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Forgive my 1st novice post. I have a 241 Amex voucher (new type) and the 4 seats to BGI went before my eyes whilst trying to book. It’s a specific flight we need, should I book economy and keep checking to upgrade the seat, or wait for more business class to become available, if I book economy I will not have a voucher to see extra availability when it arrives, what is the best approach from my esteemed HfP forum members ? Thank you in advance.
Have you read the relevant articles and threads on here as these issues are discussed at length by readers, many of whom will have been in the same position as you? The “booking the return with the 241” thread especially is invaluable on the best way to secure your seats by calling just before midnight /1 am, which can be more effective than trying to book very popular seats online.
However, it’s probably advisable to only book economy if you’re happy to actually fly economy as there would be more work involved in changing your original booking than just swooping on extra CW seats if they appear (and you’ll still have your voucher to check on the extra availability).
If you need that specific flight then you should book the economy seats – and expect to travel in economy. Your alternatives are paying for business (or other class) seats with cash, or looking for alternative flights that would work.
The chances of more business class seats appearing are not high (though set up a SeatSpy alert just in case)
Forgive my 1st novice post. I have a 241 Amex voucher (new type) and the 4 seats to BGI went before my eyes whilst trying to book. It’s a specific flight we need, should I book economy and keep checking to upgrade the seat, or wait for more business class to become available, if I book economy I will not have a voucher to see extra availability when it arrives, what is the best approach from my esteemed HfP forum members ? Thank you in advance.
Not that this answers your specific question but when we went this year we were lucky and managed to secure the 4 BGI seats on our date but elected to return via ANU spending a few nights on each island which we really enjoyed. I think the beaches of Barbados edge above Antigua but there was something we really liked about the island with a little more laid back feel and I’d defiantly do the same again. We are the type of family who likes to get out and about and explore so I guess this is less relevant if you want to stay in one resort and never leave the place. Intra-island flights were cheap and easy.
How many of you are flying? I’m presuming 2…
Long haul economy reward fights aren’t always great value… I think you come out ahead with the voucher by about £460ish (70,000 Avios + £300 taxes etc. + £300 card fee) Vs the cash price (£1760ish?). However you would have done better having the free card to achieve this and saving the £300 credit card fee.
Depending on your Avios balance, bank balance and future flexibility, I’d be tempted to keep your powder dry with the 241 and use it in the future for the business class experience you actually want. If you really must fly out that day and economy is acceptable, do consider a cash purchase. That opens up other carriers such as Virgin or even TUI… perhaps Virgin’s economy delight is sufficient for Barbados and you hatch a future plan on a less competitive route/date combination to make best use of your voucher?
Or if you have enough avios, book the economy seats without the voucher and save it for a future trip in a better cabin, as suggested above.
Another option would be to use the voucher to fly to a US city like MIA or NYC in CW, and get a connection to BGI. You could even do a 2-centre trip this way, for example a few days shopping and sightseeing in the USA, followed by some beach time in Barbados.
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