Which FF program to replace DC for you?
Feb 8, 2012 | 12:57 pm
#241
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 2,748
They do accept that the loss of bmi greatly dents Star Alliance's value proposition.
Feb 8, 2012 | 2:51 pm
#242
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Regional Vic, Australia
Programs: BAEC Gold, UA*G, former BD*LG :-(
Posts: 250
The general rule with UA and upgrades appears to be: do your research and pick your routing and timing carefully and you can do well.
Feb 10, 2012 | 11:07 am
#243
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: Hyatt: Plat, HH: Dia, Spg: Au, VS: Red, Accor: Plat, BAEC: Ag, Nordic Choice: Au
Posts: 198
At the business travel show, representatives from Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa seemed to have little idea about next steps.
The Lufthansa rep was confident that Star Alliance would somehow address the hole that bmi leaves.
The Turkish rep said that her manager has been told to use his miles quickly.
The Lufthansa rep was confident that Star Alliance would somehow address the hole that bmi leaves.
The Turkish rep said that her manager has been told to use his miles quickly.
I'm just hoping *A will offer some kind of tradein on BMI DC miles, there is no way I can use all mine by March. If I could trade them for SK Eurobonus that would be a reasonable option for me since I'm doing LHR<->ARN every couple of weeks for the foreseeable future.
Feb 10, 2012 | 11:48 am
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
The only exceptions might be flights where there is a hard block i.e. some AF flights HEL-CDG that are operated by AY. AF has a had block for certain number of seats that they treat as their own.
Feb 10, 2012 | 12:06 pm
#245
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: Hyatt: Plat, HH: Dia, Spg: Au, VS: Red, Accor: Plat, BAEC: Ag, Nordic Choice: Au
Posts: 198
I have trouble following what you are saying. You cannot book awards on "codeshare" flights. Either the operating carrier has made seats available on the redemption bucket or not.
The only exceptions might be flights where there is a hard block i.e. some AF flights HEL-CDG that are operated by AY. AF has a had block for certain number of seats that they treat as their own.
The only exceptions might be flights where there is a hard block i.e. some AF flights HEL-CDG that are operated by AY. AF has a had block for certain number of seats that they treat as their own.
Feb 11, 2012 | 7:45 am
#246
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA, TG, HH
Posts: 12
Now that it seems that we really are facing the closing stages of Diamond Club, might it be a good idea to have a dedicated thread where people can discuss what options might be best for them?
As there are many of us with different circumstances (number of miles, how we could earn miles - flying or otherwise, base location, flying patterns, whether status/redemption possibilities are priority), if more people can add data and discussion points (and, perhaps, links to key threads on other subforums that others may not be as familiar with) this could build up to a useful resource in its own right (and not be buried in other discussions!)
So here's my situation:
Winding up DC:
I'm sitting on about 130k miles, which could be burned for 3 TATL trips for Mum to visit in the next year in C using C&M (that, with the return OW I still need to book for her upcoming trip, should clean us out if need be).
Initial speculation re. BAEC:
The family account option is attractive, but C&M has been our favoured burn route for seats in C.
C&M doesn't seem to be anything as good an option with BA, but it's still there - but I gather MFU is the thing to aim for with BA?
Flying habits and other earning potential:
Relatively modest compared to others on here, I'm sure
We're based between YYZ/BUF.
Mrs Sofasurfer usually has 2x intl work trips each year (Paris and China confirmed for 2012)
Annual family trips include 2-3 in North America (usually Florida for in-laws, indirect flights ex-BUF have been a great earner for us!) and at least 1 TATL.
I think there's a BA credit card in Canada and transfer options with RBC and Amex points, so scope there to top up.
Redemption or status?
Redemptions in C (using C&M) were our preferred habit in DC.
We don't fly enough for status (I dropped back to Blue, Mrs Sofasurfer is Silver (Little Miss Sofasurfer will hit silver if we do one more flight before DC ends!) so the family has possible status matches to BA that might be useful.
Other thoughts:
Living in Canada, Aeroplan is the immediate choice for *A - but none of us are likely to hit status (but A3 is the no-brainer - *S has value in NA in terms of avoiding bag fees, at least).
Thinking of Alaskan for non-*A miles earn/burn (to at least consolidate non-*A flying, as AS seem to have arrangements with OW and ST members , in spite of not being part of an alliance themselves). Don't think they have family membership, though.
LMS is 5 years old, has a M&M JetFriends account (before family accounts existed in DC) with about 8k and I don't think these miles start to expire until she hits 18. Not sure which other FF programs are particularly child/family-friendly?
As there are many of us with different circumstances (number of miles, how we could earn miles - flying or otherwise, base location, flying patterns, whether status/redemption possibilities are priority), if more people can add data and discussion points (and, perhaps, links to key threads on other subforums that others may not be as familiar with) this could build up to a useful resource in its own right (and not be buried in other discussions!)
