bmi diamond club - Diamond Club "Our Lines are extremely busy, please call later" Brrrrrrrr

So I called yesterday to try and get a change from last week reticketed. It's in the queue.

Got up early here in Canada to check and call in this morning, but, the line is accepting no more calls. There is a man with a British accent who apologises, then hangs up.

So, unsurprisingly, today is going to be a mad one.

Has anyone else got through OK?

I got through to the queue, then silence after twenty minutes, and cut off after another ten. Now I am getting the irritating man ... :(

Well... I was planning to make my first redemption request today (a bit late.. I know)...

Does anyone have a link to the redemption table? (The link on the FAQs fails, I'm guessing they've taken it down.)

I have 72,843 miles and was considering London to Saigon return with TG. ANA shows availability and from memory that's enough miles to do a miles+cash in C.

Here you go ...

http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/loyalty-programmes/diamond-club/spending-miles/bmi-flights/bmi-flights.aspx

Here you go ...

Thanks!

Good luck with the irritated man. Perhaps I'll get to speak to him later..

ive been calling for 2 hrs and getting the man and then got on and was on hold then
silence

then called got the irritating man then on hold again

I think its going to be a long night
im sure they are having a F+++U BMI party:D

18.m 29 s and blank nothingnesss
oh seems if you wait after the blank u get someone in UK
booked my flights J on UA
very helpful

Out of numerous phone calls, I did made it through twice. When I did, I could NOT find any seat due to airlines pulling out. The only option is TG in Y class.
Glory. My miles are going to BA :(

18.m 29 s and blank nothingnesss

Stay on hold, my call got answered after another five mins or so ... Sadly I am now through to someone useless ... He can't understand that two family members can have the same name!

And I think I've just been lied to - giving the benefit of the doubt for now!

Stay on hold, my call got answered after another five mins or so ... Sadly I am now through to someone useless ... He can't understand that two family members can have the same name!

And I think I've just been lied to - giving the benefit of the doubt for now!

Agents are saying that their own system is down and not working on things, even as other agents seem to be doing something in the background that sounds work related.

Are they mainly just telling customers whatever without doing much of anything today? :td: :td: as that seems to be the general outcome of many of my calls today.

I've repeatedly used multiple phone lines over the past 4.5 hours today and most of the time and basically shut-down by the automated response after the line about "extremely high call volumes, call back later". Then when I get through to some agents, most seem good for nothing -- whether at the ICC or in the UK, striking out generally.

.... this is probably in large part a result of the contact center employees having little clarity about their future employment situation.

So I get the "lines are busy / try later / visit web site" spiel and then the line dropped tone :mad:

.... this is probably in large part a result of the contact center employees having little clarity about their future employment situation.

Are they BMI's employee or is it a subcontracted callcenter? Just curious...

Are they BMI's employee or is it a subcontracted callcenter? Just curious...

Some BMI employees presumably in the UK while mostly BMI contractors at the ICC.

So I called yesterday to try and get a change from last week reticketed. It's in the queue.

Got up early here in Canada to check and call in this morning, but, the line is accepting no more calls. There is a man with a British accent who apologises, then hangs up.

So, unsurprisingly, today is going to be a mad one.

Has anyone else got through OK?Same problem here. They asked me to call them, but I can't get through. And as I'm traveling right now, each time I get to pay international mobile calling rates just to hear their message after I get through - then, AFTER I've incurred a high call cost just to get through, then they disconnect me. The comment about "you can do things on our website instead" is also a bit frustrating. There's neber been that much you need to do, that you can actually do on their website!!!

I'd perceive it as a lot more helpful and courteous if they'd arranged to let us know they're engaged - using a method which doesn't actually cause anyone calling to be charged a huge sum to hear that message..... perhaps just an "engaged" tone on the telephone would have achieved this without these huge costs to me for nothing each time I try to get through?! Grump!

Some BMI employees presumably in the UK while mostly BMI contractors at the ICC.

They are all contractors, working for the same organisation. The UK contractors are more recently trained to help with the increased demand of the past month or two. Presumably it will go back to mainly being the ICC when things quieten down after today.

They are all contractors, working for the same organisation. The UK contractors are more recently trained to help with the increased demand of the past month or two. Presumably it will go back to mainly being the ICC when things quieten down after today.

No one at the UK PTS is a BMI employee? PTS has answered some of my calls in the past 14 hours, and that is when dialing up in the usual way and expecting to get the ICC.

I guess I'm not to be blamed. :D

http://s17.postimage.org/eysu9vhpp/photo.jpg

No one at the UK PTS is a BMI employee? PTS has answered some of my calls in the past 14 hours, and that is when dialing up in the usual way and expecting to get the ICC.

