak

The peak dates for 2021/2 are:

  • 14 July – 5 September 2021
  • 15 – 26 October 2021
  • 11 – 31 December 2021
  • 1 January – 6 March 2022
  • 7 – 26 April 2022
  • 30 May – 5 June 2022
  • 16 June – 4 September 2022

Remember that the Virgin Atlantic credit cards come with a 2-4-1 voucher if you hit an annual spend target. Unlike the British Airways American Express cards, the Virgin credit card voucher can be used for a 2-4-1 or upgrade on cash or points tickets – see here.

Additional Barbados services now bookable

Virgin Atlantic has also announced a 60% increase in its flights to Barbados.

Manchester to Barbados will increase to five flights per week, whilst London Heathrow to Barbados will increase to 11 flights per week.

The frequency increase will take effect from the launch of the new Winter timetable on 31st October.

Where else does Virgin Atlantic fly in the Caribbean?

Flights are currently operating to Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica and Grenada.

Tobago and Havana are due to restart in the next few months.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is still scheduled to launch in October 2021. This will be the first flight from any European airport to St Vincent.


How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards

How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 15,000 Virgin Points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

A generous earning rate for a free card at 0.75 points per £1 Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 40,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 40,000 Virgin Points.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points

(Want to earn more Virgin Points?  Click here to see our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club and click here for our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points.)

Comments (41)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    Do pigs that exercise in the sea make better tasting bacon?

    • Dubious says:

      Saltier scratchings?

      I shouldn’t be too surprised I suppose – being an island they had to get there some how and we all know about their flying abilities…

  • BSI1978 says:

    As good as our trip to Exuma Bay was (best lobster ever!) on our trip to see the pigs, there was little in the way of swimming as they were mostly being fed by the tour group on the beach; with the occasional fight between said pigs over the more generous feeder.

    Behaviour quite unbecoming of pigs I thought….

    But in all seriousness, I found myself surprised that Virgin didn’t already fly this route.

    • 1ATL says:

      Virgin did for a time. The route was axed a few years back due to poor demand and low profitability.

  • Memesweeper says:

    With the difficulty/impossibility of going via Miami this is a great help for Brits and Bahamians. I’m sure it will be a huge success for Virgin.

  • Kathy H says:

    The press release from Virgin Atlantic states “New twice-weekly services from London Heathrow to Bahamas commence on 20th November” – NOT 20th October 2021. Do we have any clarification of the correct inaugural date?

  • Alex says:

    Nassau isn’t a new route, VS used to fly from Gatwick back in mid 2000’s but the 747 was apparently too much plane for the route. Hope it’s more successful this time round

  • ChrisW says:

    Are Bahamas popular for Brits? Very expensive and americanised version of the Caribbean isn’t it?

    • Anna says:

      At the moment the only direct flights are 4 x per week to Nassau with BA. There are much more expensive islands in the region (they are technically in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean) and there is a wide variety of accommodation (from HI to 5* AIs) and most of the islands are gorgeous. However the Nassau area itself is one of the most violent places in the region and Americans are warned against visiting! I can’t see if the Virgin route is to Nassau but I haven’t had my coffee yet!

    • Rob says:

      Never seen the appeal …. looks a bit overbuilt like the big Hawaii resorts …. but prepared to attend a press trip to be proved wrong 🙂

      Actually I’ve done a deal with Rhys. I will do St Vincent if Virgin does an event there but he can have any of the others ….

  • Anna says:

    Have I missed it or does it not say where exactly in the Bahamas is this flight to?!

  • Rob Collins says:

    Anyone thinking of booking Caribbean trips for early next year needs to be aware that the England cricket team are due to be in the West Indies from 28th Jan-5th Feb (one day games) and test matches (8th-28th March).

    Notwithstanding the current situation, there are usual around 10,000 England fans who travel to the Barbados test match so demand is usually very high (the exact dates and islands have yet to be confirmed)

    • Will says:

      Cant think of a better place to watch cricket, outside of Lords, Oval, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, SCG, MCG, Wacca, CPT, WLG/AKL/CHC (anywhere in NZ) etc etc etc

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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