OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8127 times:
Welcome to my latest trip report. For over 10 years I have been flying British Midland/BMI and as most of you all know by now IAG has bought them so integration into BA is commencing. This year after 10 years consecutive Gold status I was to be lifetime Gold. To get to this milestone would normally be cause for celebration but sadly due to the above it was not to be for long. I had prepared for this over the last 12 months and knew it would be short lived so as they say thats life nothing lasts forever
I will share some images of their product over the last number of years :
Head Office
Fleet :
A330
Business Class :
Premium Y ( Old J class seats )
Onboard Chef :
Star Logo :
BMI crew and who will forget the hats
No one can forget the good old days and their Diamond service :
The Manchester base with the destinations to the Caribbean and the USA . All now distant memories. Who will ever know what could have been . Everyone will write their own history.
Printed material :
British Midland also had their tragic crash which Im sure we will always remember with much sadness:
1989: Dozens die as plane crashes on motorway
A Boeing 737 airplane has crashed onto the M1 motorway near East Midlands airport, killing 46 people.
Eighty have survived, of whom ten are seriously injured.
The British Midland flight 092 was forced to crash land after both engines of the brand new aircraft failed.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8208 times:
So the time had come to fly BMI again and maybe for the last time who knows . I decided to do a day trip from BHD-LHR-DUB . It had been a while since I flew BMI out of BHD so it would be a nice change.
The morning came and I took the train from Newry to Belfast Central :
Checking the status on the Star App :
After an hour we pulled into Belfast Central and it was time to change trains.
Northern Ireland getting ready for the Olympic Games :
Soon my train came for the short ride to Sydenham ( Belfast City Airport ) :
After 5 minutes we arrived and time to get off looking over at a local art work :
After a less than 10 minutes walk I was at BHD Terminal :
DATE : 20/MAR/2012
AIRLINE: BMI
FLIGHT: BD 089
ROUTE: BHD - LHR
CLASS: PREMIUM ECONOMY
SEAT: 4A
AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS A319
REG: G - DBCJ
I approached the Business Class check in and the girl behind the desk printed my boarding passes. She said '' Here we go Sir this is your Belfast to Heathrow and this is your connecting flight to ...errr ( took another look ) err back to Dublin tonight ??'' I replied ''Yes Im doing it for the miles promotion. She smiled and said why not
I thanked her and made my way to the fast track lane .
Yes thanks for reminding me
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8186 times:
Time to hit the lounge . It was quite busy as there was a flight soon to depart before mine to LHR. The lounge agent welcomed me in with a smile . I hope that BA will keep them on if they take over the lounge .
One thing I love about BMI BHD is the direct boarding to the aircraft from the lounge. This was a dedicated investment by BMI in BHD when it opened. I hope this also gets kept with BA.
Hats soon to be worth some money :
Soon it was time for the first flight to depart :
Off to Heathrow :
Not long after my flight arrived from LHR :
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8181 times:
After a while we were invited to board the aircraft :
The nice new BMI cabins , what will happen to them ?
Soon it was time to leave the gate and make our way to the runway :
After take off it was time for the service :
I have to say it was a bit dissapointing . The filling of the cake was pure grease and not nice at all. The cake was dry and the cakes in the lounge were actually nicer. I would have preferred a hot wrap than this. The crew were very pleasant and everything was served with a smile though.
Soon it was time to land into LHR :
My new replacement for BMI Diamond Club
An SMS alert about my flight :
So it was time to thank the crew and disembark the aircraft and make my way to the Star Alliance lounge for some proper food
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8164 times:
Soon it was time to head to the gate for boarding :
DATE : 20/MAR/2012
AIRLINE: BMI
FLIGHT: BD 131
ROUTE: LHR - DUB
CLASS: PREMIUM ECONOMY
SEAT: 2A
AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS A319
REG: G - DBCI
I was welcomed a friendly FA :
BMI's signature Voyager Magazine , I wonder if we will see a final one with a tribute to BMI and its history. It would be a nice touch .
