When I was on the Phone with the ICC it was 64hrs before the flight I wanted and to be honest I have never tried to ask for this benefit to be exercised outside the 48hrs but if I did and it was denied then I would accept that fully. In my book, if you publish a benefit and the customer meets the stated terms of the benefit then its very simple (unless of course you are working in the ICC).

BTW: The main thrust of the reason they said they could not do this was that I had booked via a travel agent and not direct with BMI. The ICC stated that if I cancelled my full ticket with my agent and then booked a full fare direct with BMI they could meet their obligations no problem.

I will be bringing this and other issues up with the BMI sales manager for NI (Brenda) if I can ever manage to get hold of her, including why, almost 3 months after my membership year expired, I still don't have a new card despite verbal and written assurances that a new one is on the way.