bmi diamond club - Best business *A to cross the pond with?

Hi,

Following my post yesterday when i realised i wouldn't have enough miles to go upper class to NYC but will have enough to go business cash plus miles. can anyone recommend the best airline to go to NYC with in terms of best overnight sleep.

Thanks in advance.
Paul.

Well, what are your options (in order of what would be my own preference):

bmi
United
Air Canada
Lufthansa
US Airways
SAS (would be up there, but tricky double connection in Europe)

I would have said stick with bmi to IAD and connecting service on United to NYC. But unless you can guarantee an A330 I would be cautious (though who knows with 1-1 layout it might be intersting).

You can always enjoy the Amtrak Acela experience from DC-NYC which is great fun and only a few hours.

bmi's business is their premium cabin; it really is more of a first class experience, especially as far as the food goes. I believe the seats are much the same between bmi and United; I slept very well on bmi.

But I prefer british airlines more; I feel safer, you can move around the cabin and the entertainment/food is better for the British palate/sensibility.

The best *A airline transatlantic flight is SQ FRA-JFK. Now, whether it's worth going via FRA for such a short trip only you can decide and I'm not sure DC would see that as a legitimate single booking either.

I actually think flights to the US East Coast are not long enough to get much of a decent sleep to be honest.

The best *A airline transatlantic flight is SQ FRA-JFK. Now, whether it's worth going via FRA for such a short trip only you can decide and I'm not sure DC would see that as a legitimate single booking either.



This has reminded me that I ought to get round to booking an award trip using some of my DC miles. I'm heading down to BSB (and probably GIG) this summer and the fares are horrific, so it will probably be an award trip.

Though I've never flown VARIG, I'm inclined to avoid the most direct routing (on RG LHR-GRU-BSB(stopover)-GIG(stopover)-GRU-LHR because they continue to use their MD11's on this route with a Business Class cabin that makes TG's old offering sound attractive.

Instead I want to try to get flights on TAP (LHR-LIS-GRU-BSB-GIG-LIS-LHR) or LH (LHR-FRA-GRU-BSB-GIG-FRA-LHR). Are DC likely to oppose (or outright refuse) anything other than the most direct routing? My experience with LH is that they will initially oppose and then give in if gently pushed.

My alternative is to start the journey from BRU and insist on being routed with TAP or LH.

Though I've never flown VARIG, I'm inclined to avoid the most direct routing (on RG LHR-GRU-BSB(stopover)-GIG(stopover)-GRU-LHR because they continue to use their MD11's on this route with a Business Class cabin that makes TG's old offering sound attractive.

Instead I want to try to get flights on TAP (LHR-LIS-GRU-BSB-GIG-LIS-LHR) or LH (LHR-FRA-GRU-BSB-GIG-FRA-LHR). Are DC likely to oppose (or outright refuse) anything other than the most direct routing? My experience with LH is that they will initially oppose and then give in if gently pushed.


Avoid RG if you can help it- I tried their F and C last December and will never go anywhere near them again!

Why would DC would oppose a transatlantic leg that didn't originate in the UK?

I've flown EDI - FRA - JFK (and LAX, and MIA, and SFO...) before now and got full mileage.

For many of us, it's a lot less hassle to fly from our local UK airport to the States via a continental European hub (FRA and CPH spring to mind) and avoid MAN or LON altogether.

Why would DC would oppose a transatlantic leg that didn't originate in the UK?

I've flown EDI - FRA - JFK (and LAX, and MIA, and SFO...) before now and got full mileage.

For many of us, it's a lot less hassle to fly from our local UK airport to the States via a continental European hub (FRA and CPH spring to mind) and avoid MAN or LON altogether.

I agree there's no issue when buying a ticket. When redeeming miles though, there are rules saying you have to take the most direct routing on offer. I was wondering how much negotiating room there is (i.e. will BD agree that I can take an indirect routing from LHR when the nonstop RG flight exists?).

Why would DC would oppose a transatlantic leg that didn't originate in the UK?

I've flown EDI - FRA - JFK (and LAX, and MIA, and SFO...) before now and got full mileage.

For many of us, it's a lot less hassle to fly from our local UK airport to the States via a continental European hub (FRA and CPH spring to mind) and avoid MAN or LON altogether.

As House pointed out, the OP is asking about booking an award with DC miles, not earning them.

Well, what are your options (in order of what would be my own preference):

bmi
United
Air Canada
Lufthansa
US Airways
SAS (would be up there, but tricky double connection in Europe)




I would agree, BMI would be my first choice, but for the east coast, while the BMI 757 is a bit of an unknown, US Airways are ok if you can get them to pre-assign row 1 for you.

Its still business class, but row 1 is in its own section, 90" of leg room, and totally flat bed seats, so its good for a quick sleep, quite queit and private.

I agree there's no issue when buying a ticket. When redeeming miles though, there are rules saying you have to take the most direct routing on offer. I was wondering how much negotiating room there is (i.e. will BD agree that I can take an indirect routing from LHR when the nonstop RG flight exists?).

BD let me book a LHR->FRA->GRU->EZE-GRU->FRA->LHR route on LH with no fuss or questions asked - even though I could have done LHR->GRU direct on RG.