Nope, very long term contractors as well. I always thought the same as you did until I was corrected a little time back. They have always been very good and the fact that we think of them as bmi staff shows what a good job they have done over the years.

There is also the UK call centre who may be confused with PTS, but if it isn't one of the handful of named PTS regulars, then it isn't PTS.

I can't help wondering why so many people have left it until the last day to try and make bookings they want/need, wasn't it obvious it was going to be mad busy ?.

And now to the nominees in the Understatement of the Year category as we prepare for our final awards ceremony:

I was planning to make my first redemption request today (a bit late.. I know)...

I can't help wondering why so many people have left it until the last day to try and make bookings they want/need, wasn't it obvious it was going to be mad busy ?.

When I book a trip I have to check the plans of several other people. I cannot influence how long it takes them to make up their minds!

I can't help wondering why so many people have left it until the last day to try and make bookings they want/need, wasn't it obvious it was going to be mad busy ?.

Because I want to win an award...!

Because I want to win an award...!

:D^

Nope, very long term contractors as well. I always thought the same as you did until I was corrected a little time back. They have always been very good and the fact that we think of them as bmi staff shows what a good job they have done over the years.

There is also the UK call centre who may be confused with PTS, but if it isn't one of the handful of named PTS regulars, then it isn't PTS.

Thanks for the info. [I was presuming that some of the UK agents identifying themselves as PTS upon picking up the phone are actually PTS and had always been under the (apparently mistaken) impression that they were BMI employees -- very good indeed, unlike some of the non-PTS UK persons answering phones.]

Are they mainly just telling customers whatever without doing much of anything today? :td: :td: as that seems to be the general outcome of many of my calls today.

It would appear so, yes. There is an error on my account (it was fine two days ago!), the household account has somehow split itself in two, with each member showing as head of account. They promised it would be fixed within an hour. That was two hours ago ...

I feel sorry for the person that I get through to next!

After a quick answer at 8am, followed by a 20 minute hold and 2 "lines busy" attempts just got through with a c. 5 minute wait - needed to provide passport details as call to book first thing today took a while and I needed to get off the phone after everything else had been done!

Best of luck to everyone...

Thanks for the info. [I was presuming that some of the UK agents identifying themselves as PTS upon picking up the phone are actually PTS and had always been under the (apparently mistaken) impression that they were BMI employees -- very good indeed, unlike some of the non-PTS UK persons answering phones.]

It depends for what really.

For very simple bookings ICC seems to be very good at it now, whereas the UK call centre is hit and miss.

The UK call centre is however good at following up issues (eg. ticketing) and calling you back and generally keeping you informed. Something ICC has never done for me.

They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Been trying to call non-stop today, but haven't been able to get through to anyone. The line goes silent at the 18 minute mark and I once waited until 40 minutes before hanging up.

Do they have any people left answering the phones? :D

It must be approaching the time for this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2dhD9zR6hk).

Been trying to call non-stop today, but haven't been able to get through to anyone. The line goes silent at the 18 minute mark and I once waited until 40 minutes before hanging up.

Do they have any people left answering the phones? :D

I've just got through again, answered pretty quickly this time. However they could not help me ... and told me to call back in half an hour! :eek:

Yep, same here. 18min wait, then dead line.

Will try from time-to-time for the rest of the day. No big deal if I fail, the flights don't really work out well at the moment.

I wouldn't be surprised as like on the 21st April there is a one day extension to booking awards.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B206 Safari/7534.48.3)

I wouldn't be surprised as like on the 21st April there is a one day extension to booking awards.

Not according to the email from DC that just popped into my inbox...

OK second attempt. 13 minute wait then got through. Answered "gold" line, even though I'm blue and pressed 2 for blue at the prompt.

Some TG C flights that showed available on ANA the guy saw as available too, but then couldn't book them. Booked LHR-BKK-SGN, SGN-BKK-MUC (details on other thread) in TG C.

He said I was very lucky!

When I book a trip I have to check the plans of several other people. I cannot influence how long it takes them to make up their minds!

Well said DonnaDonnaDonna. Same here.

I also wondered why some leave it to the very last minute?

News of a second nomination is just reaching us courtesy of jimbo99:

Booked LHR-BKK-SGN, SGN-BKK-MUC [...] in TG C. He said I was very lucky!

Lucky *<&?%* indeed!

I called this early morning and finally got through, but the agent was not able to load the tax. She does not want to take my card number and insisted to ask me call back later. I tried to argue, but ended up in vain.

