Only had luck with BMI once but it was great. Had a US Air First Class award with Swiss that was an open jaw - outbound to Venice and home from Athens.

Wanted to stop in Zurich for a few days but US Air did not allow an open jaw AND a stopover. So I made Zurich the open jaw figuring I could pay to fly from Athens to Zurich.

One way fare was over $900. Discount round-trip (I would throw away the return ticket) was about $450 each (me and my wife). US Air only had RT awards. BMI was the obvious solution - one-way awards and intra-European were dirt cheap.

There were no economy seats available but there were two Business Class. They cost 9,000 each or 18,000 total. Then I freaked upon finding out that no one transfers to them, but it got better when I found they sell miles. BMI was having a sale giving a 20% bonus. Paid about $200 for the 15,000 miles rather than $900 for two RT tickets.

Other than things like that, BMI is pretty useless for most of us.