BMI

[ara01jbb]

Got a friend who is bmi cabin crew and she says the Americans especially just love the hats!!

My partner (originally from Minnesota) emigrated from the States to the UK, and entered the UK on BD into MAN. She tells me that the crew's uniforms are the "cutest" she'd even seen on her travels, and the friendly service contributed to the feeling of having arrived in Britain before she even left ORD...

[barnflee]

Also says that years after all the crews asking what bmi stood for that the company have said it stands for what all the crew said at the very outset......British Midland International

B***y management Interference!!!

It doesn't stand for;
Satisfying the needs of its internal customers let alone it's passengers.

and before those of you who are 'happy as larry' there start firing bullets back ask yourselves this. How many of you would recommend a friend to join BMI?

[answer=42]

Also says that years after all the crews asking what bmi stood for that the company have said it stands for what all the crew said at the very outset......British Midland International

Body Mass Index

... not the smartest of acronyms.

[Tail-take-off]

Flexible Economy

Benefits of Business Class without the price tag


From the 27 January 2010, we will be relaunching our shorthaul product across all UK and Ireland flights to and from London Heathrow. This will see the introduction of a single Economy cabin, with an enhanced service for customers travelling on our new Flexible Economy fares.
The benefits of flying in Flexible Economy:

• Fully flexible ticket - no charges for changes
• 30 minute check-in
• Business lounge access at both ends of your route
• Priority seating at the front of the plane
• Complimentary food and drink served
  onboard throughout the day
• Lower rate Air Passenger Duty.

Flexible Economy is designed with your travel needs in mind, so experience this new service and book today for your flights from 27 January 2010 onwards.

I'm surprised that there has been no mass whinging about the changes to the shorthaul in-flight service. Perhaps it has gone down well????

I thought there would atleast be a Diamond Club Bluecard (or above) holder who is not happy they no longer get their meal deal when travelling on a non flexible ticket.

Certainly those travelling on a flexible ticket seem fairly happy judging by on board comments.

[Businesstraveller]

Maybe the answer is that the DC lounges (rather than the business lounges) compare more favourably than the gratis inflight facilities. I for one never bother with the inflight catering - which visibly puzzles some crew.

[frontcheck]

There is just no demand for business class on domestic flights anymore,,,,it is a pity but the way things are nowadays. Also, do not fret over Blue+ members, they have been well looked after !

[nivsy]

Am I missing something......how have Blue + members been well looked after?


Nivsy

[11K-AVML]

Food (let alone meal) offerings in the lounges varies from poor to pathetic, particularly the latter on the UK domestic routes and UK - DUB routes.
The view seems to be that a packet of crisps and some pretzels consitutes a meal. Put sandwiches in the lounges at least, particularly now that it's going to be removed from being gratis for the frequent flyers in the cabin.

I suspect the complaints haven't been heard so widely yet because people aren't yet fully aware of these sudden changes. The next time you're on board, note how many passenger are frequent flyers who aren't aware of the new 'enhancement'.

[bmi goldenboy]

Personally, I rarely took advantage of the free crap sandwich offer anyway although the free cold red wine was appreciated some evenings. I head straight to the Star Alliance lounge for my dinner before boarding. If you can't last 1 hour on a flight without withering away due to starvation then your a lost cause anyway.

By way of comparison, has anyone tried a 3 hour domestic "first class" flight with US or UA or paid for a drink in a RCC recently? I'm happy with BD, they get me where i need to go 99.9% of the time without any problems, on time and with a smile. Times are hard, grin and bear it.

[11K-AVML]

Times are hard; the less value I get out of a product or service the less inclined I am to use it.

Taking away the remaining basic frills from a 'low-cost' airline does not differentiate themselves from a true LCC at all.

And not all of us have the luxury of time when we travel to airports to catch our flights (and not always a Heathrow either) nor end their journey at the arrival airport early enough in the evening that shops are still open. Not having a snack onboard won't wither everyone away but when you're hungry it doesn't make for a particularly comfortable journey.
I'd just like a least one airline to differentiate themselves from a train or bus service...

[ayroplain]

bmi LHR-DUB

I thought bmi had closed their Dublin base and are now operating LHR-DUB-LHR only with a reduced number of flights per day. Passing through DUB earlier this week there were no less than four bmi aircraft visible. Two (A319's) appeared to be operational and on stand. In the distance parked over at the new under-construction T2 I could just see another 319 and another aircraft (320/321?) that was still in the old livery.

[fonejacker]

The 'old livery' 321 parked up over by T2 is G-MIDC, parked there as cheaper than being parked at LHR, before it gets handed back to the lessor this month

The aircraft (319s) parked on stand are usually there on 4-5 hour turnarounds which are a result of the reduced rotations.

[Dave Clarke Fife]

There are 319's doing weekend ski charters from DUB to GVA

[Nubboy]

Saw MIDC taxi and takeoff from Geneva yeaterday aftyernoon. Seems pretty busy for a parked up 321

[ayroplain]

Tks for replies.

The aircraft (319s) parked on stand are usually there on 4-5 hour turnarounds which are a result of the reduced rotations.
There are 319's doing weekend ski charters from DUB to GVA

4/5 hour turnarounds and aircraft parked from Weds. to weekends???
What an extraordinarily poor utilisation of aircraft!!

[EC-ILS]

The BD utilisation of aircraft to/from DUB is very bad to put it lightly!

They operate 1 ski charter at the weekend, it arrives in DUB Friday night, goes to GVA on the Saturday and leaves DUB on Sunday.

Today for example

BD123 arrives at 1000/BD124 departs at 1310

BD125 arrives at 1115/BD128 departs at 1510

BD127 arrives at 1240/BD130 departs at 1635

BD131 arrives at 1950/BD134 departs at 2125

BD132 departs at 1850 suggesting this is an spare aircraft knocking around DUB all day.

BD135/120 is the night stopper.

[ayroplain]

BD123 arrives at 1000/BD124 departs at 1310
BD125 arrives at 1115/BD128 departs at 1510
BD132 departs at 1850 suggesting this is an spare aircraft knocking around DUB all day.

So the two on-stand 319's I saw on Wed. were the BD124 and 128 with long turnarounds of 3-4 hours.
The third one just sat there all day until it became BD132 at 18.50. Begs the question from where and what day/time it arrived at DUB?!!!
The 321 had a few day's holiday in DUB before departing for just the one round trip to GVA for skiers.

I must say that beggars belief. Seems like the bmi OPS Dept. is every bit as as hopeless as their website/IT systems.

[Nubboy]

Wrong.

Wherever MIDC came from, and then left for on its Geneva trip saturday it wasn't Dublin.

[parky747]

The BD utilisation of aircraft to/from DUB is very bad to put it lightly!

So what do you suggest BMI do with the a/c, fly them around empty everywhere?

The only reason the schedules are as they are is to protect LHR slots for when the market becomes more buoyant once again!!

[Van G]

I think you'll find it did a Geneva charter Saturday followed by a Grenoble Charter Sunday from LGW. Loads seemed pretty good.