bmi diamond club - BA back in Belfast and committed...

For what its worth the local newspaper here in Belfast says 'BA will be operating flights out of BHD to LHR ( TERMINAL AT LHR NOT SPECIFIED) later this month'

Front cover of Belfast Telegraph, although not on website, in case anyone was looking for it. ^

Called in the bmi lounge today to ask what they knew, and they said they were still continuing.

Not that that is any guarantee, as BA have pulled out before!

Called in the bmi lounge today to ask what they knew, and they said they were still continuing.

Not that that is any guarantee, as BA have pulled out before!

did you get the sense that the staff had not been given an indication of likely redundancy? Seems unlikely, but I'd really, really, like to see our great BD team get leave to remain ^

Seemed perfectly content!

did you get the sense that the staff had not been given an indication of likely redundancy? Seems unlikely, but I'd really, really, like to see our great BD team get leave to remain ^

I was speaking with Carl a couple of weeks ago and he's fairly certain that redundancy is on the cards :(

I heard that the check-in staff at BHD are currently under notice of potential redundancy. The reason given is a reduction in workload due to the cancellation of bmibaby flights from BHD. I presume that if they are made redundant, check-in for the BHD-LHR route will then be outsourced, as for bmi flights in DUB.

I think the team in the lounge have not been placed under a similar notice.

Good to see the staff in good form this morning. Hopefully and changes wont hit them too hard.

overheard the staff this morning speaking to a BA stewardess - apparently they are on potential notice.

on the plus side - I hope BA take away the economy flexible provision. After seeing fat cat smug politicians, advisers, and other fat cat civil servants taking advantage and claiming miles and status on tax payers expense over the last 5 years - it will be long due them being at the back of the plane.

Having asked two prominent politicians if they receive benefits - im still awaiting a reply.

Or will BA swing it for them?

Feenster

BA would presumably operate the same system they have for their own domestics, with a single "UK Domestic" cabin (with a free bar and a hot breakfast or birdseed, as appropriate, for all) but a "Business UK" ticket available with lounge access and increased tier points.

Willie is back on committing to the route.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18677259

Willie is back on committing to the route.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18677259

http://www.belfastcityairport.com/About-Us/News/BRITISH-AIRWAYS-BEGINS-SCHEDULED-SERVICES--BETWEEN.aspx

1st BA metal just arrived in Belfast. Boarding shortly from Gate 5 as the landbridge cannot be used. No notable other changes in lounge. This is the beginning of the end for BMI in BHD.

Boarding shortly from Gate 5

Or maybe not ! Looks like a 3hr delay lisbon1967

Or maybe not ! Looks like a 3hr delay lisbon1967

BA8079 departed 45mins late..

Another BA flight is due in later this evening, BA8080, as G-DBCC

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Or maybe not ! Looks like a 3hr delay lisbon1967



BA8079 departed 45mins late..



Another BA flight is due in later this evening, BA8080, as G-DBCC

Staff in BA uniforms, BA logo on all materials, blue seats.....and BMI livery aircraft. Service tbc, presumably a bag of sawdust & a free drink per last weeks BMI operated service.

I am on the BA tomorrow morning - shown as Club Europe in 1C, so will see what we get.

Have just to do check-in on BA app, and it says this route is not eligible and to collect at airport or print out at BA.com

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7247/7489455332_f951d367ee.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7489456054_52b03764da.jpg

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I am on the BA tomorrow morning - shown as Club Europe in 1C, so will see what we get.

Have just to do check-in on BA app, and it says this route is not eligible and to collect at airport or print out at BA.com

The self-service check-in terminals at BHD are not operational, desk check-in only at the minute (similar in most other outstations I understand).

They have self service check-in terminals at BHD? Who knew! :D

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The self-service check-in terminals at BHD are not operational, desk check-in only at the minute (similar in most other outstations I understand).

Same as in DUB last week SSK's not working .

There's CE on BHD? Have I missed something?

There's CE on BHD? Have I missed something?

No it's officially Domestic so no CE but BA's system has been showing weird things lately :D

Yeah, plenty of weird stuff. For example, the BA website lists all bmi flights as European short haul, including domestics. So if you want to spend Avios on a domestic flight, you get charged the European short-haul redemption rate for a bmi-operated flight but a reduced domestic rate for the BA flights either side of it. Either that or BA thinks BD is worth paying extra for ;)

I am starting at LHR, and there are others here also showing CE. I know BA only have domestic and not CE on UK flights, but this is London Airways (merging bmi IT) and perhaps they (like many others;)) think NI is not part of UK!