I tried to call again now and it keeps hanging me up:mad:

Does anyone know which of the following must be done by today?


Set up PNR
Calculate the tax and provide the payment method
Ticket the PNR


If only the first one is required, then I may call back later. Otherwise, I am screwed:td:

I called this early morning and finally got through, but the agent was not able to load the tax. She does not want to take my card number and insisted to ask me call back later. I tried to argue, but ended up in vain.

I tried to call again now and it keeps hanging me up:mad:

Does anyone know which of the following must be done by today?


Set up PNR
Calculate the tax and provide the payment method
Ticket the PNR


If only the first one is required, then I may call back later. Otherwise, I am screwed:td:

All tickets MUST be issued by close of DC today. Period. No exceptions. If it doesn't get ticketed, and if ticketed on 1st June, your ticket will be invalid.

Not received email from them, but my itin is on checkmytrip.

They have added a spurious initial to my name. ie instead of JIMBO X SMITH they have JIMBO ZX SMITH.

Do you think this is something I need to sort today (if at all)? (Am trying to get through, but hitting the 18minute timeout.)

:mad:

But I remember in April they claim as long as PNR is set up by the deadline, one should be fine???


All tickets MUST be issued by close of DC today. Period. No exceptions. If it doesn't get ticketed, and if ticketed on 1st June, your ticket will be invalid.

Now I cannot hear the British man's voice... It is straight hangup.

Could anyone connect the phone now? If so, which line? I wonder whether it is a problem for Google Voice and debating whether I should call the inside UK number with 9x rates (18 cents/min instead of 2 cents/min).

Edit: it seems they block my number:mad: Change another number and the British man's voice is back. What is the limit to block a number?

Someone posted DC have until the 2nd to ticket the itins. That makes sense. I really doubt it all has to be done by COB tonight on the ticketing side.

Yes, I know I shouldn't have waited until the final two hours, but a traveling companion was being very dodgy until the last moment.

So I get the "lines are busy / try later / visit web site" spiel and then the line dropped tone :mad:

After Mr. "Extremely High Volume of Calls" I get a tone (a G, it appears) which I presume means that the line has gone dead. A few tries later, I now have the soothing, harpy hold music and man/woman with their alternating "go online... one of the team" messages.

And... 18 minutes in, dead.

Now "Call from GMail" won't complete the call. Both UK and international numbers say "was not available for a phone call."

And as I'm traveling right now, each time I get to pay international mobile calling rates just to hear their message after I get through

Can you call via Skype, Google Voice, etc.?

:mad:

Now I cannot hear the British men's voice... It is straight hangup.

Could anyone connect the phone now? If so, which line? I wonder whether it is a problem for Google Voice and debating whether I should call the inside UK number with 9x rates (18 cents/min instead of 2 cents/min).

I got through on the tech support number 01332 646410. I genuinely do have a tech query, but it was answered by Reservations! They then put me through to the queue for DC. I am now speaking to a nice gentleman who actually seems to want to help ;)

Scrub that, the nice man is certain he can resolve my problem, but it has now gone from one hour ... to 7 to 14 working days!

Losing the will to live! :rolleyes:

I feel like I am in the hospital, watching an old friend slip away....

I feel like I am in the hospital, watching an old friend slip away....

I feel there may be casualties! ;)

I'm still on hold, it has been 50 minutes. Not surprise, it will just go silent later.
Oh well :eek:

How long did it take for you to go through the tech line?

I have been on over 20 minutes and is still silent. It went from holding music to slience after 14 minutes.

2 hours to go, finger crossed...

I got through on the tech support number 01332 646410. I genuinely do have a tech query, but it was answered by Reservations! They then put me through to the queue for DC. I am now speaking to a nice gentleman who actually seems to want to help ;)

When I got through about an hour ago they said the wait had come down to 47 mins (I had waited for 50) so they are monitoring it - that was the gold line although I am not gold :)

It's excellent that they sent a reminder email - shame that they did it at the last minute!

I just got through again. I was calling from two phones simultaneously. They were cutting off after about 18 minutes and I immediately redialled. The phone that eventually connected was 8 minutes into its hold.

I was trying to correct this:


Not received email from them, but my itin is on checkmytrip.

They have added a spurious initial to my name. ie instead of JIMBO X SMITH they have JIMBO ZX SMITH.


The ICC agent said she had added a remark for the check-in staff that it was just a typing mistake. Do you think that that is enough?

I'm on 40 mins and counting. When it went silent earlier I assumed I was in a dead void so hung-up and tried again. Shame I'm using the Gold number though as it's costing me per minute.

