V-Flyer

I had decided to fly back from Manchester, because they had a late flight on a Sunday at 2105hrs, and door to door it would have been marginally faster by train. I have never flown from Manchester before, and it's been years since I tried bmi.

Initial impressions with bmi were soured somewhat when I received a schedule change email two weeks ago - the 2105 flight was cancelled, so I was booked on the 1905 instead.
The 2105 appears to have been cancelled for the entire winter season. (Interestingly, the BMI magazine talks about the enhancements to their Manchester Heathrow service to improve connections, so it's not just Virgin who talk changes up!).

I checked in online, using my iPhone and was delighted to see that seat 2A had been allocated for me already. I was also delighted to see that I didn't have to print out a boarding card, as bmi offer paperless check-in, and a few seconds after checking in a text message was sent to me with the bar code for checkin.

Manchester T3 is a nice enough airport to depart from, the barcode on my phone opened the barriers through to the security check, this was fast and friendly. I had a bit of a wander around the rather non descript shops. Dixons lost a sale as they didn't have the new Apple Magic Mouse which I really really want.

Our flight was from Gate 18 which is in a different part of the terminal from the shops and bars etc. but it did feel quite peaceful there.

The barcode was again all that was required by the gate staff, a quick confirmation of my name was and I was walking down the airbridge to the aircraft.

My impressions of bmi were already good, as the paperless checkin means all you have to worry about is that the phone stays charged (!), but even if then the opportunity was there to print a boarding card at the airport. The first impressions of the plane were even better. It was bright, clean and the staff were very nice. (Extra kudos to them as I am sure they can't be immune to the goings on surrounding the company). The seats were comfy with more legroom that I have ever had in Economy.

I did order food, was annoyed that I forgot my bmi blueplus card as that would have got me free food, but given bmi's woes lately I was happy to give them the extra . [:D]
I had a nice sarnie, coffee and jaffa cake. And a ginger ale. I don't know why I have rediscovered ginger beer and ginger ale and love it. ;

A very short flight later, with stunning views of the land below (we were at 19,000ft and at that height the roads and street lights look like neon tubes, it's just beautiful) and a decent landing at Heathrow.

Hand luggage only for me, so on the Piccadilly Line in no time at all and home.

On a comparison between bmi and BA, bmi definitely get my vote.

quote:Originally posted by Sealink

I had a nice sarnie, coffee and jaffa cake. And a ginger ale. I don't know why I have rediscovered ginger beer and ginger ale and love it. ;


Sounds good to me!!! [:D]

quote:Originally posted by Sealink
I was also delighted to see that I didn't have to print out a boarding card, as bmi offer paperless check-in, and a few seconds after checking in a text message was sent to me with the bar code for checkin.


I've used that before for concert tickets, but would be scared the battery would expire on my cr*ppy old work phone...

quote:Originally posted by Sealink
I don't know why I have rediscovered ginger beer and ginger ale and love it. ;


Ditto. Waitrose own brand or D&G !

quote:Originally posted by Sealink
we were at 19,000ft and at that height the roads and street lights look like neon tubes


I've done one flight in the past couple of years at that kind of altitude and I spent all the time just gazing out of the window..

Thanks for putting the TR together.

Paul

Thank you for the TR.[y]

Love the barcode boarding passes, except when you have 4 of them on your phone! Caused a slight queue in EDI when the family was going through security.[:w]