bmiBaby threads (merged)
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: The IMF.
Posts: 537
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agreed. My sympathy goes out to all those affected by this bad news. I truly hope new employment follows on swiftly.
Selfishly, please allow me a question:
I have flights booked for family, in July, from MAN to LYS.
The flights are Baby flights, but appear to be operated by BMI Regional.
Are these now at threat of cancellation, or are they likely to survive until then?
As I said, I have great sympathy for all those involved here. I truly wish you the best.
Selfishly, please allow me a question:
I have flights booked for family, in July, from MAN to LYS.
The flights are Baby flights, but appear to be operated by BMI Regional.
Are these now at threat of cancellation, or are they likely to survive until then?
As I said, I have great sympathy for all those involved here. I truly wish you the best.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Wales
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would personally like to wish all of those at Baby the best wishes for the future, and i am sure that you will find jobs elsewhere. You lot are amazing people, and if i had an airline i would employ a lot straight away. I flew with Baby on numerous occasions (In double figures) when they operated from CWL !
However, after reading the statement on the Baby website it sounds as though the closure of both CWL and MAN, and the setting up of BHD cost a hell of a lot of cash. Should have stayed at CWL and MAN, but as i said guys, you will do well in the future. Best wishes, and the best of luck !
However, after reading the statement on the Baby website it sounds as though the closure of both CWL and MAN, and the setting up of BHD cost a hell of a lot of cash. Should have stayed at CWL and MAN, but as i said guys, you will do well in the future. Best wishes, and the best of luck !
I'm fairly sure that bmi never had a business plan for Baby.
The story runs something like this:
SMB turns up early in January 2002 and informs his executive team that he's starting up a LoCo.
Executive team informs IT service provider that they have a) 2 days to have a team at Donington Hall b) 3 weeks to make Baby bookable and c) 2 months to set up DCS services. IT service provider knew about it before parent company ( and major shareholder).
Major shareholder goes spare, but SMB had 50% + 1 share....
The story runs something like this:
SMB turns up early in January 2002 and informs his executive team that he's starting up a LoCo.
Executive team informs IT service provider that they have a) 2 days to have a team at Donington Hall b) 3 weeks to make Baby bookable and c) 2 months to set up DCS services. IT service provider knew about it before parent company ( and major shareholder).
Major shareholder goes spare, but SMB had 50% + 1 share....
Paxing All Over The World
I'm an outsider but, I can't say I've heard many nice things about SMB. The cavalier who wanted to start and run an airline the size of BA (which is not one airline but the agglomeration of almost every UK carrier of the last 90 years).
To be sympathetic to him (and all those in the various companies) he did have the UK govt against him and, although he survived when Laker got toasted, he was always on a the slippery slope. By the time that international agreements were easing, then the LCCs could also start and the game was over.
It just that it has taken 20 years and a the greatest recession since the 1930s to bring BD/baby/regional to the end of their run.
Not nice but the course has been clear for some while.
To be sympathetic to him (and all those in the various companies) he did have the UK govt against him and, although he survived when Laker got toasted, he was always on a the slippery slope. By the time that international agreements were easing, then the LCCs could also start and the game was over.
It just that it has taken 20 years and a the greatest recession since the 1930s to bring BD/baby/regional to the end of their run.
Not nice but the course has been clear for some while.
As one who can remember the days when it was Derby Aviation (before British Midland) flying DC3s from Burnaston airfield (now a Toyota factory would you believe) and then transferred to East Midlands Airport when it opened in the mid 1960s, it is very sad to see the end of yet another independent airline in the form of BMI/baby.
They brought a breath of fresh air to the "bland and sanitised" air transport which has now become so common.
Ask yourself whether, concerning customer service, you would rather fly with BM/bmbaby or the likes of Ryanair? RIP
They brought a breath of fresh air to the "bland and sanitised" air transport which has now become so common.
Ask yourself whether, concerning customer service, you would rather fly with BM/bmbaby or the likes of Ryanair? RIP
Paxing All Over The World
Agreed fireflybob. But the greatest majority of people have decided to use price as the deciding factor. If boom times could me made to last longer than the usual 10~15 years, we might have more choices.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Holywood
Age: 50
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ever get the feeling the 'parties intrested' just came to tyre kick and then start up their own routes without buying. Would explane the feeling of inkjets hope.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast
Age: 60
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First and foremost, I have nothing but sympathy for all those people who are going to face the hardship that comes with the loss of a job. However, I make no apology for saying I also feel sorry for everyone in Northern Ireland whose holiday plans are now in shreds.
