max magic
30th Jul 2005, 20:08
From Business Traveller Magazine :
Thousands of Bmi passengers transitting Heathrow next month face longer and more difficult journeys.
From August 1, the airline says that in order to save money it will withdraw through check facilities for passengers using separate tickets.
Both business and leisure travellers carry separate tickets from time to time in a bid to travel more cheaply. In addition, certain corporate "route deals" prohibit the inclusion of Bmi connecting flights.
The new policy applies to passengers connecting at Heathrow from one Bmi flight to another as well as other carriers. It also includes code-share services. Through check facilities will only be offered to passengers holding a single ticket for their flights.
It means that a passenger flying say, from Edinburgh to Milan (Bmi throughout) or from Teeside to Chicago (Bmi to United) will have to claim his or her bags at Heathrow and check-in again for the onward flight. This process could add hours to the transfer time. It also means that passengers who miss connections will not be entitled to any compensation.
A Bmi spokesperson told Business Traveller, "It's part of our new business model at Heathrow [where Bmi is converting to a no-frills airline] and it's basically a cost issue. With the greater availability of lower fares, more passengers have been combining two cheap tickets to save money [rather than buy a through ticket]. In some cases, the cost of dealing with passengers [in terms of compensation and staff time] who miss connections is higher than what their ticket cost."
At Heathrow Star Alliance member Bmi feeds travellers to over 12 fellow carriers.
Says a major Star carrier, "Everyone's affected by this move. It's a decision made by Bmi in the interests of cutting costs. But it's not for us to comment on the way Bmi runs its business."
One of the passenger benefits of Star Alliance was to offer simpler journeys with one-stop check-in. Doesn't Bmi's move go against the spirit of the alliance?
Says a Star spokesperson, "We fully understand the needs of our members, in this case, Bmi, to react to changing market conditions. Because the majority of passengers transferring from Bmi to a Star carrier will hold a single ticket, these customers will continue to enjoy through check-in. Star Alliance will monitor the situation and hold further consultations with Bmi should it become necessary."
But there is a glimmer of hope. Adds Bmi, "We will take an open mind on this decision. If the rules need changing, we'll adjust them."
Thousands of Bmi passengers transitting Heathrow next month face longer and more difficult journeys.
From August 1, the airline says that in order to save money it will withdraw through check facilities for passengers using separate tickets.
Both business and leisure travellers carry separate tickets from time to time in a bid to travel more cheaply. In addition, certain corporate "route deals" prohibit the inclusion of Bmi connecting flights.
The new policy applies to passengers connecting at Heathrow from one Bmi flight to another as well as other carriers. It also includes code-share services. Through check facilities will only be offered to passengers holding a single ticket for their flights.
It means that a passenger flying say, from Edinburgh to Milan (Bmi throughout) or from Teeside to Chicago (Bmi to United) will have to claim his or her bags at Heathrow and check-in again for the onward flight. This process could add hours to the transfer time. It also means that passengers who miss connections will not be entitled to any compensation.
A Bmi spokesperson told Business Traveller, "It's part of our new business model at Heathrow [where Bmi is converting to a no-frills airline] and it's basically a cost issue. With the greater availability of lower fares, more passengers have been combining two cheap tickets to save money [rather than buy a through ticket]. In some cases, the cost of dealing with passengers [in terms of compensation and staff time] who miss connections is higher than what their ticket cost."
At Heathrow Star Alliance member Bmi feeds travellers to over 12 fellow carriers.
Says a major Star carrier, "Everyone's affected by this move. It's a decision made by Bmi in the interests of cutting costs. But it's not for us to comment on the way Bmi runs its business."
One of the passenger benefits of Star Alliance was to offer simpler journeys with one-stop check-in. Doesn't Bmi's move go against the spirit of the alliance?
Says a Star spokesperson, "We fully understand the needs of our members, in this case, Bmi, to react to changing market conditions. Because the majority of passengers transferring from Bmi to a Star carrier will hold a single ticket, these customers will continue to enjoy through check-in. Star Alliance will monitor the situation and hold further consultations with Bmi should it become necessary."
But there is a glimmer of hope. Adds Bmi, "We will take an open mind on this decision. If the rules need changing, we'll adjust them."