Economy Class & Beyond

Airplane Art Special – A BMI Retrospective

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It's Sunday, and it's time for a very special Airplane Art This week, it's the British Midland International fleet from 2007 to 2012 as photographed by my fair hands and fair cameras. As you probably know,BMI is now part of International Airlines Group and will be merged into the British Airways unit over the next few months. As a result, there's a strong chance that the … [Read more...]

Dates for your diary…

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As BMI is taken over by IAG and becomes part of British Airways, here's a list of dates that are important: As of now: Diamond Club members can earn on BA Flights and vice versa. BMI has formally exited from the Star Alliance Diamond Club Members can access BA lounges at LHR and LGW Big upcoming dates 1st May - Diamond Club to BA Executive Club status matching … [Read more...]

Airplane Repaint Saturday: Qantas A380

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It's Saturday, and time for an aircraft to enter the paint shop As Qantas's Nancy Bird (their first A380) prepares to retake to the skies after it's extended break on the ground after her engine incident over 18 months ago, here's a video of her getting her first paint job in 2008. More airplane repainting next week! … [Read more...]

The Winners of the BMI Purchase

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Earlier today, I looked at the losers of the sale of BMI to IAG. Lets be more congratulative and look at the winners The big winner is of course International Airlines Group and its subsidiary British Airways who have got a total of 42 pairs of slots to play with at London Heathrow.  As well as that they get the staff, facilities and aircraft too. Lufthansa although a … [Read more...]

The Losers in the BMI Sale

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Whilst Diamond Club members  are probably sitting pretty and IAG has a bunch more slots, there are some big losers in the sale of British Midland International: Lufthansa. Oh dearie me. Lufthansa really bit off more than it can chew when it was forced to buy BMI from Sir Michael Bishop (and that's silly of Lufthansa to agree to the push/pull sale agreement in the first … [Read more...]

IAG takeover of BMI complete

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Well, it seems Lufthansa has some cash, and International Airlines Group has an airline, with slots at London Heathrow. IAG Has posted a press release stating as much at  http://www.iagshares.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=240949&p=irol-rnsArticle_Print&ID=1685377 The plan remains to integrate BMI Mainline out of London into British Airways. However there is a question of … [Read more...]

BMI Sale complete: 1:1 Avios CONFIRMED, BA Lounge Access GRANTED

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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 … [Read more...]

Scoot scoots its start date, confirms timetable, first destinations

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Singapore Airlines offshoot Scoot has confirmed its first routes, timetables... and has shifted its start date by a three weeks... upward. Commencement of services will be 4th June 2012 (from 26th June 2012), operating to Sydney (Daily) and The Gold Coast (5 times a week), Australia. Singapore - Sydney OQ002 DEPART SIN 02:10 ARRIVE SYD 11:40 OQ001 DEPART SYD 12:50 … [Read more...]

Birmingham airport attracts a full time EasyJet service

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EasyJet is deciding to risk it again at Birmingham, with the launch of a Birmingham to Belfast International Airport (Aldergrove) Service. The service will operate daily to start with on 22nd October, and ramp up to a two flights a weekday and one flight a day on weekends service from 29th October. Currently Birmingham to Belfast is served by BMI Baby and FlyBe, who … [Read more...]

Last call for Lufthansa “Family” redemptions on BMI Miles

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In case you've been living under a rock, the sale of BMI will be executed over the next day or so. Here's the important bit for those who are redeeming miles: If you want to redeem on Lufthansa Family Airlines, TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY to do it - until 20:00BST! The Lufthansa family refers to everyone in the Miles and More scheme. This includes: Lufthansa Lufthansa … [Read more...]