I hadnt planned to do a TR for this flight until I entered the Cabin and noticed that it was a Mid Haul Business Class interior. It was my first time in this type which often subs for other A/C on UK and Ireland flights.




DATE : 15SEP09
FLIGHT: BD 127
ROUTE: LHR-DUB
AIRLINE: BMI
A/C : A320
REG: G-MIDT
CLASS: BUSINESS
SEAT: 5A


I had arrived from another BMI flight but the check in staff had issued me with a boarding card showing 25F for my LHR-DUB flight. I had pre assigned 4A so I went to the Premium Check in on Arrival and the agent told me the aircraft had changed and 4A was in Business Class. I asked if I could use an upgrade voucher but she said that Y class was going to go out full and that I should wait as I would most likely get a free upgrade due to my Gold card.

I proceeded to the BMI Lounge where on arrival I recognised the lady who is always very helpful. She imediately looked at my boarding pass and then the system and advised me the flight had now gone full in Y class and what seat in J class would I like. I opted for 5A. I thanked her very much and went for some snacks.

The BMI lounge is tired looking but soon to get a referb. Upstairs will be used for Silvers and Golds whilst the Silver lounge is done up. Then they will move back down again. The food options were not too bad actually. Muffins/Cheese and Biscuits/Crisps/Fruit Cake and cookies. Also a good selection of drinks including cans of Irn Bru !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru

Soon after it was time to head to the gate . Boarding had been started and I approached the side of the gate and asked if I could board showing my Gold card. I was let on right away. As soon as I entered the cabin I was like ''Oh its the different cabin''. The FA replied ''Yes you have the nice seats today.


















Boarding was completed and we taxied out to the runway and took off.









Soon after the crew came around with a choice of Ham and cheese or Egg and salad. Not the greatest choice or type of Business Class meal but I went for the egg which was suprisingly tasty.







Then some Champagne and Orange Juice













I loved the seats, so comfortable. They usually use this to DME DAM THR etc...

Soon it was time to land .















So a nice flight with a surprise J class cabin. I proceeded to the arrivals hall where my bag came off the belt but not first as is supposed to happen. It was in the middle. Still thats something that BMI and Star Alliance carriers in general tend to fail on.



Thanks for reading the mini report and I look forward to your comments as usual .


OA260

OA260,

Excellent TR, as usual. Very nice surprise to have such a seat on a short LHR-DUB run. It must be gutting for people in Y to see the nice big seats, only to find their own seats are standard!

Brian.

What perfect timing!

I have been trying to find pics of the J class seat on this aircraft as I am off to BEY on a famil trip and wasn't sure what they were like! (I am hoping that we will get upgraded with it being a BMI/C&K trip!)

Great report and thanks for posting!

Hey Phil,

Nice TR, thx for doing it. In LY there are always J seats on the short flights (on B737s) but BM's seats look better. Regarding BM, they are not doing well on the LHR-TLV route, and reducing flights number as os this week. After the (jewish) holidays BM will bring the A320 back to the line instead of the A330.

I can see you still have the TLV security luggage tag, why is that?

LY.

The meal served looks just like what BA served in economy on short haul routes before all the cost-cutting recently.

Hi Philip.
How nice to fly home in style   I like these cabins, Euro airline with 2-2 layout in Business, I think BD is among the few ones still offering this kind of product.
I remember those food boxes. Got them in the past several times when I flew BD AMS-LHR regularly in C. Still better food then given by a few others  

Regards,
Eric

The bag was checked in at TLV, you can see the TLV-LHR flight on the bottom half of the tag, and the TLV security stickers are never removed. Brings back work related memories, I used to constantly work with those BD tags.

Just to clarify - this is NOT the mid-haul config!! G-MIDO and G-MIDT are short haul aircraft but have larger business class seats are are used on the twice daily LHR-DME route. Now and again they're used on short haul routes. The former BMed aircraft have cloth covered cradle seats (as per pre-flat bed BA Club World) with in seat personal IFE (on the Moscow routes, as these aircraft don't have IFE, personal digital media players are handed out). On the mid haul aircraft, there are also proper bulkheads between business and economy rather than the curtains on these aircraft. In economy, the seats also feature foot rests and winged headrests (as per BA economy). You'll get a ex BMed aircraft (normally a A321) on the BEY route, not one of these short haul aircraft.

Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 1): It must be gutting for people in Y to see the nice big seats, only to find their own seats are standard!

Yes indeed. Y class didnt look great TBH.

Quoting Johruk (Reply 2): What perfect timing!

Glad you liked it and hope you get lucky with the Upgrd

Quoting EL-AL (Reply 3): I can see you still have the TLV security luggage tag, why is that?

LOL... I guess because I came from TLV - LHR - DUB    

Quoting Ycp81 (Reply 4): BA served in economy on short haul routes

Yes its basic enough and needs an upgrade.

Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 5): I like these cabins, Euro airline with 2-2 layout in Business, I think BD is among the few ones still offering this kind of product.

Hi Eric thanks , was certainly comfortable.

Quoting Shamrock321 (Reply 6): The bag was checked in at TLV

Indeed it was. If you had been there I might have got my bag off first lol....

Quoting Bwaflyer (Reply 7): Just to clarify - this is NOT the mid-haul config!!

Hi thanks for the clarification. Its like the Krypton factor trying to keep up with the pick N Mix that is BMI . Still made a nice change than the 2-3. Do you have any pics of the other interiors that are used to BEY and DAM? J and Y ?

Hola Philip!

Thanks again for this informative report.

I think you were lucky. Those seats look really comfortable and the legroom is something of the other world for short-hauls, I wish other European carriers used them for their flights.

When are you coming South? Sunny and still warm here  

Salut!

Roger

Hey, Phil,

interesting story and well done pix.
That cabin/seat compilation looks indeed really nice. Don´t expected that style on BD.

Greetings,
Markus (FLIEGER67)

Quoting OA260 (Reply 8): Hi thanks for the clarification. Its like the Krypton factor trying to keep up with the pick N Mix that is BMI . Still made a nice change than the 2-3. Do you have any pics of the other interiors that are used to BEY and DAM? J and Y ?

Have a look at the links in this thread on flyertalk

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/bmi-d...service-seats-baggage-lounges.html

Hope that helps. The leather business seats on these two aircraft also featured on G-MIDY, but this has reverted back to the normal 156 seat layout. Some of the newer BMed aircraft feature a slightly updated seat and these aircraft also feature AVOD IFE (G-MEDK/L/M/N/U).

Hi Philip,

Nice report and awesome pics as well. I wish BD configure all their narrow bodies with this J seats. You were definitely the lucky one to sample it on an intra European flight.

Cheers,
Suryo

Hey Philip,

what a brilliant report, yet again. The new Bmi J seats look not too bad, I've flown on MIDT before, but previous to them being changed over. They certainly look comfortable.

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Irn Bru

Ahaa, That's the ultimate in rehydration therapy. Irn Bru. I cannot live without the stuff. I really am addicted 
It's also a brilliant Hang Over cure.  

Keep these reports coming, as I'm sure you'll always do  

JG  

Quoting Bwaflyer (Reply 11): Have a look at the links in this thread on flyertalk

Great pics thanks for the link.

Quoting Akhmad (Reply 12): I wish BD configure all their narrow bodies with this J seats

Yes me too, very nice indeed.

Quoting Pawsleykat (Reply 13): I cannot live without the stuff. I really am addicted

I know I love it also. They have started selling the 330ml bottles here in Ireland now.

Quoting Pawsleykat (Reply 13): Keep these reports coming, as I'm sure you'll always do

Will do lol...

Another great trip report with excellent photos. I always wish I could bring myself to whip my camera out at certain times when flying but English modesty gets the better of me!

If anyone wants to try bmi's medium haul biz seats for cheap, there are short haul single class flights that are almost always on a mid-haul aircraft. e.g. the early flight from LHR-MAN on a Saturday has always been operated by G-MEDH /E/K this summer as it operates a charter from MAN afterwards that contractually must have the biz seats. Even better this flight is always available for £35 all in even up to a few days before departure (unless there is some even going on in Manchester). I've done this flight twice in the past several weeks, both on G-MEDH and both times got the biz seat by checking in online. When I flew it last weekend the biz cabin actually flew at about 60% load, with people sat in the back, obviously not realising they could have had the comfy seats!

The bad news is that I think the ex MAN chater is about to end in the next few weeks until next summer so it is back to the A319 for this flight