BMI Award Redemptions

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks. I will see if the US airways option is better...

 

[kamchatsky]

Something like 5 accounts given max 24000 miles per account, and you need 37500 per round trip on the points plus pay option. (37500x3 = 112500 / 24000 = 4.68 accounts)

I am pretty sure it would be much easier and cheaper (or around the same cost at least) to use US airways miles and just have three accounts each buying their own ticket.

Probably only worth it using US airways when there is 100% bonus? Also they have stricter stopover/openjaw policies than BD.

 

[travelislife]

BMI is up for sale and LH is looking to somehow offload it. Now in the worse case scenario that they just decided to cut it loose and close up shop (as they are losing bucket loads of cash) I have just found out that even with redemption tickets booked on *A partners if the booking airline goes under the tickets aren't valid.

I have 1 BKK-MEL-BKK flight booked for December/Jan but don't think I will be looking at using BMI miles (cash+bought miles) in the immediate future just due to the forward risk associated.

Just thought I would give a heads up and interested to hear other peoples opinions (JohnK?)

 

[sr81]

Hmmm, that is currently a rumor so I am not sure I would be placing a huge amount of trust in that.

That said where did you get the info about tickets not being honored? I to have a booking out there for a one-way ZRH-MEL in Dec.

I wouldn't expect the airline to fold as quickly as that but it does bear as a good note to not book anything to far out with BMI.

 

[travelislife]

Through asking the question on FT. I have been told (could be wrong) that with redemption tickets the issuing airline doesn't 'pay' the partner airline till after travel has occurred. I have been told when Ansett went under if you already had a redemption ticket booked on *A in the future it wasn't honoured, I am happy to be wrong if this isn't the case though.

Yes you are right something would have to go downhill very quickly before the end of the year but yes is probably a bit risky for any future bookings until the situation is a bit more clear.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have been told when Ansett went under if you already had a redemption ticket booked on *A.
.

I booked 5 in Y with Ansett two weeks before they went under at 500000 points to Cairo at Xmas on SQ. Tickets were honored.
However they only allowed my diamond status to last till Jan 1. So I got use of lounges going over, but not coming back.

SQ stated as the tickets were issued that they would honour them, but not allow changes. As we did not depart till December that was a fair time after Ansett went under.

SQ after stating that they would not allow changes did in fact allow a date change , as when we were in Cairo we decided we would like to leave a bit earlier with our Cairo -SIN flight to have a two week stopover in Thailand (via SIN) to allow us to do some Island hoping in SE Thailand.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

there is a big difference between an airline 'going under' and an airline being sold or otherwise disposed of.

LH and BD are not going to simply close up shop and leave thousands of members and tickets lying around with no recourse.

There is no reason to be concerned.

What might change is the value of your miles and the new redemption options.

 

[travelislife]

there is a big difference between an airline 'going under' and an airline being sold or otherwise disposed of.

LH and BD are not going to simply close up shop and leave thousands of members and tickets lying around with no recourse.

There is no reason to be concerned.

What might change is the value of your miles and the new redemption options.

I agree there is a big difference. But I don't see why a company wouldn't cut a loss making entity if it had the opportunity to do so (other than loss of reputation as the owner). Just like Harvey Norman has done to Clive Peters (a stupid decision to buy the company in the first place).

My current view at this point is that it is similar to the Ansett situation, where the incumbent (BMI or AN) is owned by another company (LH or NZ) who only owns said company for convenience but would be more than happy to cut them loose if the opportunity arose.

Disregarding whatever happens I am still not totally clear on the procedure regarding redemption tickets already booked on *A partners with the issuing carrier going bankrupt. I have read conflicting reports but would think previous AN members would have first hand experience at this.

 

[pauly7]

BMI is up for sale and LH is looking to somehow offload it. Now in the worse case scenario that they just decided to cut it loose and close up shop (as they are losing bucket loads of cash) I have just found out that even with redemption tickets booked on *A partners if the booking airline goes under the tickets aren't valid.

I have 1 BKK-MEL-BKK flight booked for December/Jan but don't think I will be looking at using BMI miles (cash+bought miles) in the immediate future just due to the forward risk associated.

Just thought I would give a heads up and interested to hear other peoples opinions (JohnK?)

It's interesting and certainly they aren't in the beat health.

But then Virgin Australia has been losing money and lots of it for years now...!

My approach with these sort of airlines is to only transfer and use points on a short term 'as I need it'... Downfall is that with programs like Velocity that have pretty poor avails, it's like finding a grain of salt in the ocean!!

 

[JohnK]

Just thought I would give a heads up and interested to hear other peoples opinions (JohnK?)

Thanks for posting that information.

I would be extremely surprised if existing award bookings were not honoured.

I have booked an inbound flight in October and an outbound flight in January 2012. I should probably look at using US Dividend Miles or VA Flying Club for next award bookings until this settles down again.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Do any of these J redemptions earn frequent flyer points eg like JASA's on QF?

I was thinking of an NZ award BNE/xAKL/LAX/HNL in late Apr early May 2012 so it sounds like I call up BMI to redeem that?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do any of these J redemptions earn frequent flyer points eg like JASA's on QF?

I was thinking of an NZ award BNE/xAKL/LAX/HNL in late Apr early May 2012 so it sounds like I call up BMI to redeem that?

I believe qantas ASAs are unique in their point earning ability.