To begin with, schools here close for summer almost four weeks before english schools so families planning to holiday as soon as the term ends will have to make alternative arrangements very quickly. Their english counterparts do not have to worry about alternative arrangements for this summer's holiday. Their bmibaby flights to the sun will operate until the second week in September - about the time english schools begin the autumn term.
Secondly, Northern Ireland's traditional summer holiday fortnight begins at the end of the first week in July. Employees of businesses which close for this 14 day period will now have to find seats on flights operated by EZY or EI. At this stage, these fares are bound to be much higher than the costs of their original bookings.
Mrs FF and I returned from Faro earlier today - on EI - so I'm a bit out of touch. I would be interested to know how recently, bmibaby stopped taking bookings on its BHD routes for dates beyond June 11.
To begin with, schools here close for summer almost four weeks before english schools so families planning to holiday as soon as the term ends will have to make alternative arrangements very quickly. Their english counterparts do not have to worry about alternative arrangements for this summer's holiday. Their bmibaby flights to the sun will operate until the second week in September - about the time english schools begin the autumn term.
Secondly, Northern Ireland's traditional summer holiday fortnight begins at the end of the first week in July. Employees of businesses which close for this 14 day period will now have to find seats on flights operated by EZY or EI. At this stage, these fares are bound to be much higher than the costs of their original bookings.
Mrs FF and I returned from Faro earlier today - on EI - so I'm a bit out of touch. I would be interested to know how recently, bmibaby stopped taking bookings on its BHD routes for dates beyond June 11.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Uk
Age: 42
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thomas cook fly from Aldergrove to many destinations and you can book flights only. Anyone who was flying out of Belfast city could take a bmi flight to heathrow and then ba to their destination. I know its not ideal but its a option and maybe help can be provided to transfer tickets. Either way its not a nice situation for the passengers or employees. Hopefully things can only improve from where they are today.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
Age: 66
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bex from their website
Will you come to an arrangement with other carriers to transfer our tickets?
We are unable to transfer customers on to alternative airlines including bmi and British Airways.
We are unable to transfer customers on to alternative airlines including bmi and British Airways.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flybe have ~3 flights a day to SOU from BHD and can offer onward connections to AGP, ALC, FAO and PMI so there is another option for those booked on the leisure routes. They also fly from EXT to all the listed destinations but there are less flights at the BHD end so connections may not be possible.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ireland
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Such sad news only flew with baby once and have to say I agree there service was far above easyJet and Ryanair albeit for near enough the same price. Sad to see bad management claims another airline 
best wishes go out to all bmi staff paticularly bmibaby staff I hope you find alternative employment quickly.
best wishes go out to all bmi staff paticularly bmibaby staff I hope you find alternative employment quickly.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jobs hope for BMI staff as rival expands routes
AIRLINE Jet2 will be looking to recruit staff facing redundancy from BMI Baby as it creates 100 jobs at East Midlands Airport.
But Jet2 announced yesterday it would be launching eight new routes from East Midlands Airport.
And its senior managers have already been in discussions with BMI Baby about offering jobs to its staff.
But Jet2 announced yesterday it would be launching eight new routes from East Midlands Airport.
And its senior managers have already been in discussions with BMI Baby about offering jobs to its staff.
Monarch Airlines also intends to take on extra staff at the airport, having announced that it will be adding routes to Malaga, Alicante, Palma and Faro from late summer this year.
A spokesman said: "There will be additional jobs created as a result of the four new routes and we will be looking at recruiting BMI Baby employees."
A spokesman said: "There will be additional jobs created as a result of the four new routes and we will be looking at recruiting BMI Baby employees."
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast
Age: 60
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once again, I'm not trying in any way to detract from the distress this situation is causing for WW employees. However, I do wonder if people outside Northern Ireland realise just how big an impact the decision to pull the BHD flights just before the start of the summer holiday rush is going to have on local people's holiday plans. Let's consider the case of a two parent two child family due to spend a fortnight in the Algarve between July 3 and July 17. They're looking forward to two weeks in a family complex which is fully paid for, and until a few days ago, had flights booked and paid for with WW.
If they tried today (May 6) to book return flights from Northern Ireland to Faro, travelling on the above dates, their options were easyJet and Aer Lingus. EasyJet will have quoted a total fare of £1784.92, not including baggage charges. Aer Lingus will have quoted a total fare of £1847.92, again not including baggage charges.
