BMI Diamond Club 50% extra free

[alieninperth]

until the 11th of December get 50% extra free when buying DC points. Maximum of 24,000pts per person (buy 16k get 8k free).

With a well worked family account you can get a J rtn to EUR for less that $2k per person (+taxes)

There is a tight deadline and with the sale of BMI recently it might be a case of buying and burning.

Fast track yourself to a free flight. | Fly bmi

You need to log in and go to the buy points section.

 

[casanovawa]

Are they *A at present, they're owned by LH aren't they?

And so what sort of taxes do they charge, and are you able to get one of those stopovers in another continental zone like with US Air in an award???

 

[alieninperth]

They are indeed *A.

there is info here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....programs/bmi-diamond-club-buy-50-a-26990.html on purchasing.

Basically the taxes depend on the airlines flown (SQ and LH the most expensive from memory) and the airports (avoid UK if possible).

There is also info here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram-discussion/bmi-20-bonus-promo-28258.html. and info on redemptions here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m-discussion/bmi-award-redemptions-28488.html.

Obviously YMMV but for me, being able to book 2 one way trips for and effectively have an open jaw rtn with a stopover in each direction is worth the extra taxes when compared to the US airways promo.

 

[travelislife]

Definitely worthwhile, Cash + Miles bookings are the way to go when buying the points, but only if you have a flight you are looking to book now. With the potential for DC to close in the next year or so it probably isn't wise to hold on to points but should be ok if flights already ticketed, but still a slight risk.

 

[travelislife]

Just a quick example:

MEL-BKK (one way business class)
Zone 9 to Zone 7
Miles + Cash = 18750 + 127.50 pounds + Taxes and charges

So costs are as follows:
Buy 12000+6000 for 159 pounds (assume you have 1000 points already in account from signing up)
Pay cash component of 127.50 pounds
Taxes and Charges of 122.50 pounds (from the exact booking above I have done on TG)

Total: 409 pounds

$620 AUD at todays exchange rate using a 28degreescard.

Outstanding value for a one way business class flight to Asia from Australia.

For exactly the same amount of points and dollars (slightly higher taxes though), you could fly to Japan for some skiing with a stopover in Thailand, all in Business Class, if I wasn't already going to the states I would be doing exactly that!

 

[alieninperth]

Absolutely right.

For me its a little risky to buy and hold. Much better to buy and burn straight away.

Another point of reference. J rtn to EU is 75k pts + GBP 510. With a family account and assuming 0 pts balance at the start.

cost for points is (3 x GBP207 [16k+8k] + GBP 39 [2k+1k] = GBP 660
+ cash of GBP 510 gives total cost of GBP1,070.

Based on my banks FX rate this works out to be $1,706. If you keep the flying to TG then the taxes shouldn't be too bad.


Compared to US airways for the same trip will cost you about $US2,500. Again using my banks fx rate this works out to be $2,541.

Sure taxes will be cheaper on US but I would argue that they will not be $800 cheaper, nor are you allowed to have multiple stopovers, or an open jaw, only one of either. To my mind, and of course YMMV this is a much, much more cost effective way of doing things.

 

[kamchatsky]

Just a quick example:

MEL-BKK (one way business class)
Zone 9 to Zone 7
Miles + Cash = 18750 + 127.50 pounds + Taxes and charges

So costs are as follows:
Buy 12000+6000 for 159 pounds (assume you have 1000 points already in account from signing up)
Pay cash component of 127.50 pounds
Taxes and Charges of 122.50 pounds (from the exact booking above I have done on TG)

Total: 409 pounds

$620 AUD at todays exchange rate using a 28degreescard.

Outstanding value for a one way business class flight to Asia from Australia.

For exactly the same amount of points and dollars (slightly higher taxes though), you could fly to Japan for some skiing with a stopover in Thailand, all in Business Class, if I wasn't already going to the states I would be doing exactly that!

.


I have been a big fan of BMI Diamond Club for a long time and I have always redeem them for J trips.


Another trick is SYD-(AKL if required)-LAX/SFO(stopover)-HNL for 18750 miles as well, SYD-LAX/SFO alone would have costed 30000 miles but adding Hawaii leg somehow the miles required is reduced. I am doing this trip in 1 week time.

 

[JohnK]

And so what sort of taxes do they charge, and are you able to get one of those
stopovers in another continental zone like with US Air in an award???

I believe they are nothing like US Airways.

Anyway I have booked with them a few times now to Asia and although the taxes on TG and SQ are high the value for money is still there and beats an economy ticket anyday. Availability though does not appear to be good at the times I have wanted to travel but perhaps I have left the booking a little late.

Thinking about buying some miles now and keep US Airways miles in reserve. Hope they are both around for another couple of years at least.

 

[bcworld]

Just a quick example:

MEL-BKK (one way business class)
Zone 9 to Zone 7
Miles + Cash = 18750 + 127.50 pounds + Taxes and charges

So costs are as follows:
Buy 12000+6000 for 159 pounds (assume you have 1000 points already in account from signing up)
Pay cash component of 127.50 pounds
Taxes and Charges of 122.50 pounds (from the exact booking above I have done on TG)

Total: 409 pounds

$620 AUD at todays exchange rate using a 28degreescard.

Outstanding value for a one way business class flight to Asia from Australia.

Yup I just did this - my first DC booking in a long time!

Bought in the 50% promo before Xmas. Bought some more in the possibly targetted 20% promo which is running this week.

Booked 2 x MEL-BKK-KBV in J for March, TG of course.

18750 + GBP127.50 cash + GBP133 in other taxes, fees & charges per pax.

The grand total was GBP440 per pax, or around A$650 at today's favourable exchange rate.

 

[laffer]

Is this bonus still going?

Yup I just did this - my first DC booking in a long time!

Bought in the 50% promo before Xmas. Bought some more in the possibly targetted 20% promo which is running this week.

Booked 2 x MEL-BKK-KBV in J for March, TG of course.

18750 + GBP127.50 cash + GBP133 in other taxes, fees & charges per pax.

The grand total was GBP440 per pax, or around A$650 at today's favourable exchange rate.

 

[bcworld]

Is this bonus still going?

It runs til 22 JAN but was definitely targeted. (the 20% bonus I mentioned that is - the 50% bonus was pre Xmas)

Even without any promo buying 38000 miles using 2 accounts can still get you a great deal.

 

[laffer]

It runs til 22 JAN but was definitely targeted. (the 20% bonus I mentioned that is - the 50% bonus was pre Xmas)

Even without any promo buying 38000 miles using 2 accounts can still get you a great deal.

Cheers BC. Any tips on a strategy? Looking for two J fares to go in about Sept/Oct 2012 so happy to take any hints. Been waiting for the US promo to come back but have been so slow on everything I appear to have missed the boat. So if you had a strategy suggestion here I am all ears.

 

[clifford]

It runs til 22 JAN but was definitely targeted. (the 20% bonus I mentioned that is - the 50% bonus was pre Xmas)

Even without any promo buying 38000 miles using 2 accounts can still get you a great deal.

It's all very well, but I can't afford to use my points to fly ex UK (where I have nationality).

For example, a LON-DUB 1-way BD award ticket costs over GBP 40 in "taxes" (as bad as QF).

Ryanair can do this for less than half the price, all in. And for a 1 hour flight there's no real difference in the ambiance.

 

[bcworld]

It's all very well, but I can't afford to use my points to fly ex UK (where I have nationality).

For example, a LON-DUB 1-way BD award ticket costs over GBP 40 in "taxes" (as bad as QF).

Ryanair can do this for less than half the price, all in. And for a 1 hour flight there's no real difference in the ambiance.

Well yes clearly the value isn't in very short haul hops!

And yes, pricing anything in AUD these days relative to fares in the local Aus market makes anything like this a great deal.

 

[bcworld]

Cheers BC. Any tips on a strategy? Looking for two J fares to go in about Sept/Oct 2012 so happy to take any hints. Been waiting for the US promo to come back but have been so slow on everything I appear to have missed the boat. So if you had a strategy suggestion here I am all ears.

Diamond club will be dead soon so not a lot of advice to offer. If you're planning to book / travel soon it's still worth a look. There are yearly limits for buying but family accounts can get around that.

 

[bcworld]

Booked the following last night - shows how flexible Diamond Club rules are!

MEL-BKK-PVG (TG) (stop) (surface sector) PEK-KIX (NH)...still treated as a simple oneway!

Business Class = just 18750miles + about $580 cash/taxes/YQ.

So probably about A$850 total including the promo cost of buying miles - sad to see DC go!

 

[travelislife]

Yep very sad, was very flexible compared to US dividend miles and with their promos and ability to do one ways even a bit cheaper. I wonder how much longer these buy miles programs will be around for, with a bit of luck a few more might pop up with airlines seeing it as a way for some easy cash. At the moment the only ones I really know of are US and AA.

 

[jgm]

I wonder how much longer these buy miles programs will be around for, with a bit of luck a few more might pop up with airlines seeing it as a way for some easy cash. At the moment the only ones I really know of are US and AA.

You can buy up to 24,000 per year with BA (same as BMI), & the cost is only a bit higher (A$24 per thousand v A$19 per thousand). I had to fudge my country as Austria to join BAEC & have only been with them for a few weeks, so haven't been following if they have bonuses (cf BMI 50% extra). UA also have a purchase scheme - up to 100,000 per year at around A$35 per thousand. US had a bonus deal which has just about to end where you can get a 100% bonus which bought the cost down to around A$17.50 per thousand for up to 100,000 miles.

If we end up with a 1:1 transfer to AVIOS, we would not be too far down, although the miles + cash redemption with BA is nowhere near as good as BD. Also, the route flexibility with OW is nowhere near as good as *A - but at least everything wouldn't just disappear into thin air as happened with the demise of AN.

 

[bcworld]

If we end up with a 1:1 transfer to AVIOS, we would not be too far down, although the miles + cash redemption with BA is nowhere near as good as BD. Also, the route flexibility with OW is nowhere near as good as *A - but at least everything wouldn't just disappear into thin air as happened with the demise of AN.

We also have no idea what the deal will be...except it's fairly safe to assume that points will be redeemable on BD and BA...well for as long as BD operates. We don't even know if One World redemption will be an option...safer to burn if you have plans to make, but I guess sit tight if you've no bookings you can lock in.

 

[JohnK]

I saw this thread at the top and I thought my prayers has been answered.

I don't think we will be seeing a 50% bonus from BMI again. Not under the current award charts anyway....