Really? I'd be delighted to hear an Irish voice at the end of the line but I haven't heard one in at last four years. Not one. I must call more often

Is is true that call centre work is awful, which is why many of us make a genuine effort to be nice to those who go out of their way to help. I believe bmi's new call centre is operated by Ventura at Manvers, South Yorkshire, which handles loads of other contracts including Next. Trust me, Manvers was a living monument to Britain's industrial decline even before the call centres arrived. So don't be surprised if, when you next try telephone check-in, some grumpy bloke with lung disease tries to sell you polyester boxer shorts by mistake...