What’s a good J/business fare to Barbados in June?

[ee]

We’ve been offered a week at someone’s villa in Barbados next June. Looking at business fares from Heathrow some dates are almost exactly £2k return.

This is below what I was expecting, but curious if anyone has any experience of how this route prices and whether it might be worth holding on?

[NorthernLass]

Which airline is this with?

If BA, that sounds about right for a summer/low season CW fare. I don’t think there would be an awful lot of movement, but they usually have an autumn “sale” (in which you may or may not see lower prices!)

Also you could try pricing up a BA Holiday with one or more nights in a hotel you could use another time (e.g. an airport hotel the night before you fly), which again, may or may not give you a better deal.

[ee]

Yes – BA, Virgin is pricing up around £150 more expense and happy to go on BA as the route seems to get Club Suite.

Will have a play with the BA holiday options – we’d also welcome the double tier points!

[Random Punter]

That is as good as you will find in my view, unless you are willing to go via the US. Barbados is amazing, but as you’re probably aware by June the weather will be extremely warm and humid (including in the evenings) so do factor that into your plans.

[NorthernLass]

@ee – don’t forget if going for double TPs you would need 5 night’s’ accommodation or car hire within the dates of your flights, so much less flexibility than a standard BAH booking.

[ee]

Thanks for the further comments. I’m adding car hire for 5 days rather than the full duration and it seems to not be recognising this as a BA holiday.

It’s pricing much higher (no discount) and not allowing the payment of just a deposit. Not sure if I’m missing a trick somewhere?

[NorthernLass]

Another reader posted with the same problem earlier.

[The real Swiss Tony]

Are you booking the flight then adding the car when it offers it after the flight prices, or are you doing a flight & car booking from the home page, then clicking on the custom booking link?

The latter approach is working for me, returning a deal of £4357 for 2 pax and offering a £250 deposit.

[masaccio]

Do a Google Flights search and switch to the price chart. The prices are pretty static and around £2k. Pre-pandemic you’d often see it for less, but I also think this is about right.

[ee]

Flight and car together using the custom link. In the office yesterday and using Chrome on Windows 11 it worked, initially through the US site but then also on the UK version.

We’re holding fire just to price up insurance for the MIL who hasn’t left the UK for a long time!

One thing I did notice is that when you book the car for the whole stay the double tier points are mentioned on the booking summary. However when you do it for 5 nights – e.g 4th-9th June it doesn’t mention them. But checking the T&Cs (of which I have printed a copy!) it still seems to meet all the requirements.

[ee]

Just to circle back, we’ve now got everything booked including the car for the 5 nights we wanted. Came to £6305 for 3 of us in Club World with 5 nights basic car hire (which we may just park up at the airport car park!)

[NorthernLass]

You could use the car for your transfer and explore the island a bit during the 5 days. IIRC, they drive on the left in Barbados and road conditions aren’t as hazardous as on some islands!

*Though I appreciate that after 10 hours in CW we don’t drive either!

[TooPoorToBeHere]

Yeah take the car if only for a supermarket run!