If they were prepared to change dates slightly, departing July 7 and returning July 21, Jet2 would have entered the equation with a fare of £1475.00. Baggage charges not included.
If they tried to find flights with Flybe from BHD, they would have been routed via Southampton at a total fare of £1375. Baggage not included.
Would they have found cheaper flights from Dublin? Not with Aer Lingus. They would have quoted 1727 Euros, not including baggage. Ryanair would have quoted 1384 Euros, not including baggage.
The only option open to them to keep the total fare under £1000 would have been to travel via an english airport. BFS to LTN and LTN to FAO would have given them the option of a fare of £769.84, not including baggage. However, the timings involve a great deal of hanging around which might not be practical with young children.
A lot of people may well no longer be able to afford their holiday.
If they tried today (May 6) to book return flights from Northern Ireland to Faro, travelling on the above dates, their options were easyJet and Aer Lingus. EasyJet will have quoted a total fare of £1784.92, not including baggage charges. Aer Lingus will have quoted a total fare of £1847.92, again not including baggage charges.
If they were prepared to change dates slightly, departing July 7 and returning July 21, Jet2 would have entered the equation with a fare of £1475.00. Baggage charges not included.
If they tried to find flights with Flybe from BHD, they would have been routed via Southampton at a total fare of £1375. Baggage not included.
Would they have found cheaper flights from Dublin? Not with Aer Lingus. They would have quoted 1727 Euros, not including baggage. Ryanair would have quoted 1384 Euros, not including baggage.
The only option open to them to keep the total fare under £1000 would have been to travel via an english airport. BFS to LTN and LTN to FAO would have given them the option of a fare of £769.84, not including baggage. However, the timings involve a great deal of hanging around which might not be practical with young children.
A lot of people may well no longer be able to afford their holiday.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Durham
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
People have a right to re-routing under the EU travel directive and if they choose this rather than a refund then it should be BA/IAG that bears the extra cost of the flights.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
People have a right to re-routing under the EU travel directive and if they
choose this rather than a refund then it should be BA/IAG that bears the extra cost of the flights.
choose this rather than a refund then it should be BA/IAG that bears the extra cost of the flights.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: mildlands uk
Age: 40
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The one way this has to be looked at is at least the airline didn't go bust with people loosing their money and having to to claim it back off creditors! At least this is a phased shutdown and people are being refunded and money is not being lost on the flights.
This also demonstrates the importance of booking packages at are ATOL and ABTA protected and not playing travel agent at home to save a few quid. In the case of people who have booked through a protected operator and the package involves a baby flight if the cost of the new flights with another airline are not acceptable or the new routing is not suitable people are being offered a full refund on the entire package so they can look for an alternate holiday.
I feel really sorry for people that have their holiday plans disrupted! But at the end of the day it's a holiday it can be re booked or re planned. People who are employed by baby with families to support and mortgages to pay are now facing being out of work with no income.
This also demonstrates the importance of booking packages at are ATOL and ABTA protected and not playing travel agent at home to save a few quid. In the case of people who have booked through a protected operator and the package involves a baby flight if the cost of the new flights with another airline are not acceptable or the new routing is not suitable people are being offered a full refund on the entire package so they can look for an alternate holiday.
I feel really sorry for people that have their holiday plans disrupted! But at the end of the day it's a holiday it can be re booked or re planned. People who are employed by baby with families to support and mortgages to pay are now facing being out of work with no income.
Last edited by tinyflyerBHX; 7th May 2012 at 12:07. Reason: Addition of ABTA reference
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tracy Island
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having taken VR from BACON when it was closing bases can I offer the following? In the contract world no one wants to pay for anything so try before you leave to get copies of your,
wet drill,
first aid,
fire and smoke,
CRM,
RVSM,
training records,
Also have your base manager sign your log book saying hours are correct.
If you can get an LPC as part of the leaving package then you will have 12 months to freelance before putting your hand in your pocket.
I hope you all manage to get proper full time employment without having to think about contract work but its all a bit grim out here as you know.
wet drill,
first aid,
fire and smoke,
CRM,
RVSM,
training records,
Also have your base manager sign your log book saying hours are correct.
If you can get an LPC as part of the leaving package then you will have 12 months to freelance before putting your hand in your pocket.
I hope you all manage to get proper full time employment without having to think about contract work but its all a bit grim out here as you know.