Dedicated to Nils and Marc . Sadly from 19th April I cant use my BMI miles on SN Brussels or any other carrier in the LH group .
------
A copy of an email I got yesterday :
Dear Philip
We'd like to advise you of some forthcoming changes to the bmi Diamond Club programme.
From 19 April 2012, the ability for Diamond Club members to earn Status and Destinations miles and to redeem miles will cease on the Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines).
Any redemption tickets issued prior to this date for travel will be honoured.
All Star Alliance status benefits will remain unaffected by this change.
We are working with British Airways to offer Diamond Club customers the ability to earn and redeem miles on British Airways and its oneworld partners following completion of the sale. We will do everything we can to communicate more detail as soon as possible.
Regards
xxxx xxxxxxxx
Diamond Club Manager
----
Soon it was time to push back and take off .
After take off the service commenced and I was glad to see wraps on the menu :
Service was with a smile and I could choose anything I wanted from the trolley .
After a while it was time to land into DUB .
We made our way to the gate and then I disembarked the aircraft and made my way to arrivals.
So thats the end of my report. Its been an interesting 10 years , British Midland/BMI / British Midland International has at times delighted/frustrated/amused me over the decade but all in all I can say it was a pleasure to be part of a ''Club'' and despite the decline over the years you will be missed .
Next week BMI will be part of IAG and we will know what will happen to us Diamond Club members.
Lots of questions still to be answered :
Will we keep our miles ?
Will we be Status matched to BA or another Star Alliance member?
What will happen to the BMI Lounges?
When will Star Alliance benefits cease?
Will we see BA on the BHD-LHR route after 2012
Will we see BA with their own metal back on the DUB-LHR route ?
The waiting game begins but I would like to close in saying a thank you to the staff of BMI . Many have left over the years through no choice of their own. The wonderful lounge staff at Glasgow and a special mention to a true lady called Lorraine who used to greet me at GLA DC Lounge.
Another wonderful lady at the T1 LHR Great British Lounge called Sonia from Scotland who always went above the call of duty to assist.
To the now disbanded Irish Dublin crew base who did us proud over the years .
This report is dedicated to you all and for those who still work in BMI in Diamond Club and all other areas of BMI I wish you all the best for the future.
Thanks for reading this report and I look forward to your memories/experiences and comments .
gpbcroppers63 From Ireland, joined Jan 2008, 511 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 7988 times:
Another fantastic report Philip. A great tribute to BMI and the amazing journey we've all been on over the last few years. I know I've flown carriers and classes I'd never have even dreamed of had it not been for Diamond Club. As much as the airline has frustrated me with crazy decisions over the years, the frontline staff were always excellent and went above and beyond the call of duty on many occasions. They will be sadly missed. They all deserve huge thanks and many good wishes for the future.
Some personal mentions from me have to go to Renata in the Manchester lounge, and Sabine and Debbie in the Great British Lounge in Heathrow who have all helped me out on several occasions. I hope BA takes on these fabulous members of staff (among many others) and employs them for many years to come.
Farewell BD and thanks for the memories!
Gareth
According to one of my colleagues, my problem is that I'm addicted to travel!
planejamie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2011, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 7925 times:
A wonderful trip report, my relationship with BD has been a love/hate one. Their friendliness and how niche the carrier is makes me love this little airline, but I hate it after my last few flights with them have been awful and I vowed never to fly with them again (before the whole deal with BA/IAG came about). I hope when BA takes over, the routes BD previously served that BA didn't (their medium haul network and the Irish flights) are taken over and continue to operate. I also hope that as few staff as possible lose their jobs.
Will I fly BD again? Who knows, I might do a MAN-LHR-MAN trip sometime in the summer if the fares are cheap (cheaper than the train anyway).
