Foofighter69

Thinking of making a trip in WTP to surprise the in-laws on holiday (well the better half wants to). They are in Barbados from 26/02 to 14/03.

Two part call for help:
1. Can we get it cheaper but doing something ex-EU or Scotland/Dublin?
2. Is it better to book into WTP on the 4-class plane on this route and is DUT kind on this route?

Flexible on dates as we’ll just got out for 4-5 days, however it’s our anniversary on 28/02 so we thought that would be a good time to go.

Cost:
So far the best I can do is £942 out 28/02 to 03/03. Playing around with Google Flights to start ex-EU or EX-INV I can’t get it below a straight LGW departure. Am I missing something?



Choice of 3/4 class in WTP:
I wonder whether taking the flight which has F in it is a better call despite the additional cost (e.g. £100 each on 28/02) given it’s a premium-heavy config with a higher chance of OpUps?

For example, EF is showing W5 E3 T0 on 28/02. Though F and J look busy..
28/02 BA 2155LGW 10:35a → BGI 3:25p
F4 A3 J9 C9 D5 R1 I0 W5 E3 T0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

On the return though it seems full up front:
03/03 BA 2154BGI 5:50p → LGW 6:00a
F1 A0 J0 C0 D0 R0 I0 W9 E8 T2 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G9

Does anyone have experience of what DUT does on this route in the 3-class and 4-class variants? Or does it fly out front-heavy and hence chances of op-ups to J are pretty low?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

(Mods, sorry if I have not posted in an existing thread, please correct me if wrong!)

FF

mikeyfly

I guess the benefit of the 4 class is less W seats and more chance of a roll forwards. With only 32J on the other flight and a large W cabin I think you're less likely to get a bump

Foofighter69

Thanks, just my thoughts!

mgiarc

I think demand is more predictable on these holiday routes as well, i.e. if you book to fly to Barbados you are more likely to actually do so than if you are booked to fly to New York, so less overbooking?

Bobbie2013

Premium traffic to Barbados in February is very robust, especially in F/J. I think c.£900 for W is actually good value. We do an annual trip to BGI every December in J or F and the cabins are always full.

ermis177

This is a very good price for PE for such a long flight as long as you don’t fly with a 777 that hasn’t been retrofitted.

allturnleft

Quote

Does anyone have experience of what DUT does on this route in the 3-class and 4-class variants? Or does it fly out front-heavy and hence chances of op-ups to J are pretty low?

What is DUT?

BertieBadger

Discretionary Upgrade Tool.

The deliberately opaque algorithm that chooses who shall be blessed with the better seats when BA need your original one and who must suffer the ignominy of travelling in the cabin they paid for The people who know the details of how it works aren't saying, for what should be fairly obvious reasons.