I have had several problems booking with BD, eg, I booked and authorized purchase with AC for a return CDG-LHR flight only to find out later that BD would not confirm the fare and in fact insisted on close to 50% increase.

I smell a rat. I had confirmed with AC and given my cc to purchase ticket for about $225Cdn. Later found out, BD would not confirm and wanted $330Cdn for same bookings, almost 50% more.

I did purchase the tkts and flew on the flights, but again I find BD to be the weak link in the *A system. No upgrades, rude staff, inconsistent answers, long luggage delay (like 50 min at LHR on June 2).

Other *A carriers at least make an effort for AC SEs but not BD. Not one inch. Not even Proirity luggage tags.

I can only hope that Richard Branson does buy them out and make them into Virgins!!!!

There is something fishy about BD tickets -- some of their tickets can only be issued in Europe and what not... I would look into the fare rules carefully.

Really? I sometimes find my bags on the belt before I even get there. But, yes, I would have to agree that they are a weak link. I've had some very pleasant staff at LHR...

Really? They give me priority luggage tags all the time when I show my AC*S card. Of course, when they don't automatically do it, I ask them to and they comply. *shrug*

By the way, did they enter ACP on to your BP or AC*G? They tend to always simply enter ACP for me...

YOWkid, Interesting question (and I too am in YOW), on some of my BD flights this week my AC reference appeared as ACG, on others it was ACP. My number never appeared. On one trip, they put a *A Gold sticker on my boarding pass, but not on the others....not that it meant anything.

At CDG in the BD lounge I asked about an upgrade and the woman looked at the flight and said there was space in J class (or is it C?) and told me to ask at the gate, where I was given the cold shoulder. Two days later at the same lounge, I was told they could not access the records as they were only the lounge staff! Mere bull....all done so politely to put one off.

That is my big beef, all their staff plead ignorance and have well rehearshed lines to put of the FF.

The only good thing I can say about BD is the leg room in Y is not bad, esp if you get the exit row, as is usually the case on all airlines!

The only airport where I have seen my AC number appear is actually on BRU-issued BPs. I've personally never had any stickers on my BPs. Not that I really care. It just annoys me that they don't put *S on my BP when I know it's a full flight.

I think the reason why there are so many discrepencies in the BD system outside the UK is because they don't do all the handling themselves. It is outsourced at CDG, for example. I believe that at AMS, they don't have any gate agents -- but rather they are "*A agents". From the few places I have flown with BD, only BRU is handled entirely by BD agents.

(If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me...)

Well, legroom on the 100s is a real b!tch. It makes the CRJs look good!

Can't agree, I found the legroom on the BD F100 to be quite good, mind you I was in an exit row.

However back to the main point, how can BD get away with revising a fare when I had confirmed it and given my cc to purchase it. As far as I was concerned it was a done deal, only to find out later they wanted considerably more bucks!

I am left with a taste of a rat, and that rat is British Midlands. Let them be sold off to Branson and let him make them Virgins!

Didn't our beloved Empress have a similar problem with Detestina?

No, they honored the fare but refused to honor the rules. I haven't bought a single ticket from them since and don't plan to. I also made sure Destina is not one of my recommended options whenever people ask me what's the best way to buy a ticket.

That's impossible... There are no virgins in the Midlands...

What fare basis was the ticket and where was it issued? In Canada?

Call BD in the US and complain to them. The folks at Donnington Castle may never respond to you (out of the five e-mails [[email protected]] I've sent them, only one has ever been responded to...): 1.800.788.0555. Then again, the customer service at the US call centre is a bit shoddy too and it may be better to call the folks in EMA directly (011 44 870 60 70 555 ). *shrug*

I have called BD directly in the US a couple of times, to correct Destina mistakes no less, and found them to be exemplary in all their actions. Their ground service in the UK does leave something to be desired.

Loved the agent in MAN last fall telling me I couldn't stand by for an earlier flight because it was an AC code share and "they don't pay us enough to give you service". So I drank the next 2 hrs in the lounge

Well, should be a fun experience, then, when I fly through MAN later this month!

But, I've seen some pretty cute agents at LHR, so I'll cut those ones some slack.

[This message has been edited by YOWkid (edited 06-07-2003).]