BMI to leave * alliance in two weeks

[markis10]

While no surprise, at least there is a firm transition timetable now in place:


https://www.facebook.com/flybmi/posts/10150716005603011


In response to the queries we've received around Diamond Club, redemption flights, and bmi's role in Star Alliance, we've posted some FAQs below.

This is the information we can provide at the moment. We will however add more updates over the next two weeks in the run-up to the probable sale completion date.

Q. When is the official date when bmi will leave Star Alliance?

Following last week’s approval by the EU Competition Authority, bmi’s current owner, Lufthansa, is now progressing with the necessary steps in order to complete the sale to International Airline Group (IAG).

It is the intention that bmi will begin to withdraw from Star Alliance at the date of completion of the sale, which we expect to be around 20 April, 2012.

bmi, Lufthansa and Star Alliance will be working together during the coming weeks to ensure bmi’s smooth exit from Star Alliance. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Q. What happens once the sale completes?

It is the intention that bmi will begin to withdraw from Star Alliance at the date of completion of the sale, which we expect to be around 20 April, 2012.

bmi, Lufthansa and Star Alliance will be working together during the coming weeks to ensure bmi’s smooth exit from Star Alliance. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Q. Can I still continue to earn Diamond Club status and destinations miles on bmi?

Yes, we will operate our summer schedule as normal and you can still earn and redeem during this period.

Q. What if I have already made a redemption booking for travel on another Star Alliance airline. Will this booking be honoured?

Existing Diamond Club redemption bookings are unaffected by the sale of bmi to IAG, which we expect to be completed around 20 April.

Q. After completion will I still be able to use my benefits on other Star Alliance carriers?

bmi is working with Star Alliance member carriers to ensure that once bmi begins to withdraw from Star Alliance there are opportunities for Diamond Club members to continue to receive certain benefits on the Star Alliance network for an agreed period of time. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Q. Can I earn / redeem destination miles on BA?

We hope to be able to announce a Diamond Club partnership with British Airways following completion. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know what is on Facebook but that is not really that much more information than before.

A transition away from *Alliance will take place from 20 April 2012.

Can one still make bookings now? I don't quite have enough miles for an award but was thinking of buying the rest.

 

[anat0l]

Can one still make bookings now? I don't quite have enough miles for an award but was thinking of buying the rest.

From the information given, you should be able to make a booking now, and if you really want to spend your points / make bookings, it's best to set those in before 20 April. Not that you will not have the opportunity to do so after 20 April, but at least before that date you will have more certainty.

 

[Flashback]

My +1 has a BMI AMEX / Visa too so we're waiting to see what will happen there, MBNA (the provider) currently don't know.... no surprise, really:!:

 

[alieninperth]

Update email from this morning.


Dear Alien,

We'd like to advise you of some forthcoming changes to the bmi Diamond Club programme.

From 19 April 2012, the ability for Diamond Club members to earn Status and Destinations miles and to redeem miles will cease on the Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines).

Any redemption tickets issued prior to this date for travel will be honoured.

All Star Alliance status benefits will remain unaffected by this change.

We are working with British Airways to offer Diamond Club customers the ability to earn and redeem miles on British Airways and its oneworld partners following completion of the sale. We will do everything we can to communicate more detail as soon as possible

 

[StevePER]

Strangely I never get any email from them (except when I make an award booking). They never sent me my membership card either. On the positive side, my silver status with them never seems to expire.

 

[samh004]

Been following this loosely over the past few months, but can someone explain why the parents company, IAG, couldn’t have owned an airline in each alliance? I realise this would mean the airlines probably couldn’t interoperate as well, but then they’d have had their cake and been able to eat it too. Is there a simple answer?

 

[anat0l]

Been following this loosely over the past few months, but can someone explain why the parents company, IAG, couldn’t have owned an airline in each alliance? I realise this would mean the airlines probably couldn’t interoperate as well, but then they’d have had their cake and been able to eat it too. Is there a simple answer?

Don't think there's a simple answer, though my speculative guess would be:

• Coordination of the partners which are not in the same alliance isn't possible, or at least very difficult.
• The respective alliance partners would be rather confused and angry at the way IAG would be attempting to manage each airline in each alliance, especially where business decisions in one will adversely affect the other.
• Competition commissions (on some level) might have something to say about the arrangement.

 

[JohnK]

Still can't decide what to do. Risk it and wait a few more weeks before booking or take the plunge now.

I have ~6,000 orphaned miles which may not sound a lot but more than enough just the same. Look like having 2 one-day car rentals next weekend and the 3,400 miles would have come in handy but would remain a risky proposition as it is after 20 April 2012 which looks like being the doomsday.

Either way if I purchase 32,000 miles in 2 separate accounts which should cost GBP414 I then have enough for a return business class redemption to Asia which would cost ~GBP400 including taxes and co-payment. So all up a spend of ~AUD1,200.

 

[StevePER]

I think it's too risky to wait. The latest info is that they will begin the withdrawal from Star Alliance starting on April 20 so I would book now. Otherwise you might find yourself unable to book anything for a long time, or all your miles might be devalued, or you can only book on BD and BA. There are too many unknowns.

 

[JohnK]

I think you are right StevePER. Time to bite the bullet....

 

[Flashback]

Latest news in (no URL given though......... and was a typo in it, so may be fake!):
Just seen a post on the BMI website :

Transfer possible on existing Status DC Gold - BA Gold, Silver to silver. Further details 01.05.2012.

Access to BA Lounges at LHR/LGW for DC Gold/Silver

Transfer of DC to Avios on 1 to 1 basis.

 

[Flashback]

Diamond Club UpdateShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing ServicesDear Diamond Club member,

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 here

A 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

 

[Flashback]

- Equivalent status match BD*S to BA Silver, BD*G to BA Gold as of 1/5/12
- BA lounge access for BD*S/*G by showing DC card as of today
- 1:1 Avios to DC miles conversions either way via transfer tool as of 3/7/12
- earn & spend on *A excl LH group until 31/5/12
- status benefits on all *A until 31/5/12

Very happy. My MA Gold (OWS) that I lost, I'll now get back as BA Silver (OWS) by my BD Silver converting across.

 

[dajop]

Neat. With the status match. BD * G = BA Gold = One World Emerald. Back to the FCL again next time I fly QF out of MEL.

 

[StevePER]

Sweet. I would like to change my address to the UK in case they try to tell me I can't join Executive Club, but their website isn't working at the moment.

 

[kamchatsky]

Given I know NOTHING about OW Tier System, can anyone confirm that BA Gold is OW Emerald which is like QF Platinum? If so, if F lounge access that much better than normal lounge access?!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Given I know NOTHING about OW Tier System, can anyone confirm that BA Gold is OW Emerald which is like QF Platinum? If so, if F lounge access that much better than normal lounge access?!

Yes, and definitely YES :mrgreen:

 

[Aussie_flyer]

indeed will be interesting to see whether they will allow Australian address's to join the BA Exec Club.

 

[kamchatsky]

Yes, and definitely YES :mrgreen:

Sorry for turning it into a OW question but can I use BA Gold to say F QF lounge on QF code-shares (eg to Fiji on Air Pacific, Seoul on Asiana etc) when travelling on Y, or it has to be OW metal only? Also I assume that given JQ is not OW I cannot use BA Gold to get to F lounge when fly JQ/3K, and only QF Plat can access it?

It sounds like F lounge is some kind of airport heaven (even compare to say SQ SKL at SIN T3?) so maybe it is worth checking it out.