Actually made the change I wanted earlier but then got cut off before payment. When I phoned back the lady in the YCC must have misunderstood as she removed the changes from the booking and then the line went dead! Been trying to get back to sort it out ever since!

:mad::(:(
(Crying face)

BTW I got someone at the UK call center this morning, when I was transiting @ SIN, who was completely useless. She couldn't see any of the award space I was suggesting. I am quite sure that she didn't even check.

After dialing for 3 hours this afternoon (late evening Bali time), I finally got someone at the India call center. I thought that I would never say this, but they are getting good. Got my two itineraries ticketed without any problems. All SA, TG, and OZ flights were available through BMI as well.

I'm on 40 mins and counting. When it went silent earlier I assumed I was in a dead void so hung-up and tried again. Shame I'm using the Gold number though as it's costing me per minute.

:mad::(:(
(Crying face)

I was placed on holding music over 60 minutes. Sure, it went silent as expected. Yeah, wasted loads of money on calls. Now can't get through.
It is definitely good bye :td:

I got the silence twice after on hold for more than 20 minutes. My current hold is 16 mins and counting....

What time is the cut off for Star Alliance bookings? It's 10:30AM PST now...

So you're saying I should have kept holding when when it went silent?! Doh!

I was in a car at the time, so no FT access to read this thread!

i got the silence twice after on hold for more than 20 minutes. My current hold is 16 mins and counting....

What time is the cut off for star alliance bookings? It's 10:30am pst now...
20:00 bst (gmt+1)

imm2b, you have about 90 minutes left.

What time is the cut off for Star Alliance bookings? It's 10:30AM PST now...

In about 1 hour 35 minutes.

20:00 bst (gmt+1)

imm2b, you have about 90 minutes left.

Hmm...that means I'll probably not make the deadline. :eek:

Keep 2 lines going if you can.

I just got through again. I was calling from two phones simultaneously. They were cutting off after about 18 minutes and I immediately redialled. The phone that eventually connected was 8 minutes into its hold.

I was trying to correct this:




The ICC agent said she had added a remark for the check-in staff that it was just a typing mistake. Do you think that that is enough?

As long as your travel doesn't involve the US of A, yes that is enough. Passport information will be collected at check in. And as long as your last and first name is correct on passport as on your reservation, you're ok.

I wouldn't bother them to get ticket reissued now. It may end up with you not having a ticket at all if they cancel the current ticket and don't have enough time to issue the next one.

just got through after 18 mins...agent took my pnr, asked me to hold...line went silent...then it cut off!
Meanwhile Gold number got to 60 mins and cut off too!

or have they gone home??

have pnr and held seats but needed to confirm taxes - now cant get through.

Feenster

How long did it take for you to go through the tech line?

I have been on over 20 minutes and is still silent. It went from holding music to slience after 14 minutes.

2 hours to go, finger crossed...

I got through within the twenty minutes before it goes silent. Now having what is possibly the most mind numbing phone call of my life 1 hr 40 mins and counting!

Hope you are having more luck!

more than 80 call now ! Got through 2 times ! Line broken ! 3rd time I got through agent promised a supervisor will call back ( not happened yet ), and now 1h 20m. bevore them close no way to get through !
That`s very bad. :td:

I am now through to a manager, who seems to have the authority to do something! I am very frustrated but even more disappointed with the communication between BMI and the ICC - they are only finding out about United when they get an error, they have not been told officially.

Poor form BMI, and all credit to the man that has suffered me for the past so long I have lost count!

Just got my last redeption done. Took me three hours of calling. On the bright side, today seemed like anything goes and I had the most frivolous routings approved. :-)

All tickets MUST be issued by close of DC today. Period. No exceptions. If it doesn't get ticketed, and if ticketed on 1st June, your ticket will be invalid.

My reservations all say "confirmed" on checkmytrip. Does this mean they're ticketed?

no. You need ticket numbers.

Well, I can't see them issuing all the tickets today. It's either valid if ticketed later, or a LOT of people will be left without tickets.

Keep 2 lines going if you can.

That's encouraging :p

Do whatever you can to get through as time is fast running out.

I simply can't believe this. For my remaining miles I just redeemed one F flight. Not maximising my miles very well as time is a pressurising factor now.

Any sugestion how to get through ?
Even connecting trough the normal reservation, the call gets lost after this guy say them busy.
I don`t know what to do.

I am now through to a manager, who seems to have the authority to do something! I am very frustrated but even more disappointed with the communication between BMI and the ICC - they are only finding out about United when they get an error, they have not been told officially.