As I said, I will wait and see! I am not hugely fussed, as I did it as a domestic redemption - seeing as 4500 Avios and £13.50 looked much more attractive than the price quoted!!

It will be quite interesting to see BA and EI compete on point to point traffic. I can see BA sailing through on the BHD route but not too sure about the DUB route unless they provide a more competitive schedule.

However it looks like BA will keep their code-share agreement with EI for transfer traffic.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0703/1224319266864.html

For the record, confirmed today. EI fully move to BHD on 28/10/12. Two aircraft will operate the winter timetable from BHD; 3x LHR and 3x LGW daily. The third will come back for next summer. The Canaries are being dropped and only AGP and FAO are confirmed for next summer so far; both operating daily.

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Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I really can't see BHD-LHR supporting 9 daily flights. EI also putting it up to BE on the LGW route.

It's just the same number there is most of the time now except the current split is BHD six, BFS three.

As it stands, the winter timetable sees EI out of BHD at 07:20 and BA at 07:50. One of them really needs to move that back to at least 07:00. EI LGW is however first out at 06:45.

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It's just the same number there is most of the time now except the current split is BHD six, BFS three.

BHD and BFS don't serve exactly the same geographic market, particularly point-to-point.

Oh come on, that's a ridiculous statement. I can't imagine how anyone's journey would be extended by more than a whole mind blowing 20 minutes......

I agree - seems very doubtful that anyone would rather change their destination from LHR to one of the other 'London' airports versus travelling 15-20 mins further to BHD (and many will have a start point even closer than that within NI).

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Typical Belfast-centric position. Quite a few of my West of the Bann colleagues, friends and family absolutely do and will continue to favour whoever serves BFS (U6 at this point).

Typical Belfast-centric position

Thanks for pointing that out. I don't live in Belfast either :rolleyes:

BHD and BFS don't serve exactly the same geographic market, particularly point-to-point.

So, if you to lived further west, and wanted to get to LHR (afterall, that's where EI services), would you drive to DUB in preference???

I am from Donegal living in London and Belfast is usually the easiest way to get back there (flights from STN to LDY typically being at stupid times – and involving Ryanair!).

Flying to BFS over BHD makes a material difference to me – when it takes 2 hours to get back home, adding 20-30 minutes to the journey is 25% more travel time, each way. Seemingly small things like that matter much more when only popping home for the weekend (Friday night to Sunday night).

Obviously most of the market up there is concentrated in the Belfast area, but it’s just not correct to say that there is no difference between the airports.

I think the point is that as far as LHR is concerned, BHD and BFS do serve the same markets. For LGW, it's a different story.

There's no question that the extra trek, through a city, is a PITA if you live on the other side.

Obviously most of the market up there is concentrated in the Belfast area, but it’s just not correct to say that there is no difference between the airports.Nobody said that it made no difference whatsoever. What was said was that it makes a difference of.... about 20 mins :) and that such a difference, in airport terms, means that both airports have the potential to serve pretty much the same market. Wanna compare the BHD/BFS difference with differences between different airports in many other cities served by multiple airports, such as LON (LHR/LGW/STN/LTN), PAR (CDG/ORY/BVA), FRA (FRA/HHN), BRU (BRU/CRL), STO (ARN/BMA/NYO), TYO (NRT/HND), OSA (KIX/ITM), etc...

Compared to this, the BHD-BFS differential is a piece of p..s

I support both airports, many a time I've parked my car at BFS and flew out of BHD. ;)

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Typical Belfast-centric position. .

One hours drive outside ( South ) of Belfast and still prefer BHD . Great news all round and also the choice of LHR and LGW will be great. BHD is so much easier to get to . Car/Rail/Bus you name it . ^

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BHD and BFS don't serve exactly the same geographic market, particularly point-to-point.

So, if you to lived further west, and wanted to get to LHR (afterall, that's where EI services), would you drive to DUB in preference???

Who "goes" to LHR who isn't connecting? Some will likely go west or northwest of London, where LHR locationally becomes important, however its logical to assume most point to point passengers are likely going into the West End or the City where LHR vs. other London airports is more or less a wash. In this case the NI departure point is valid.

Do any of those other than Daftboy actually come from the west, rather than theory & conjecture?

Having chose EI over BD a number of times I'm extremely disappointed to see them move. So it looks like I won't be flying to LHR anymore :cool: