Bmi launches business class chauffeur service : now extended UK & Ireland

[21H21J]

Originally Posted by jbfield

So, will these tickets be fully flexible do you think?

I don't want to put ideas into anyone's head, but having reading through the T&C's, I wonder...could you buy a fully flex LIMO ticket...get the limo to the airport and then cancel your flight for a full refund?

LOL!

The BMI forum always has the best tips

[Len Brennan]

So why was there a mention of Diamond Club Gold members when there isn't any mention of them in the T's & C's?

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by jbfield

So, will these tickets be fully flexible do you think?

I don't want to put ideas into anyone's head, but having reading through the T&C's, I wonder...could you buy a fully flex LIMO ticket...get the limo to the airport and then cancel your flight for a full refund?

It would be pretty easy for xxLIMO fare basis to have a cancellation fee to offset cost of limo transfer. Indeed the whole fare could also be normal fare + cost of limo (+ margin).

[dunk]

Just looked up the fare rules on EF for MOW.

Fully changeable and refundable, but for D (base fare GBP1600) and C (GBP1850) only. So not J and def not Y.

Nothing in the (published) rules to reflect Kiwi Flyer's point above. Indeed, base fares are the same as the current D and C fares.

hth

[theworld]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

It would be pretty easy for xxLIMO fare basis to have a cancellation fee to offset cost of limo transfer. Indeed the whole fare could also be normal fare + cost of limo (+ margin).

But according to clause nine of the T&C:

"The provision of transportation is provided free and has no financial value. Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any refund, discount or credit of their flight ticket in the event that the Chauffeur Drive service is not taken advantage of or otherwise provided."

I.e. the "free and has no financial value" bit, therefore it would be very hard for them to say if you cancel your flight they will charge you for the limo, when according to the T&C there is no financial value in it.

[clubman]

Originally Posted by jbfield

I don't want to put ideas into anyone's head, but having reading through the T&C's, I wonder...could you buy a fully flex LIMO ticket...get the limo to the airport and then cancel your flight for a full refund?

Well yes, same way as you can do this with any airline offering a Limo service including VS and EK...

[GK]

'Compound' is a polite word for 'high security residential complex protected by armed guards and maybe a tank if you are really important'.

Yes it is vital to have the driver pick up or drop off pre-booked with compound security in KSA.

[FlyingOnceMore]

Among the announcments today was this about chauffeur drive. No mention of Gold card holders but..... in blue

Launch of Chauffeur Drive for Business Class Customers

This month also sees the launch of the bmi Chauffeur Drive service for those travelling in Business Class, complimentary on selected fare types, on flights to Moscow and Saudi Arabia at both ends of the route, allowing Business Class customers to extend the bmi service beyond the flight for more convenient and hassle-free travel. This Chauffeur Drive service will also be rolled-out for Business Class customers, complimentary on selected fares and as an additional cost option on other fares on Tel Aviv, Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Kiev routes later in the spring.

and further down in the same release........

The service will be rolled out on to bmi’s Tel Aviv, Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Kiev routes during March 2009, and other bmi international routes thereafter.

[GK]

on my last trip to central london, i flew into lhr and took a car service to town.. eighty pounds round trip.. so is the fare difference worth it? the VS deal has a much greater driving range.

[jbfield]

Originally Posted by sven60035

According to Business Traveler here:

Bmi is now offering a complimentary chauffeur-drive service for customers travelling on its routes between Heathrow and Moscow, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.

The new service which started this month is available to Diamond Club Gold members, and business class passengers travelling on fully-flexible tickets. There is a 50-mile limit to transfers, which must be booked at least 24 hours before departure, and passengers may be accompanied by up to up to two companions or family members and a total of three bags.

It doesn't mention that highlighted sentence in the BusinessTraveller.com article either.

[Oxon Flyer]

Originally Posted by jbfield

It doesn't mention that highlighted sentence in the BusinessTraveller.com article either.

It does on the cached version from 9 Feb 2009 18:56:30 GMT :

Originally Posted by google cache

Bmi is now offering a complimentary chauffeur-drive service for customers travelling on its routes between Heathrow and Moscow, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.

The new service which started this month is available to Diamond Club Gold members, and business class passengers travelling on fully-flexible tickets.

bmi modifying terms and conditions after a promo is launched ? Surely not.

[jbfield]

Note the removal of the LIMO fare basis and the application to all C & D fares (different for Saudi Arabia).

Originally Posted by flybmi trade

We are pleased to inform you that we have simplified our Chauffeur Drive booking process.

We have removed from the GDS all individual fare basis codes containing LIMO, though any bookings already made with the LIMO fare basis codes will be honoured.

Chauffeur Drive destinations
Our Chauffeur Drive service is available for journeys between the United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland and the cities listed below:
Beirut
Cairo
Dammam (via Riyadh)
Jeddah (via Riyadh)
Moscow
Riyadh
Tel Aviv

Please note that within the UK/ROI, our Chauffeur Drive service is only provided in London. For example a customer travelling from Edinburgh to Riyadh would receive Chauffeur Drive in Riyadh only, whereas a customer travelling between London and Riyadh would receive Chauffeur Drive in both London and Riyadh.

Eligible fares
Business Class customers booked in classes C and D on all eligible destinations and customers booked in classes J, A and P on our Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh services are eligible for our complimentary Chauffeur Drive service.

Look out for announcements throughout spring, about additional bmi Chauffeur Drive destinations.

http://www.flybmi.com/trade/en-gb/bo...eur-drive.aspx

[GoldCircle]

Given the current size of the domestic network, plus Dublin, it wouldn't kill them to expand the service, now would it?

Still this simplification is a positive move and a triump of logic over history.

[clubman]

Has anyone used the service yet?

[jbfield]

Originally Posted by bmi

We are pleased to inform you that we have expanded our Chauffeur Drive service, which now includes all customers travelling on J class fares.

This starts on bookings made from 09 June 2009 for flights from 10 June 2009 for Business Class customers booked in classes C, D and now J.

Chauffeur Drive destinations
Our Chauffeur Drive service is available at London Heathrow and the following cities for all departing and arriving customers.

For connection customers through Heathrow the service will only be available for departing/arriving customers at the cities below. For example, customers travelling Dublin- London - Beirut would only be able to take advantage of Chauffeur Drive on arrival and departure from Beirut only.
Aleppo
Amman
Beirut
Cairo
Damascus
Dammam
Jeddah
Kiev
Moscow
Riyadh
Tel Aviv

Now with six additional destinations:
Almaty
Baku
Bishkek
Tbilisi*
Tehran*
Yerevan

Look out for announcements later in June, about additional bmi Chauffeur Drive destinations.

*Car currently to/from London Heathrow only.