Poor form BMI, and all credit to the man that has suffered me for the past so long I have lost count!

They are finding out the hard way because United isn't telling bmi or Diamond Club that they are restricting availability, in the same way that TK availability was gone and then returned days later. The partners can open or restrict awards seats to the whole of Star Alliance or on a partner by partner basis. In this case, a few airlines have been this with Diamond Club, in the same way that SQ have made additional seats available to Diamond Club for much of 2012.

It isn't ideal communication, but it isn't the doing of the Diamond Club team either, no matter how frustrating it must be to be on the receiving end of it.

After two hours on the phone, finally reached an agreement with the nice man. Just about to give my CC details ... only for my phone to go dead! I must have done something wrong in a former life!

Any sugestion how to get through ?
Even connecting trough the normal reservation, the call gets lost after this guy say them busy.
I don`t know what to do.

I had 2 lines going at one time but had to abandon one. One was on holding music & the other please call again. Not a good idea clogging up phone line.
Phoned reservation or customer service & asked to be connected through.

Are there any numbers left which do not produce the cut-off man? Every number I try does this now.

Another data point:

I made an award booking on Air Canada at 8am this morning and was calling because it has not been ticketed.

As suggested I tried the tech support line and was on hold for 65 minutes before it disconnected.

I then managed to get through on the Gold line and was answered in 18 minutes. However, the agent insisted that (a) he had no means of forcing ticketing through, and (b) all PNR's created today will get ticketed by tomorrow morning. We shall see...

I just sent them an email complain, and expect them call back as promised, to finish the reservation.

As long as your travel doesn't involve the US of A, yes that is enough. Passport information will be collected at check in. And as long as your last and first name is correct on passport as on your reservation, you're ok.

I wouldn't bother them to get ticket reissued now. It may end up with you not having a ticket at all if they cancel the current ticket and don't have enough time to issue the next one.

Thanks.

Good luck to those still trying.

Finally got through after about 2 hours and.... cannot book United. What a waste of miles.

Yes - should have booked a week ago. But, at the same time availability was promised through today so this is a bit shoddy.

Agent on the phone was very pleasant and it was evident that he tried his best.

If you are still trying to get through then call on your phone and on Skype - talk to whichever one is answered first.

No one at the UK PTS is a BMI employee? PTS has answered some of my calls in the past 14 hours, and that is when dialing up in the usual way and expecting to get the ICC.

That happened to me on my first call. Got everything sorted yesterday with a very helpful guy and he even gave me a courtesy call this morning to confirm that he was ticketing the itnerary and make sure I was happy with the taxes. ^

I feel bad about this. I'm not convinced I'm going to get my booking corrected.

no. You need ticket numbers.Well, I can't see them issuing all the tickets today. It's either valid if ticketed later, or a LOT of people will be left without tickets.
I don't have a ticket no. yet (still showing confirmed on checkmytrip) but my credit card has beeen charged and I've received an email from BMI with the itinerary. I presume this means it's in the procees of being ticketed and later I'll see the ticket no. on checkmytrip and receive an email wrt the e-ticket from BMI.

What happens when the guitar music still plays after 8pm?

I had call that went silent after 20 minutes, held on for over an hour and it just hung up.

What happens when the guitar music still plays after 8pm?

Nothing. I suspect the phone will never be answered, if you hang up and call, you'll hear "Call back in office hours".
By the way, I think there is no point in calling now, 2 days ago I connected 15 min before the deadline and the agent said "Sorry, but there is no time to do anything today, please call tomorrow".

That's what I think too. Oh, this has just been torture for the past 2 hours!

Never have I been so desperate for someone at the ICC to answer! :D

:(
I feel ill

I felt ill last night after nearly 3hrs. Wanted to call in sick this morning.

I got a booking yesterday...why didn't I do the two at the same time?
Despite my earlier post, I'm not happy with the UK centre from removing legs from my booking.

What time is give up time??

Not to gloat, but I may have got one of the last DC redemptions.

Just off the phone after booking a April 2013 F FRA-BKK-SYD for 2 and then another F SYD-BKK-CDG to return in April.

Had held off to try and get latest availability - just a wee jolly to use up miles and enjoy TG's new 380.

Chap at ICC was the most helpful possible - assured me the return could be done if even a few minutes after 8pm, and it was 20:03 when he finished the booking and sent the email - and even apologised for me having to hold on so long.

I, of course, thanked him and his colleagues for all their help over the years and wished them the very best.

