BMI Diamond Club Changes

[preiffer]

For all those Status Matchers / Interested Parties...

You might want to take a look at the latest threads on Flyertalk - BMI forum.

Sadly, we're now seeing the demise of certain lounge access priviledges for Au/Ag members, no miles on more fares, and no use for those lovely Gold Upgrade vouchers that were dished out over the last 2 years.

Too many threads to post direct links to here, but suffice it to say, the BMI lot aren't happy. (Personally, I'm switching to UA for my *A account now, after the very generous offer they made me:D)

Thanks for that, Paul. I did the status match which now seems pretty useless (except that I do get to use the Avis double upgrade vouchers, which are handy for trips to Spain).

I wonder if this is indicative of BMI starting to implode, and what might be the implications for Virgin's designs on them? It certainly doesn't look like an airline that is going to maintain a healthy network at profitable levels if they are so willing to upset their premium customers. I wonder what has caused such drastic financial rigour in so short a time. We'll see.

Best wishes

David

Thanks for that Paul - wow, that's some revamp of the programme alright [:0]. Maybe it's the beginning of the end for BD? Currently would have to say that Air SouthWest will get my LBA trips from BRS as opposed to BD from LHR (the only advantage of going into LHR was the lounge access!).

Cheers

Michael

[preiffer]

Just one other thought on this - (Freeway also pointed out the lack of interlined baggage in this thread) :

Obviously, this will also affect VS mileage/TP earning on BMI flights:

[:0]Now that most "Business Class" European services have been axed, no more Tier Points can be earned with BD for pretty much any flight less than 2,000 miles. [n]

[:0]There will be no more earning 2,400 miles for UK Business Class or 3,200 for EU Business Class - as it doesn't really exist any more![n]

[:0]My GUESS is (and this is strictly a guess) that the Y earning rates for VS members (1,200 UK, 1,600 EU) will also be reduced, as BD try to even-up their scheme. As I said, however, this particular thought is pure speculation...[n]

[:0]Not sure what will happen re: lounge access to VS Au Members travelling on BD, if they're booting out their own members...!

Funnily enough I spoke to Diamond Club about this this morning and to question what exactly I could use my free upgrade vouchers they sent me when I went gold. The staff there are running around like headless chickens and dont really seem to know what to advise and I do feel sorry for them but 2 different operators told me the following:

- Gold card holders will always retain access to the lounge no matter what class of travel (although they did admit it could all change again in November!)

- The seating configurations on the domestic flights will not change and so you can use your upgrade vouchers to move from sitting at the back of the plane to the front of the plane (on the non business routes) although you will still have to pay for food etc!!

One operator also suggested I write and complain as she has been advising others to do and that if I were to send my upgrade vouchers back them may offer some form of compensation (although I remain unconvinced by this)

Gutted I status matched BMI now and not United ;-(

Originally posted by newby
Gutted I status matched BMI now and not United ;-(

Same here! I already had some United points too! I wonder if I can status match to UA now that I have changed home address???

[mitchja]

I've just had a quick look at BD flights from LHR to MAN in Nov. Only 2 fare options available now - tiny or premium. Tiny fares dont earn any miles or status with BD [n] Also BD's credit card charge has sneaked up to £4.85 as well [V]

The funny thing is comparing BA with BD on LHR>MAN route for a return flight, BA are coming out cheaper which I have never seen before!!!

Regards

[preiffer]

Yup - James, you're not alone in your disappointment!

By way of an update, I've included an email conversation below that I had last night/this morning with my contact within BMI. I've been dealing with them for a while now, so know they'll do their best.
They asked me for my suggestions on what they should do to try and "massage" some of the pretty significant changes that are affecting Au members. Obviously, these were my personal suggestions - if anyone has any further, (as regular BMI flyers), just PM me and I'll put them forward.

Just figured some of you might like to know what's going on behind the scenes...!


From: A Person @ flybmi.com
Sent: 24 June 2005 09:13
To: preiffer
Subject: RE: xxxxx

Hi Paul

Thanks for taking the time to feed back on this, that's really interesting and a great help. We need to do some investigating so will be in touch as soon as we have some firm details.

regards

A Person,
bmi


-----Original Message-----
From: preiffer
Sent: 23 June 2005 18:55
To: A Person @ flybmi.com
Subject: Re: xxxxxxxx


Hi A Person,

While accepting that anything will always cost something, to someone, I've tried to keep them as 'cost neutral' as possible.

* Lounge access to Gold card holders regardless of ANY fare type - we are, after all, entitled to it through Star Alliance, so why penalise your 'home' members? This is also a relatively fixed cost to bmi, so I can't envisage a huge additional cost to keep the benefit.

* Discounted change fees, or additional leniancy for Gold members on restricted tickets - this might 'soften the blow' of the removal of miles from a lot of these fares for some members.

* Higher cabin baggage allowance -obviously within CAA guidelines, but what about if Gold members were permitted the 'old business class allowance' for cabin bags when on a Y only flight?

* Gold vouchers that can be officially used to move from Premium Economy to 'the Business' on long haul flights - may actually prove to be cash positive, as many members would pay extra for PE if they knew there was a chance of a space-available upgrade to Business Class.

* Mileage upgrades on paid tickets - at the airport or through prior booking as a confirmed upgrade in advance.

* A 'United Airlines - style' reward structure for your most frequent travellers, once OVER the 38k membership miles limit:

10k = upgrade voucher
20k = companion voucher
30k = upgrade voucher
And so on... Upgrades can be used Y to PE or PE to business. Companion tickets good for one year, for free ticket on the same day, in the same class of travel for friend/family, etc.


