BD93 BHD-LHR 29 Nov 07 Business

[Decker]

Dropped at the confusingly laid out Belfast City Airport and made my way to the BMI section. I was travelling on a flexible business ticket so could use the premium check in but opted to try the self service instead. Sweet little system even down to asking the bag questions! Then to the Premium bag drop where the self same questions were asked again.

Instructions for lounge use given along with 'and you board FROM the lounge so no need to leave'.

Up to the lounge and it's a fairly typical BMI Business lounge. Greeted by name - common theme BMI seen to have latched on to. OK drinks but total food is biscuits, savoury cheese biscuits or crisps. No cake, no cheese, no fruit. Lots of Daily Mail though - who is paying who here?

But come boarding time the lounge shines... a door in the corner of the lounge feeds DIRECTLY onto the airbridge and those who wish to be are pre boarded in their own insular cocoon. Card is checked and wished a good flight by name. I made my way to 1D (BMI aficionados choose A and C because there is no B on the 320s - instead there is a 6' or so gap). ExpertFlyer subscribers see that the load is light and choose D and then have full size E and F to themselves.

Once settled I examined the safety card (which explained HOW to detach the slides for use as rafts) and enjoyed the merry banter as crew berated the juveniles who arrived late causing us to lose our slot. Well deserved - they were late teens and thus culpable.

A speedy take off and promises of a strong tail wind and close to on time arrival followed. In the next 60 minutes we received a hot meal, 3 drinks services and a hot towel. At all times service was professional and courteous.

An uneventful landing and as we disembarked the senior member of cabin crew (who I'd chatted to briefly earlier wished me a pleasant Virgin flight (today as I write this).

All in all I like BMI but I'd like them more if they improved the food on offer in their lounges!

[HighFlyer]

Hey, at least you got cheese! In some of the BD lounges the cheese is hidden away in the *G lounge and there is an even more pitiful choice available in the general lounge.

A BD flight i took recently also had us boarding from the lounge straight onto the airbridge. Brilliant!

Thanks,
Sarah

[Decker]

Ah no I got no cheese as not in the *G Lounge boarding SUPER cool though

[HighFlyer]

Ah sorry. Yes, re-read and saw that it was cheesy biscuits. Yup, they hold the cheese hostage in the *G lounge, usually along with the chocolates and fruit and stuff. I've made the mistake before of going into the *usual* lounge and forgetting the bounty available in the *G lounge. Don't seem to miss the free beer though.

As for the reading literature, they do usually have a copy of 'British' magazine. I was going to send a copy to GJ. [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

[honey lamb]

Oh, I like the sound of boarding straight from the lounge to the airbridge. I wonder if VS could organise something from Gate 23. [:w]

In the next 60 minutes we received a hot meal, 3 drinks services and a hot towel. At all times service was professional and courteous.

Reminds me of the time I flew on BD from DUB to EMA. In the 38 minute flight we got a cooked breakfast with at least two refills of tea/coffee. IIRC it was a Fokker 100. On a recent 38 minute flight from IAD to GSO we weren't even given a beverage service

Originally posted by honey lamb
Oh, I like the sound of boarding straight from the lounge to the airbridge. I wonder if VS could organise something from Gate 23. [:w]

In the next 60 minutes we received a hot meal, 3 drinks services and a hot towel. At all times service was professional and courteous.

Reminds me of the time I flew on BD from DUB to EMA. In the 38 minute flight we got a cooked breakfast with at least two refills of tea/coffee. IIRC it was a Fokker 100. On a recent 38 minute flight from IAD to GSO we weren't even given a beverage service

Yes me too - EK sometimes do this at LHR and it's really great. They board you after everyone else is on and of course they know because they can see!