Never have I been so desperate for someone at the ICC to answer! :D

Indeed! I gave up a few minutes before 3PM EDT after discovering that my routing was just as well using United miles. Avios, here I come...

What time is give up time??

I gave up at 8.05pm after just over 2hrs.

After numerous trial and error, finally connected to gold line at 7:58pm GMT+1 after being on hold for 7 minutes. Shame on those who abuse the gold line! True gold members like me have to be put on hold for so long (previous call to gold line went slient after 60 minutes hold and got hanged up 5 minutes afterwards).

However, the agent told me the tax for the PNR I created this morning is still not ready. I was promised, though, the PNR will be valid tomorrow and he asked me to call back to provide payment info.

I asked the agent's name and ID, so hopefully what he said is true...

Not to gloat, but I may have got one of the last DC redemptions.


To be fair you'll still be able to make a DC redemption tomorrow and for the immediate future, just not on a *A airline. There is always VS, QR, UN, 9W and BA to redeem on. Today isn't really the end of the world some are making it out to be!!

I'm still holding (I know, I'm dreaming) ... I have been on the phone today for the sum total of nine hours. Finally found someone that could help, and I honestly don't know whether it was my phone or his that went dead ... :(

I'm still holding (I know, I'm dreaming) ... I have been on the phone today for the sum total of nine hours. Finally found someone that could help, and I honestly don't know whether it was my phone or his that went dead ... :(

me too ...

I've called from various phone lines throughout the day and each of them got cut of at least once.

All in all... boo on UA for pulling the plug early. True to their form I guess.

I booked at last.. call ended at 20:18. However, apparently changes are not permitted on Star Alliance bookings after today, only cancellations. This is not something I was aware of...

I've called from various phone lines throughout the day and each of them got cut of at least once.

That's made me feel a bit better, thank you, it's not just me! I'm telling myself it wasn't meant to be, the trip was for next April and I am kind of hoping that my life will be on a very new path by then, in a "family" sort of way ...

We'll see! ;)

How could you change when the *A partners no longer provide inventory to BD just like UA did earlier today?

I booked at last.. call ended at 20:18. However, apparently changes are not permitted on Star Alliance bookings after today, only cancellations. This is not something I was aware of...

My calls auto ended. I did try to call via the USA centre but they couldn't help.

I managed to book two return flights in F and two OW way flights in J, however, the line got cut off, when I was about to book the return leg! There are also mistakes in the passenger's name! What can I do????? Is there any way they can still make the booking????? Fingers crossed!!!!!

The PAX name, if it's a typo.. I would not worry about it.

As for the return leg... SOL on *A, book something return on the new partners tomorrow.

I finally booked. I dialed back with about 20 mins before the deadline, after about 13 minutes on hold, my call was answered. I've received the email, but no ticket numbers yet.

Finally got through after about 2 hours and.... cannot book United. What a waste of miles.

Yes - should have booked a week ago. But, at the same time availability was promised through today so this is a bit shoddy.


Master of your own fate I'm afraid.

I booked at last.. call ended at 20:18. However, apparently changes are not permitted on Star Alliance bookings after today, only cancellations. This is not something I was aware of...

Where have you been lurking for 2 months? It's been well publicised.

Where have you been lurking for 2 months? It's been well publicised.

In the email from BMI, I read this:

"Star Alliance award bookings made before 31 May 2012 will be honoured"

but did not realise the impact of this:

"For further information including changes to award bookings ... please visit flybmi.com"

I'd thought that the fare rules would have remained as they were. It would have been very easy to have said in the email that no changes would be permitted, rather than providing a link anchored by a vague allusion to changes to say the same.

Well, never mind. My plans are sufficiently vague that I could never have chosen anything close to a guaranteed date (or indeed departure point and destination, though I could estimate the regions) so even armed with that knowledge, I would not have been much better off. I'll put this one down to experience. I am just glad to have been able to make a booking at all.

Technically, changes are allowed even after May 31st, the problem is that from June 1st, BMI does not have access to award inventory of staralliance partners. It is like changing a booking and getting "sorry sir, not available". If you route is flown by BMI (and perhaps BA), you should be able to change it.

Wish I'd known you got reconnected after the silence but if it meant you went to UK I'm glad I didn't. I'd just like to say how superb ICC were today. Yesterday I was on the phone for an hour to UK because one single flight wasn't available and they couldn't help me find an alternative. I was having to search ANA whilst talking to them and re-plan the whole booking on the fly. Today after waiting an age to get through the same problem arose whilst talking to ICC. Guy was incredibly helpful, found options that worked for a flight that was missing and even suggested a better connection that I hadn't seen. Whole booking only took ten minutes and was handled very efficiently. I was most impressed.