I find it a bit of a shame that now BD almost have a consistent product (remember before how mix-matched it was with LH interiors, old blue interiors etc, different services on different routes - some BOB some not) they're being bought out, but I wish the combined BD/BA the best of luck!
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 8, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 7874 times:
Quoting gpbcroppers63 (Reply 6): Another fantastic report Philip. A great tribute to BMI and the amazing journey we've all been on over the last few years. I know I've flown carriers and classes I'd never have even dreamed of had it not been for Diamond Club.
Hi Gareth and thanks for the reply. It certainly has been . Had it not been for BMI we may have not met They have alot to answer for LOL.... Sincerely though I would have never travelled to Israel and just as I was getting used to the PE A330 product they ditched it . That was the problem in the end they kept chopping and changing routes and people got confused about where they flew and what they were.
They sent me a survey to fill out with multiple choice questions and one of them was :
BMI no longer fly where I need to go . That said it all really sadly.
Quoting planejamie (Reply 7): A wonderful trip report, my relationship with BD has been a love/hate one.
Indeed I feel your pain it was an airline you really wanted to fly but found it hard to find the routes to suit. The inconsistancy over the years was compensated for by the attractive DC redemptions and *G Status .
Quoting planejamie (Reply 7): I find it a bit of a shame that now BD almost have a consistent product (remember before how mix-matched it was with LH interiors, old blue interiors etc, different services on different routes - some BOB some not) they're being bought out, but I wish the combined BD/BA the best of luck!
Again I totally agree just when they seemed to get it right it was all too late .
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Thanks for the reply Im glad you enjoyed it. I loved their interiors they were something different from the norm and the PE seats were the best out there at the time.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
win1290 From Thailand, joined Jan 2012, 249 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 7587 times:
Hi Philip,
Many thanks for this great trip report and the tribute to BMI. I haven't been on a BMI flight, but having used the Great British Lounge in LHR T1 a couple of times, I really like it and it has become one of my favourite lounges. Wonder also as to what will happen to this lounge.
luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 7538 times:
What a treat your report was. The early photos were a hoot . I do so always enjoy the effort you put into writing these and sharing them with us. THANKS!
ROGERBCN From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1136 posts, RR: 19 Reply 13, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 7447 times:
Hola Philip!
Thanks for this tribute report on BMI, certainly a nice airline. I have personally never flown them but I have a been kind reader of your reports, and some others, with them and they certainly look like a very nice airline, especially on their mid-haul destinations. Their C seats look really comfortable and service looked always top notch so they will be missed around.
One thing I will miss is their lounge at LHR which I have visited some times and it was really a nice lounge with nice food, very good wines and very comfortable seating... let's see what happens to it.
On the survey you were asked to answer you should have included this Trip Report as a final tribute to the airline that has given so happy flights to you and after almost ten years being a Gold card holder is a little part of yourself as well, so I understand your worries and questions.
Anyway, I am sure we will see some of your other reports including great airlines... despite the slash on M&M earnings starting next September
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 7315 times:
Very nice report Phil, with some cracking old photos. Oh, where did it all go so wrong?!!! Sad to see the end of the DC club as well - am planning something to use the rest of mine up as I type!
Thanks for the reply . Im sorry you never got to fly them but its great you got to try out the lounge. I presume that was on your LX LH trips ? I wonder what they will do now .
Hey there yeah the photos brought back memories and seems like a different airline to now. Burn those miles soon and get them ticketed Im sure you know the drill !
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
richcandy From France, joined Aug 2001, 696 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 7249 times:
Hi
Thanks for this report. My first scheduled flight was on a British Midland DC9 from BFS-LHR. In those days you got a drink from the bar with peanuts then a meal. I don't know how they managed it on such a short flight and today it seams mad.
Thanks also for the picture of the Vodafone.ie advert, I'm a bit of a mobile phone junkie.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 18, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 7213 times:
Hi Phil,
Absolutely fantastic stuff! That is what I call a day well spent - saying goodbye to an old, beloved (and sometimes a little hated, too) friend. BMI looks good as ever on these bread and butter routes of theirs, shame about the bad management practices and lack of strategy and direction that brought them onto the waiting arms of IAG.
That mini historic in the beginning was a great added bonus.
Thanks also for reminding me that that Dublin - Belfast train ride is still high on my TODO list - had forgotten all about it! Also great shots of Belfast, a city I like a lot.
Hey thanks for sharing your memories those were the days. I used to
fly BFS-LHR with both BA and BD back in the day. Full service hot meals were great.
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 722 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 7035 times:
Good to see a report with BMI in its final days. Ill be travelling with them next month, and i hope that they haven't had any BA integration by then - as i can travel with BA any time, where as this will most likely be my last chance to fly with BMI.
Also, the club section on the BMI A319 looks a lot more appealing than the BA A319 i was on last month.
eicvd From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 2068 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days ago) and read 6660 times:
Hi Philip
Another excellent trip report as usual, & that was only about the flight's! The tribute to BD was a very nice bonus I will always have fond memories of British Midland. Not only were they my most flown airline some of my earliest aviation memories involve BD, from their 737's at DUB on quiet summer evenings in the 90's to an A321 that flew so low over my house on arrival I could almost recognize the passengers & my first & only non A32X/737 flight on their 757 last May. Nice to see a pic of G-MIDX too, my last BD flight was aboard that aircraft. Come to think of it, the airline's I have flown dont seem to have great future's after I fly with them. First it was FH, they went bust a few years after I flew with them. Then it was PF, a year after my last flight with them to PMI the travel company they flew for here went bust so they obviously left DUB & now BD are going.
Thanks for posting
Dublin, where Sam Maguire will be coming home to in mid September
LH4116 From Sweden, joined Aug 2007, 1672 posts, RR: 15 Reply 24, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 5 days ago) and read 6656 times:
Hey Philip, fantastic report. Quite sad to say farewell to an old friend. You and BMI sure seem to have had a good time together over the past years, and it really has shown by judging all your reports on them on the forum. And not to forget those tags you sent me. Who knows, one day they might be worth something
Ah, now that font looks very familiar. It's "Big Calson" which is used by SAS! Suppose that was from the days when SAS owned a major share in the company
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): I hope that BA will keep them on if they take over the lounge .
I'm sure they will let them keep their jobs. One could also hope for them to turn that dull BD Lounge into a proper galleries
Well let's hope they will last also. Otherwise it's Eurobonus Gold for me (yes SAS will match)
Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): So it was time to thank the crew and disembark the aircraft and make my way to the Star Alliance lounge for some proper food
Interesting. In the past I remember you making some negative remarks about the *A Lounge, at least regarding the food offerings. The food does however look fantastic. Will be there in September, so hopefully they'll have a hot breakfast buffet for me to pig out on
The lounge did however look quite dark and sterile at the same time, whereas the BMI Lounge looked so warm and welcoming as always. Did the *A Lounge have any views of the tarmac?
LOL Seems like you had a thing for cupcakes that day. But I'm sure you didn't eat too many, now when you've lost all those pounds
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Will we be Status matched to BA or another Star Alliance member?
I'm sure the other *A airlines will match BD, it has happened with all airlines who left the alliance so far (and those who went bust) so nothing to worry about. I'm sure A3 will match your card.
"Wheels Up!"
//Jonas
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
Hey Mark thanks for the reply. You were lucky to get onto the B757 I know you didn't rate it much at the time but I always wanted to get on it but didn't. Still I didn't do too badly with the other types especially the Midhaul Configs we got so used to at DUB.
You know I actually forgot how many BMI reports I did !
Yes I remember the tags that was the thing that turned you into a blood thirsty status guru lol..
Their head office was very palatial for sure
The A330s were great but they got returned apart from the current.
The Star Alliance lounge I gave out about was the one in CDG flying SK and CA to ATH. They had a power cut and were so rude . The LHR one is lovely and well stocked with yummy food.
Your right no more cupcakes for me only in moderation
Yes we shall see . I'm LH Senator for another year anyway so no fear of being on a metal bench yet lol...
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 473 posts, RR: 4 Reply 26, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6520 times:
Nice report Philip. Too bad for BMI. Never got to try them, even though I was very tempted to give them a shot when they used to fly to ORD. I also remember them when I was a student in the UK in the early 00's. I remember thinking how ugly their (old) logo looked like. It reminded me of an energy/gas company logo for some reason.
Also, BHD's interior seems to have changed quite a bit since the last time I was there. Your photos make it look much less of the LoCo heaven it screamed of back in the mid 00's.
It's always sad to see an airline "disappear", whether due to bankruptcy or merging. A very melancholic report. Thanks for putting it together, Philip.
WideBodyroga
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
Dublinspotter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 27, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 6495 times:
HI
Fantastic report! I really enjoyed reading it, the pictures of terminal one at Heathrow brought back memories!
Sad to hear about BD. I really wish they did succeed but, its life!
What did you think of BHD as an airport to fly out of? Would prefer BFS?
shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 6106 posts, RR: 15 Reply 28, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 6465 times:
Hello Philip, great report and tribute to BMI, loved the old photos of aircraft and timetables.
I flew BMI to BSL and NCE recently, the flight to NCE was in business and I couldn't fault it, everything was perfect and the cabin crew really went out of their way for everyone on board. It's a sad end for an airline that has so many great people working for it and had also finally sorted out its product, I love those brown leather seats and hot wraps, the Great British Lounge is fantastic as well. I hope to fly with them again this summer, just one last time.
Something that I'll also miss about BMI is seeing their advertising around London, it's everywhere! Also seeing those red horizontal stabilizers as a BD flight climbs out of LHR.
dc9northwest From Romania, joined Feb 2007, 1735 posts, RR: 4 Reply 29, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 6391 times:
Hi Philip,
This was a nice tribute report to BMI. Never had the pleasure of flying them myself, but I am also an armchair traveller when I can't physically travel
The cabin views look superb, as does the lounge arrangement at BHD.
BMI seems like a nice little airline... Devoured by big bad BA.
Thank you very much for writing everything up, and the photos from the past.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24927 posts, RR: 60 Reply 30, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 6163 times:
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 26): Nice report Philip. Too bad for BMI. Never got to try them, even though I was very tempted to give them a shot when they used to fly to ORD. I also remember them when I was a student in the UK in the early 00's. I remember thinking how ugly their (old) logo looked like. It reminded me of an energy/gas company logo for some reason.
Hi thanks alot glad you enjoyed it . The transatlantic routes were great. They had 3 classes J/PE/Y and they offered great connections onto the UA network from MAN-IAD/ORD. Shame it went .
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 26): Also, BHD's interior seems to have changed quite a bit since the last time I was there. Your photos make it look much less of the LoCo heaven it screamed of back in the mid 00's.
Indeed you must have been at the old terminal . It was a dump . I flew out of it many times. Were you studying in Belfast? Its a different city these days .
Quoting shamrock350 (Reply 28): Something that I'll also miss about BMI is seeing their advertising around London, it's everywhere! Also seeing those red horizontal stabilizers as a BD flight climbs out of LHR.
You have been busy flying around Glad you got to do those routes they are nice places. I will miss BSL I loved that route. Maybe BA will keep it . Funny enough the first time I flew to BSL was on a Cross Air Jumbolino with a BA codeshare from LGW-BSL ! That was years ago .
Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 29): BMI seems like a nice little airline... Devoured by big bad BA.
I guess some people will view it like that but I guess the alternative was shutting it down so saving some jobs and routes is better than them all going . Still hard to beleive we wont see BMI livery anymore .
