Economy Class & Beyond

FlyBe to scrap Debit Card fees, reduce Credit Card fees

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Well here's a turn-up for the books. FlyBe - a UK Regional carrier that plays the low cost carrier game is going to scrap a fee. And it's the Debit card fee that is up for the chop. Additionally, the Credit Card fee is also being reduced: Currently a £8 transaction fee is levied for Debit cards. This will be removed Credit Card fees drop from £13 to £9 The aim of … [Read more...]

IAG doubts it can sell BMI Baby or BMI Regional off

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Things are not looking rosey for BMI Baby and BMI Regional at the moment. The two subdivisions of BMI were meant to be sold off before the IAG takeover by Lufthansa, but they failed to be sold. IAG is not interested in owning the two units who operate to very different markets - BMI Regional operating high value regional routes, whilst BMI Baby operates the low cost model … [Read more...]

JAL Targets more 787 cities, confirms routes and timings

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For those of you who love the 787, good news as JAL today confirms more routes for its 787 network. Beijing, Delhi and Moscow DME are the next visitors for JAL's 787s. Operating on a spread timetable between Tokyo Haneda to Bejing, and Tokyo Narita to Delhi and Moscow Domodedovo. Tokyo Haneda – Beijing JL023 DEPART HND 09:10 ARRIVE PEK 12:05 JL024 DEPART PEK 16:40 … [Read more...]

A 7 Year old complaint.. and still true today….

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I'm not going to write much on this, but http://twentytwowords.com/2012/04/13/amusingly-pissed-off-letter-to-continental-airlines-about-a-seat-by-the-lavatory/ provides some complaints that are still true if you're sat behind or near the small room on the plane. It maybe 7 years old - but it's still true today.... … [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...]

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...]