All in all... boo on UA for pulling the plug early. True to their form I guess.

TAP, too...

The PAX name, if it's a typo.. I would not worry about it.Yes you DO need to worry if there is an error of any sort in the PAX name. People have been denied boarding if name cannot be matched exactly to passport. They have a small window to complete ticketing so do call them right away.

You won't get your return leg booked now though as the same thing happened to me. I checked this morning - NO more new or changed bookings. But an error on name is something else if made by them and needs to be corrected.

Yes you DO need to worry if there is an error of any sort in the PAX name. People have been denied boarding if name cannot be matched exactly to passport. They have a small window to complete ticketing so do call them right away.

You won't get your return leg booked now though as the same thing happened to me. I checked this morning - NO more new or changed bookings. But an error on name is something else if made by them and needs to be corrected.

People have been denied boarding even if name can be "matched exactly to passport". People have been allowed to board even if name cannot be "matched exactly to passport" and it is quite ordinary for passengers with a document with a single-letter or double-letter typo and/or name transposition.

There is a substantial risk that an agent's attempt to "fix" such name matter results in reduced possibility to travel than avoiding the "fix" now and just dealing with the matter at the airport on day of departure.

I've seen thousands of "discrepancies" in a row for some passengers, and it was the attempt at a "fix" that messed up things in a way that avoiding a "fix" would not have.

More needs to be known about the "discrepancy" before scaring an individual to do something that may not necessarily suit the person's interest.

There is a substantial risk that an agent's attempt to "fix" such name matter results in reduced possibility to travel than avoiding the "fix" now and just dealing with the matter at the airport on day of departure.

My sentiments exactly.

Yes you DO need to worry if there is an error of any sort in the PAX name. People have been denied boarding if name cannot be matched exactly to passport. They have a small window to complete ticketing so do call them right away.

You won't get your return leg booked now though as the same thing happened to me. I checked this morning - NO more new or changed bookings. But an error on name is something else if made by them and needs to be corrected.

Agree, at the very least you should try to correct the name. Name should match exactly the passport. If not, the passenger may be denied bording. I have seen this happen several times at airports, and if the airline, airport security, etc. want to enforce the rules to the letter, nothing much for the passenger to do, except buy a ticket in the correct name, and seek refund/comepnsation later from airline. Not a situation I would like to place myself, especially if there was an easy fix (which there may not be now). Good luck!

My sentiments exactly.

... and there is IATA backing behind that.

Furthermore, at least with regard to OECD governments' requirements involving APIS-type information and/or proof of onward travel, in practice they all have a general tolerance for names in a booking and/or ticket that are not "matched exactly to a passport" when it comes to minor typos and/or transposition of letters and/or names.

BMI certainly has some ability to correct a name in a booking prior to ticketing, but they also have an ability to massively mess it up when attempting to fix it -- and at at time like this, getting the same flights to show up as confirmed is a risk I am not willing to take when I have seen how it goes over with DHS/CBP and TSA types over a one or two letter typo/transposition or name order reversal -- no big deal (if they even notice it). Where it may be an issue is: that kiosk and/or online check-in may not complete and a person needs to check the individual in; and/or a check-in agent has to manually pull up the reservation; and/or frequent flyer credit or number won't necessarily automatically take up.

I have some travel companions and acquaintance who each travel hundreds to thousands of times internationally with a "discrepancy" between booked/ticketed name and passport name -- not one has been denied boarding and we are talking about over 20k trips without issue. More likely someone gets denied boarding because of someone concluding that a photo on a passport doesn't match a person (even when it is actually the person's valid passport) than because of any one or two letter typos or even name transposition.

Everyone's assessment of risk and risk tolerance may not be perfect replica of one another, so I expect some differences in approach. That said, I certainly wouldn't generally advise a "fix" at this point for these BD DC bookings prior to knowing far more about the "errors" than has been shared in this thread. A one or two letter typo or name transposition is generally not going to kill off the travel opportunity on these bookings; but an inability to get the other airlines to confirm whatever needs to be confirmed if the "fix" is wrong is going to eliminate the opportunity to travel on the flights booked on such bookings.

People have been denied boarding even if name can be "matched exactly to passport". People have been allowed to board even if name cannot be "matched exactly to passport" and it is quite ordinary for passengers with a document with a single-letter or double-letter typo and/or name transposition.

There is a substantial risk that an agent's attempt to "fix" such name matter results in reduced possibility to travel than avoiding the "fix" now and just dealing with the matter at the airport on day of departure.