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Jambost From Ireland, joined Jun 2010, 206 posts, RR: 0 Reply 31, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 6061 times:
Many thanks, what a wonderful read that was!
BHD could not look more impressive after a good rant at BFS = ]
Its surely is an end of an era, I remember flying BHD/BFS? [1997]-LHR when I was a child visiting Legoland! All I remember was a very tasty ham and mustard sandwich and a very friendly crew member going an extra mile to keep a travelling family accommodated.
Looking back on this report in a year or two, I'm sure some of us are wondering who will take over, the or if rebranded WW, BA or VS, or both? Of course all depending on VS short haul rumors. The next few years should no doubt be interesting, but mostly sad as BD will truly be missed.
United Ireland Emirates, Founded:01APR13, Base BFS, Fleet 3 x 787-8 dest: DXB, JFK & YYZ, Partners AA , AC & EK
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 473 posts, RR: 4 Reply 33, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5871 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 30): ndeed you must have been at the old terminal . It was a dump . I flew out of it many times. Were you studying in Belfast? Its a different city these days .
I think that I may have flown to/from the new terminal (it was in 2006 that I was there). It's just that I remember the interior looking very different. On the other hand, I kept no photos of my visit there so it could just be that my memory is deceiving me.
I flew to BHD on one occasion when I was a grad student in St.Andrews (Scotland). I had to get myself US visas on a regular basis and given that the US consulate in Edinburgh could not issue them I had to keep flying to London to visit the US Embassy there. Eventually I found out that the US consulate in Belfast could also issue visas and thinking that it would be easier (and faster) to get my visa there, I gave it a shot. Too bad that nowadays the US consulate in Belfast offers visas to NI residents only.
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1188 posts, RR: 29 Reply 34, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 5825 times:
Hi Phil,
Nice tribute report. I can tell you're a happy BMI customer. I've never had the chance to fly in one of their planes, nor will I in the future (that is: under the BMI brand of course), but you gave a very nice impression of the airline. Sure there are still a lot of questions unanswered and we can only hope that BA will provide a good alternative.
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): The nice new BMI cabins , what will happen to them ?
Very nice cabins indeed. Will BA take their fleet?
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Soon it was time to head to the gate for boarding :
To the nasty T1 tube gates...
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Dedicated to Nils and Marc . Sadly from 19th April I cant use my BMI miles on SN Brussels or any other carrier in the LH group .
Hey thanks for the dedication! No more *A for you this way unfortunately...
globalflyer From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 807 posts, RR: 2 Reply 36, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5686 times:
Hi Phil...what a wonderful tribute and TR. BD will be missed. Personally I was hoping that VS would buy them and keep their identity. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Will
Landing on every Continent almost on an annual basis!
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 37, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5627 times:
Philip,
great report, and you know, I've loved bmi / BD. My favourite for years when I needed to go to London, in the times I didn't fly so much as I do now, I was always looking forward to the great service on bmi (still free service in Y, but I often flew C). Good memories, and I love their interiors too. Shame to see them go.
Would the ABZ-GRQ E135 route be kept? Or will we soon see BA taking over (maybe something for FlyBE also, who knows).
Well, my memory remains positive on my flights of BD, mostly flown their A319~A321's, also G-MIDM when it flew for ArkeFly one summer. It took me from AMS to KGS. A great flight and also my first time on ArkeFly.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
SR 103 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1702 posts, RR: 42 Reply 38, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5558 times:
Thanks for a great trip down memory lane. I have not flown them since they had dark blue and grey 737's. I flew them quite a bit in the late 90's and remember only positive things. The old Diamond Lounge in T1 was one of my favorites at LHR. It really is sad to see them disappear.
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 722 posts, RR: 0 Reply 39, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 5402 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 21): Are the BA A319's different in Club Europe than the A320's ?
Not that I'm aware of - Only reasons why i would prefer a BD A319/320 is that their cabin's look a bit more up to date and that I've already been on a BA A319 this year, where as any BD A319 would be a new reg for the log.
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2333 posts, RR: 53 Reply 42, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4823 times:
Hello Philip,
This is how I know you. Your chance to become lifetime Gold with BMI may be lost, but you show your appreciation to the airline for serving you for 10 years and even longer by writing this tribute.
I am mostly touched by the following dedication of yours:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): The waiting game begins but I would like to close in saying a thank you to the staff of BMI . Many have left over the years through no choice of their own. The wonderful lounge staff at Glasgow and a special mention to a true lady called Lorraine who used to greet me at GLA DC Lounge. Another wonderful lady at the T1 LHR Great British Lounge called Sonia from Scotland who always went above the call of duty to assist. To the now disbanded Irish Dublin crew base who did us proud over the years . This report is dedicated to you all and for those who still work in BMI in Diamond Club and all other areas of BMI I wish you all the best for the future.
So sweet and heart-warming.
You are rightly the best customer BMI could ever wish for!
Quoting OA260 (Reply 1): She smiled and said why not
Nice!
Quoting OA260 (Reply 2): I hope that BA will keep them on if they take over the lounge .
I hope so for them. I have read on the news that BA will lay down half of BMI personnel members.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 3): The nice new BMI cabins , what will happen to them ?
They have been immortalized by you.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 3): The crew were very pleasant and everything was served with a smile though.
Their genuine friendly service made up for the disappointing meal.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 3): My new replacement for BMI Diamond Club
Not surprising.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 3): disembark the aircraft and make my way to the Star Alliance lounge
I have to get used to the sight of hand luggage measurement of Germanwings at LHR.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): Nice Indian dish cant go wrong with that :
Or Kingfisher beer.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): Soon it was time to head to the gate for boarding :
Do you not wish to get on board of that Vickers Viscount?
Thank you for sharing. I am happy to have a friend like you.
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2212 posts, RR: 14 Reply 43, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 4561 times:
Hey Philip
Great report, thanks for giving a tribute about bmi. The livery will well be missed.
Nice to see you where able to log some flights as well.
Keep up the good work!
RyanairGuru From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 2530 posts, RR: 2 Reply 44, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 4322 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): I would like to close in saying a thank you to the staff of BMI . Many have left over the years through no choice of their own
Amen to that. BMI's front line staff were without a doubt some of the most professional and friendly out there. They are a tribute to a great brand.
But it was sad to see the old promotional material with "The Airline for Europe" (they also used "La Compagnie Aérienne pour Europe" and "Der Fluggesellschaft von Europe" to drive home the point) - it's a shame that the airline has slipped so far from when it was the businessman's choice for short-haul flights.
My sister (now at BA) started out with British Midland, and says that she doesn't know anybody left there. Unfortunately there has been a lot of attrition over the years, especially to BA. That said, she has very fond memories of her time there and some great stories
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18): saying goodbye to an old, beloved (and sometimes a little hated, too) friend
lukeyboy95 From Papua New Guinea, joined Apr 2008, 951 posts, RR: 35 Reply 45, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 4104 times:
HI Philip.
A great report, with a nice and concise piece of history that didn't get too nostalgic.
Yes, you more than any other on this forum, are the BMI guy.
Seeing the suave seating, and the excellent lounges in LHR, it seems quite sad that despite all the effort and change the company introduced, it all sort of was wasted. May BA have honour and keep some of this investment.
Thanks Phil, and good call jumping ship to Aegean. I take it you weren't tempted by Avios?
ODAFZ From Greece, joined Jul 2004, 348 posts, RR: 5 Reply 46, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 3829 times:
loved your report Philip. The image of BMA will be forever associated with leasing its B707 to Sudan AW and Syrian Arab Airlines in the seventies.
BMA was the first UK airline to introduce the DC9 10/30 in the UK registry.
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