Coco Reef November 2005/Virgin Atlantic

[Jill H]

Since we booked our holiday to the Coco Reef with Virgin the flight times have changed. Our return flight now leaves at 21:40 instead of 19:10. Two and a half hours later than the original time YET the flight gets into Gawick 15 minutes earlier than the original time given. Work that out - if you can??!!

Worrying enough when you have to book onward flights from Gatwick on your return - do they expect to make up that time in the air or just hope to get a tail wind or climb aboard the gulf stream?? 7hrs 20mins is quite an achievement for any pilot from Tobago to Gatwick but that's what Virgin pilots do. But do they do what it says on the tin??!!

It also leaves a small problem at the other end. Our original flight gave us enough time to have a swim in the afternoon, late lunch, use the courtesy room at about 3pm and leave Coco Reef at about 5pm. Not bad at all

Now our flight out is at 21:40 (fixed time now - I've rang and asked). Another two and a half hours later. Check in and chill out means our luggage has gone but we're still here, for longer than we expected to be. No room and no facilities unless they provide a late courtesy room(Virgin won't guarantee this facility) and from what I've read on this site Coco Reef isn't the best provider of courtesy rooms.

We are looking forward to this holiday in November and don't want the last day to ruin it. AI ends at 3pm and we will need to eat before we board our flight at 21:40. Extra expense we could do without on a holiday that is already expensive.

Any thoughts??

[Sharon E]

Timing is spot on on a return trip to England. You do get into the Gulf Stream which increases airspeed, hence why the return trip is quicker than outbound (not including stop overs). Did Excel flight back in December which took just under 7 hours.

You can check into the airport between 4 and 5 hours prior to departure. You will then be required to return 1 and half hours prior to boarding so 8.10pm. You could check out of Coco Reef at 5pm check in all your luggage, then you can leave the airport again and go to a local diner for dinner prior to leaving for your flight. There are a lot of local cheap places for a meal within easy walking distance of the airport, and have your final rum punch!

[Graham Jones]

Jill - A couple of points about your flight times.
The Virgin service from Tobago (VS052) originates in Grenada. That had a departure time of 19.10 hours, then flies on to Tobago and then Gatwick. It looks like initially you were given the departure time from the wrong island!
The Virgin Atlantic site shows flights for November leaving at 21.40 and arriving Gatwick at 10.00 am. That's a 8hr 20mins flight because Tobago is 4 hours behind UK in winter, 5 hours in summer (They don't change their clocks.)
In fact, with favourable winds the flight may be shorter, though Air Traffic control or lack of a gate at Gatwick may alter that.
Hope this helps to answer the puzzle a bit, have a great time in November.

[Jill H]

for your replies. Since posting we have had a good look at the Virgin brochure and website and now realise that we were given the departure times for Grenada - just as you said Graham

Please forgive me for being "picky" but I do think this is a late flight back from the Caribbean. Most flights have left by 7pm and like I said before that makes for the perfect last day. I know how close we are to the airport from Coco Reef and strolling over there won't be a problem. It's just those last few hours that seem to drag on and on when you know you're going home. As Sharon quite rightly points out we can eat locally that evening and enjoy our last rum punch (or three!) but it's still a long day when CCR or Virgin cannot guarantee a late courtesy room. If we have to use a courtesy room by 2pm that means we will be sat around in our "travelling clothes" for 6 hours before we even get to the airport.

I apologise for whining on but I never like the trip home (who does?) so I hope that CCR will provide that late courtesy room for us so we can enjoy a full day at the beach on our last day.

Should we email and ask for a late courtesy room or should we just book a room for the day between the 4 of us??

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Jill

This is a problem that every European visitor faces. Its not just guests at the Coco Reef or flying with Virgin. All the European flights leave from mid to late afternoon. I agree that its a difficult one, but there's no easy solution.

Remember that for every plane landing and dropping off 100 passengers, another 100 have arrived. You can't expect every hotel to keep sufficient rooms for all the outbound guests and you wouldn't be happy if you arrived after a full day's flight only to be told that you had to wait three or four hours for the preceeding guests to leave and your room to be turned round.

The solution is actually simple. Your package tour operator - or yourself if you booked direct - should book the room for an extra day. Then you can leave at whatever hour you like. You must accept the extra cost for the convenience of this luxury. In the meantime, think of all those poor unfortunates who haven't been able to afford a holiday in Tobago or at the Coco Reef and who would give their eye-teeth for those few extra hours waiting for the plane.

[Dave B]

Hi Jill,

Have a look at the review I did yesterday for the Coco Reef and how to get a head start when checking out and booking a shower room. It was advice that we got and enabled us to do what we wanted at the hotel all afternoon, have our showers at 6pm, attend the Manager's Reception at 6.30pm for our last rum punch (free that way too) and then be picked up at 7pm for the flight an hour later.

As your suitcases were taken away at 1pm and your carry-on bags can be kept in the computer room there you don't have to lug cases around all afternoon.

It worked for us!

Dave