IAG BMI

[FLAPS 10-100]

It really would be an imaculate conception. Virgin having a baby. I don't think so some how.

[FQTLSteve]

bmi summer schedules

In IAG and BMI press releases it is stated that BMI's summer schedlue will be operated in full. So, will BD still appear on LH, LX,SK etc? flights as code share and vice versa, and if not how will this go down with pax, like myself who would choose BD over BA because of the former's membership of Star? I think this could be rather an issue. Does anyone know how this will pan out, and will Diamond Club members have an option to remain in Star and/or transfer and what value to one world?

From 20 April what will happen to the BD flights from MAN/BHX to FRA covering for Lufthansa?

These isssues have not been aired much unless I've missed them.

[toledoashley]

Just mearly suggesting that if Virgin was serious about doing the domestic/european flights, then baby is a ready made airline which is up for sale which could operate straight away (even if the fleet is a bit old and needs replacing).

[CabinCrew747]

I guess we can look forward to an overall reduction in MAN-LHR and the loss of MAN-EDI, LYS and ABZ

[EI-BUD]

Does anyone know how this will pan out, and will Diamond Club members have an option to remain in Star and/or transfer and what value to one world?

Hi FQTLSteve,

I had an email from bmi stating that the diamond club were still going to be available to use over the summer season, and some changes were happening to make effect to allow the miles to be accepted on BA, cant remember the exact wording, it wasnt certainly clear. My expectation is that my diamond club balance will be 'translated' into Avios and available going forward. Though none of that seemed concrete.

EI-BUD

[VentureGo]

Here's the communication re Diamond club & BA

We’d like to advise you that the EU Competition Authority has today approved the sale of bmi to IAG. We are very aware that Diamond Club members want to know what will happen to their accounts when bmi is acquired by British Airways.
The deal between bmi and British Airways is due to be completed around 20 April 2012. We would like to reassure you that we plan to operate our summer schedule as normal and you can continue to earn and redeem Diamond Club miles during this period.
We are working together to announce a Diamond Club partnership with British Airways. This will include the ability to earn and redeem Diamond Club destinations miles across the bmi and BA networks.
We will be communicating regularly with you as more information becomes available and flybmi.com will also be updated with the latest information.
Regards

Keeley Downing
Diamond Club Manager

[giblets]

Those 14 slot pairs

The EU commitments are quite complex, but interesting that they essentially state that the 'entrant' cannot obtain the slots if they have leased out their own slots (since the EU slot regs came into force), or 'exhausted' attempts to gain slots through the normal procedures.

Am sure Virgin will claim this is specifically aimed to stop them!? (how many slots do they lease?)

[Mister Geezer]

Is VS really going to be a big enough operator to merit its own dedicated feeder network at LHR? Compare the size of the BA operation at LHR and Virgin's twenty odd departures from LHR a day. The figures just don't seem to add up!

[Cyrano]

Originally Posted by giblets

The EU commitments are quite complex, but interesting that they essentially state that the 'entrant' cannot obtain the slots if they have leased out their own slots (since the EU slot regs came into force), or 'exhausted' attempts to gain slots through the normal procedures.

Am sure Virgin will claim this is specifically aimed to stop them!? (how many slots do they lease?)

Giblets, my reading of the agreement is that a carrier is excluded only if it signs up to lease out slots after this IAG/bmi merger approval is ratified. In other words, if VS or someone signed up last year to lease out some slots for several seasons, they would not be prevented from applying for these IAG slots.

I'm sure that Virgin will find other reasons to be volubly unhappy...

[fmgc]

Is VS really going to be a big enough operator to merit its own dedicated feeder network at LHR? Compare the size of the BA operation at LHR and Virgin's twenty odd departures from LHR a day. The figures just don't seem to add up!

This is the issue that VS has. They have pretty much reached as big as they can get without a feeder airline and so can't grow big enough to be an airline that needs a feeder without having a feeder!!

[Kittiwake]

Then start with an Embraer and if you can make it work, fine. If not you can prove it and apply to have the slots de-restricted. VS needs reguonal to make this work!

[FQTLSteve]

Diamond Club Star/One World

Thanks VentureGo for the Diamond Club info. It still seems unclear, if the current BMI summer schedule is to be continued will Diamond Club points remain as Star (many of BMI's schedules are clearly operated as a Star airline and feed etc.) or One World or will members have a choice until the end of the summer season?

Seems to me that BMI will still be feeding Star if the current schedule remains?

[diggablue]

INFO FROM FLYER TALK FORUM THAT MAY SHED A LITTLE MORE LIGHT


LH Partnerplusbenefit states today in a newsletter:

With the EU approval of the sale of Lufthansa Alliance Airline British Midland International, the airline will only participate in the PartnerPlusBenefit programme until approximately 19 April 2012. Therefore, starting 20 April 2012, BenefitAwards (free flights and upgrades) cannot be redeemed, nor can BenefitPoints be earned, on British Midland International flights. Flight awards (free flights and upgrades) already booked are still valid or can be rebooked or cancelled free of charge up to one business day prior to departure. BenefitPoints will be awarded for flights on British Midland International that take place up to and including 19 April 2012. BenefitPoints earned on British Midland International flights will still be valid. If you have any additional questions, the PartnerPlusBenefit Service Centre will be happy to assist you.

[VentureGo]

IAG/BMI Star/Oneworld

FQTLSteve Understand Bmi may be leaving Star Alliance on 18th April & joining Oneworld (this was on another thread) Not sure re. Star Alliance codeshare flights that maybe committed to for summer. Guess all will be clear in a couple of weeks.