There are probably many others that other members may have suggested. To be honest, the removal of mileage from the lowest fare buckets is 'the norm' now, so I'm happy to accept that as a required change, but the soft-benefits are key to my happiness as a member!


Regards,

Originally posted by mitchja
I've just had a quick look at BD flights from LHR to MAN in Nov. Only 2 fare options available now - tiny or premium. Tiny fares dont earn any miles or status with BD [n]

I wonder if you will still earn miles on "tiny" fares with partners like United?

Cheers,
Mike

[mitchja]

The only real positive thing to come out of this appears to be the fact you can now finally add your FC number to online bookings with BMI........about time!!!! Mind you, there's not much point now anyway.

Regards

[mitchja]

Just come across this link detailing what you get with the new style BMI fares from August, should you 'want' to fly BMI that is....

Regards

[preiffer]

Yup - there's a new thread on FT about the "Premium Economy" changes.

Good news = Full Economy fares = 200% mileage.
Bad news = Full Economy (now branded "Premium Economy") are now more expensive than the old Business Class ones! [:0]

They've also just announced that they're cancelling the Washington route from October and also closing the International Business Lounge at LHR [V]

[preiffer]

Just had a thought -

I guess VS will need to update their Gold benefits asap:

Invitation to the London Heathrow bmi business lounge at International Gate 14, when travelling on an International flight with bmi, regardless of ticket type.[V]

Personally, if BMI are no longer able to offer this to VS' FC members, I question why VS Should allow BD Diamond Club members access to the Clubhouse when travelling with them... [:0]

[Pete]

Hmmm... Ok, now I'm confused

I'm on a "tiny" fare up to Edinburgh on 3rd August. The "tiny" fare was 10 quid more expensive than the BA flight on the same day/route, but that's another story. I have a BD Gold Card, VS Gold Card and Amex Centurion Card.

Looking on the bmi site, it looks like I can still get into the BD Lounge with my BD Gold card, although some of the comments here seem to suggest this may not be the case. Can anyone confirm? If not, will any of those other bits of plastic get me in?

I also still have those BD Gold Upgrade vouchers, and the EDI route still offers a Business cabin. Will I be able to use a couple to upgrade there and back?

And a slightly more logistical question; assuming I can use an upgrade voucher, how do I check in? The "tiny" fares are supposed to be self-service check in only, but the voucher needs to be handed in at check in. Do BD Gold card holders still get to use Business Class check in regardless of travel class so I can override this slight challenge?

Pete

[preiffer]

OK - I can try...

I'm on a "tiny" fare up to Edinburgh on 3rd August.
Looking on the bmi site, it looks like I can still get into the BD Lounge with my BD Gold card, although some of the comments here seem to suggest this may not be the case. Can anyone confirm? If not, will any of those other bits of plastic get me in?

BMI are saying that this will be allowed with your BMI Gold Card on tiny fares until November (providing it's a BMI "tiny fare", not a BMI-BABY "tiny" fare). Confusing, but if you bought it on flybmi.com, it's a BMI one, so should be fine [y]. After November, who knows...
Your VS one is only good (officially ) for the LHR International BMI lounge, which is now being shut down.

I also still have those BD Gold Upgrade vouchers, and the EDI route still offers a Business cabin. Will I be able to use a couple to upgrade there and back?

Yup - they're space available vouchers. The only issue is if they don't have enough catering (or have too many staff-class seats to offer ) you'll be told that the cabin is full.
My GUESS is that this will be the last we see of the Au vouchers, since they're now pretty useless. I was expecting them to prevent their use against tiny fares, but they don't seem to have so far.

And a slightly more logistical question; assuming I can use an upgrade voucher, how do I check in? The "tiny" fares are supposed to be self-service check in only, but the voucher needs to be handed in at check in. Do BD Gold card holders still get to use Business Class check in regardless of travel class so I can override this slight challenge?

You can still use the *G/Business Check in, so I'd go straight there with your vouchers.

Useful chart, here for comparing the "official" differences in the new fares.

[Pete]

Originally posted by preiffer
OK - I can try...

I'm on a "tiny" fare up to Edinburgh on 3rd August.
Looking on the bmi site, it looks like I can still get into the BD Lounge with my BD Gold card, although some of the comments here seem to suggest this may not be the case. Can anyone confirm? If not, will any of those other bits of plastic get me in?

BMI are saying that this will be allowed with your BMI Gold Card on tiny fares until November (providing it's a BMI "tiny fare", not a BMI-BABY "tiny" fare). Confusing, but if you bought it on flybmi.com, it's a BMI one, so should be fine [y]. After November, who knows...
Your VS one is only good (officially ) for the LHR International BMI lounge, which is now being shut down.

Well, I booked it on bmi.com, but the fare basis outbound is QBABY and WBABY inbound - should I be worried?

Pete

[preiffer]

Originally posted by pixuk

Well, I booked it on bmi.com, but the fare basis outbound is QBABY and WBABY inbound - should I be worried?

Umm... I don't know! (sorry, I feel so ashamed ). This may be one for FT though, as a lot of the guys there are going through the same thing.

The impression I get, however, is that there are two "splinter-cells" forming within the empire: Check In Staff and Lounge Dragons.

Both (according to popular rumour) are now ignoring a lot of the new "rules" and applying common sense instead [y]. Since you're travelling during the transition period, I dare say they'll let you in regardless - it's really not worth their while to argue something that they don't seem to agree with themselves .

(Besides, I think in some cases, the staff know less about the new rules than the FT's do!)