I've seen thousands of "discrepancies" in a row for some passengers, and it was the attempt at a "fix" that messed up things in a way that avoiding a "fix" would not have.

More needs to be known about the "discrepancy" before scaring an individual to do something that may not necessarily suit the person's interest.

It also depends on which country you are in. Yesterday, I had a situation where my wife's ticket was issued in her married name but her passport was in her maiden name - no problem at all in BCN. Massive mismatch - but not a single question asked.

All tickets MUST be issued by close of DC today. Period. No exceptions. If it doesn't get ticketed, and if ticketed on 1st June, your ticket will be invalid.

I do wonder how some people make bold statements with such an air of certainty .... especially if they have no way of knowing.

I took the simpler approach - I asked the DC team - and the above does not tally with what I was told.

I do wonder how some people make bold statements with such an air of certainty .... especially if they have no way of knowing.

And in some cases, regularly making statements that are incorrect without a hint of apology either after the event. :rolleyes:

When we have been through a period when we have a number of new and less regular members looking for information, incorrect guesswork presented as absolute fact really isn't helpful.

All tickets MUST be issued by close of DC today. Period. No exceptions. If it doesn't get ticketed, and if ticketed on 1st June, your ticket will be invalid.

This was obviously such utter rubbish i would have laughed out loud if it hadn't been posted by a mod who ought to know better than to alarm those who might assume the individuals statements to be authoratitive.

Wow, guess I'll be flying on an invalid ticket issued on June 1. :o

This was obviously such utter rubbish i would have laughed out loud if it hadn't been posted by a mod who ought to know better than to alarm those who might assume the individuals statements to be authoratitive.

Well I guess the head (BA) doesn't know what the tail (BD) is doing... :p

I guess we can still go ahead and book tickets on *A then even though the email went out that BD is no longer part of *A as of 1st June.

Doesn't matter. I only have 100 miles left on my BD account and 2 BA Gold accounts.

Well I guess the head (BA) doesn't know what the tail (BD) is doing... :p

I guess we can still go ahead and book tickets on *A then even though the email went out that BD is no longer part of *A as of 1st June.

Doesn't matter. I only have 100 miles left on my BD account and 2 BA Gold accounts.

Fact #1: BD left *A not on June 1st but over a month ago.
Fact #2: 31 May was the deadline for booking *A redemptions using DC miles.
Fact #3: the deadline by which *A redemptions using DC miles must be ticketed has not been made known. As it happens, it is plain from the experience of several DCers that that deadline was NOT 31 May but at a later point.

So it is not a case of the head not knowing what the tail is doing but rather of an FTer adding 2+2 to obtain a total of 83.

Fact #1: BD left *A not on June 1st but over a month ago.
Fact #2: 31 May was the deadline for booking *A redemptions using DC miles.
Fact #3: the deadline by which *A redemptions using DC miles must be ticketed has not been made known. As it happens, it is plain from the experience of several DCers that that deadline was NOT 31 May but at a later point.

So it is not a case of the head not knowing what the tail is doing but rather of an FTer adding 2+2 to obtain a total of 83.

.... and some of those BD mileage tickets booked on May 31, 2012 and ticketed yesterday for Star Alliance flights have been flown today.

I guess we can still go ahead and book tickets on *A then even though the email went out that BD is no longer part of *A as of 1st June.



I am also surprised by this suggestion........

One of my 31st May 2012 bookings ticketed yesterday!

Not received email from them, but my itin is on checkmytrip.

They have added a spurious initial to my name. ie instead of JIMBO X SMITH they have JIMBO ZX SMITH.

Do you think this is something I need to sort today (if at all)? (Am trying to get through, but hitting the 18minute timeout.)

I just got through again. I was calling from two phones simultaneously. They were cutting off after about 18 minutes and I immediately redialled. The phone that eventually connected was 8 minutes into its hold.

The ICC agent said she had added a remark for the check-in staff that it was just a typing mistake. Do you think that that is enough?

As long as your travel doesn't involve the US of A, yes that is enough. Passport information will be collected at check in. And as long as your last and first name is correct on passport as on your reservation, you're ok.

I wouldn't bother them to get ticket reissued now. It may end up with you not having a ticket at all if they cancel the current ticket and don't have enough time to issue the next one.

Just for anyone with a similar issue... no problems at LHR TG Royal Silk check-in. YMMV!

Who can we ask about getting a Y for C seat released on BMR? Everything seems Eco now for some reason.

Who can we ask about getting a Y for C seat released on BMR? Everything seems Eco now for some reason.

Presumably the ICC, have you spoke to them?