Well the big news is that the sale of BMI is complete. I’ll look into that in a shake, but here’s the news from Diamond Club:
I’m writing to advise you of some important changes to the Diamond Club programme following the sale of bmi to IAG, the owner of British Airways, on 20 April 2012.
As a result, there are some key changes to your Diamond Club membership, which I would like to outline below, which also includes an invitation from British Airways.
Announcement of bmi’s exit from Star Alliance
A new partnership with British Airways
Business as usual for Diamond Club
bmi’s exit from Star Alliance
I’d firstly like to advise that from 20 April bmi will no longer be a member of Star Alliance.However, you will still be able to enjoy the following Star Alliance benefits associated with your membership tier level until 31 May 2012.
You will continue to earn membership status miles and earn and spend destinations miles on bmi and Star Alliance carriers (excluding Lufthansa Group airlines) until 31 May 2012
For all Star Alliance carriers you will also be able to take advantage of your bmi and Star Alliance status benefits, including lounge access, priority check-in and priority boarding until 31 May 2012
From 1 June 2012 any benefits associated with your tier membership and the ability to earn status miles and earn and spend destinations miles on Star Alliance airlines will end
Star Alliance award bookings made before 31 May 2012 will be honoured
For further information including changes to award bookings, retrospective claims and award flight bookings please click hereA new partnership with British Airways
We’re pleased to announce that Diamond Club members will benefit from a new partnership with British Airways from 20 April 2012.All members will be able to earn destinations miles on BA, for flights taken from 20 April 2012, and we will shortly introduce the option to spend your destinations miles on BA award flights
From today, Diamond Club Gold and Silver members will be able to access the British Airways lounges at London Heathrow and London Gatwick, when flying with bmi or British Airways – please present your Diamond Club Gold or Silver card on arrival to gain access
As part of the transition of bmi into British Airways, from 1 May 2012 British Airways is inviting you, as a Diamond Club member, to also join the Executive Club at your equivalent tier status level.Diamond Club Gold customers will be invited to become Gold members of the Executive Club and Silver members to become Silver, which will be in addition to your Diamond Club membership.
Further details will follow shortly.
You will also be able to transfer your destinations miles to Executive Club Avios points at a rate of 1:1. British Airways will also be offering Executive Club customers the ability to transfer from Executive Club Avios points into destinations miles at a rate of 1:1. For example 100 destinations miles could be transferred into 100 Avios points and vice versa.
We are creating an online tool that will allow Diamond Club and Executive Club customers to undertake transfers, which will be available from 3 July 2012. We will contact you nearer that date to explain how the tool will work and how to access it.
Business as usual for Diamond Club
Although today we are announcing a number of changes to the programme, we would like to assure you that it is business as usual for Diamond Club, including members who have a bmi Credit Card Account with MBNA.We very much appreciate your loyalty to bmi and hope that you continue to enjoy the benefits of Diamond Club membership.
For more information on the changes please click here
We look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon.
Keeley Downing
Diamond Club
So what’s the big highlights?
- Star Alliance Gold/Silver Valid unit 31 May 2012 except on Lufthansa Family Airlines (we’re mud as far as they’re concerned)
- Star Alliance award bookings made before 31 May 2012 will be honoured so some more time to get those last redemptions in.
- STATUS FOR STATUS MATCH: BMI Gold will become BA Gold, BMI Silver to become BA Silver
- 1:1 Diamond Club to Avios Conversion from 3 July 2012. .
I’ve got to admit that in my wildest thoughts, Status Match was not going to happen (and lets not go into the Destination mile:Avios conversion). Apparently – it is.
I’ll have more analysis during the day….
It’s a big relief! I was so torn over whether I should book something for the sake of it, or hang on and see what happens.
For me personally it’s a very big relief. Knowing what the plans are from June onwards helps me plan things.
Still you’ve got a month to compare Diamond Club miles to Avios costs and do the math to see what you can redeem on, and which is better value for you.
No leaving it till the last minute for Diamond Club Star Alliance redemptions though please? 😉
BMI Gold is just like BA silver
BMI Silver is just like Bronze anyway
In some respects it is a slap to the loyal BA folks.
Where are the B<I elites (mostly *A from flying nonUK carriers) going to go anyway?