Well I don't know what good this will do (although I feel
much better for writing this) - I've sent the following to our corporate travel department. Let's see if anyone from British Midland responds:
Dear Corporate Travel Department:
Thank you for your understanding on the phone this afternoon.
I would be pleased if you would pass on the following feedback to your
contact at bmi, and, request a response to be sent to me.
I have been a loyal British Midland (what does bmi stand for?) customer for
many years. Coming from Loughborough I had several friends who worked for
BMA at Castle Donnington - my first ever flight in 1968 was with British
Midland from EMA to GLA with my best friends father (a pilot with BMA)
flying the plane! (a BAC 1-11 I recall).
I fly regularly though infrequently with British Midland (every three months
or so) usually on the LBA to LHR route for both pleasure and business, and
hold silver status with Diamond Club (6xxxxxx).
I would like to compare and contrast two recent flights with British
Midland - pre and post the introduction of their new 'modular' service:
Pre-Modular:
LBA-LHR-LBA
25th July 2005
Business Class Flexible £329
Business Class (wider) seating
On-board newspaper
On-board cocktail (2 x G&T's)
On-board meal
On-board tea and coffee
Happy, smiling on-board service
Dedicated Business Class service personnel
Post-Modular
LBA-LHR-LBA
19th September 2005
Economy Class Flexible £319
NO business class available on this route
NO newspaper
NO free alcoholic drink
NO free meal or snack
NO free tea, coffee (or even water!)
Grumpy staff selling food & drink from a cart
Quite a contrast - similar to Ryanair or Easyjet on-board service yet the
fare remains the same (I assume the £10 difference is because the 'economy'
service attracts a lower Government tax).
Please ask your British Midland contact how such a reduction in service can
be justified yet the price remains the same?
Why should I continue to patronise bmi from Leeds Bradford rather than
driving an extra 10 minutes down the road to Manchester to use the services
of British Airways who still give free food, drink and full service even in
*economy* class?
I look forward to receiving your and British Midland's response.
Yorkshire Traveller