So here's my situation:
Winding up DC:
I'm sitting on about 130k miles, which could be burned for 3 TATL trips for Mum to visit in the next year in C using C&M (that, with the return OW I still need to book for her upcoming trip, should clean us out if need be).
Initial speculation re. BAEC:
The family account option is attractive, but C&M has been our favoured burn route for seats in C.
C&M doesn't seem to be anything as good an option with BA, but it's still there - but I gather MFU is the thing to aim for with BA?
Flying habits and other earning potential:
Relatively modest compared to others on here, I'm sure
We're based between YYZ/BUF.
Mrs Sofasurfer usually has 2x intl work trips each year (Paris and China confirmed for 2012)
Annual family trips include 2-3 in North America (usually Florida for in-laws, indirect flights ex-BUF have been a great earner for us!) and at least 1 TATL.
I think there's a BA credit card in Canada and transfer options with RBC and Amex points, so scope there to top up.
Redemption or status?
Redemptions in C (using C&M) were our preferred habit in DC.
We don't fly enough for status (I dropped back to Blue, Mrs Sofasurfer is Silver (Little Miss Sofasurfer will hit silver if we do one more flight before DC ends!) so the family has possible status matches to BA that might be useful.
Other thoughts:
Living in Canada, Aeroplan is the immediate choice for *A - but none of us are likely to hit status (but A3 is the no-brainer - *S has value in NA in terms of avoiding bag fees, at least).
Thinking of Alaskan for non-*A miles earn/burn (to at least consolidate non-*A flying, as AS seem to have arrangements with OW and ST members , in spite of not being part of an alliance themselves). Don't think they have family membership, though.
LMS is 5 years old, has a M&M JetFriends account (before family accounts existed in DC) with about 8k and I don't think these miles start to expire until she hits 18. Not sure which other FF programs are particularly child/family-friendly?
I do most of my flying to the Far East and so am tempted to move to TG or Asiana so as to remain in the *A.
Are there better alternatives? When are we likely to know where we stand on BD miles and status?
Feb 11, 2012 | 1:52 pm
#247
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 160
Presumably LH could offer comp gold - it will only be an issue if people fly star and wouldn't star (if not lh) rather people fly star than not? wouldn't it be worth getting them to try to stay with star...and if they don't they could be given gold.....or diamond studded platinum and it would cost LH absolutely nothing?
Feb 11, 2012 | 2:18 pm
#248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Don't shoot the messenger please - I was clearly told that I cannot now use VS miles to book a flight operated by SK, regardless of whether it appears as a BMI flight number via codeshare - whereas previously I could. Maybe the rep read it wrong - but that's what was said to me.
SK (Scandinavian) is a VS redemption partner. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us...anairlines.jsp
There are number of tools that you can use to check SK award inventory - X for economy and I for business.
Feb 13, 2012 | 5:29 am
#249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,859
It seemed more of a general vague comment. If Star Alliance do know what's going on they haven't communicated that to the front line. Ways to fill bmi's hole included: a side agreement with bmi to keep the feeder, increasing flights to the UK, looking at new alliance partners in the UK (well, there's only VS).
They do accept that the loss of bmi greatly dents Star Alliance's value proposition.
They do accept that the loss of bmi greatly dents Star Alliance's value proposition.
I really fail to see how the loss of BD "greatly dents" *A value in the eyes of other *A airlines. Admittedly, they wil lose some market share in the UK but, let us face it, given bmi's performance and the unsuitability of its network for many of its former customers, it was a dwindling share anyway.
Feb 13, 2012 | 12:39 pm
#250
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
It seemed more of a general vague comment. If Star Alliance do know what's going on they haven't communicated that to the front line. Ways to fill bmi's hole included: a side agreement with bmi to keep the feeder, increasing flights to the UK, looking at new alliance partners in the UK (well, there's only VS).
They do accept that the loss of bmi greatly dents Star Alliance's value proposition.
They do accept that the loss of bmi greatly dents Star Alliance's value proposition.
London whilst one of the prime destinations in the world is also becoming a lower yield destination simply due to the competition that now exists in the market. BD did not appear to offer anything that you could not get with another carrier instead.
I've enjoyed some of the BD staff over the years (lounge girls especially), loved the FF programme, but at the end of the day, BD is a shadow of it's former self and has become increasingly irrelevant in today's market. As much as the mid-haul strategy could have worked had this been a different point in time, it sadly did not partly due to troubles in the oil rich world.
Last edited by Traveloguy; Feb 13, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Feb 13, 2012 | 12:59 pm
#251
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: United 1K, Alaska MVP 75K, HH Diamond
Posts: 718
^
I think fudamentally its demise has been compounded by such things as BMI's flight times being messed about, routes cut and routes added to places most people dont routinely go to and the ryanair-isation. As someone who loved the FFP, the lounges and the staff, the airline itself I was beginning to fly less and less on BMI metal so much so that had I elected to credit to DC I would have earned another years Gold without even setting foot on a single bmi plane. BMI will leave a void to some of the feeder traffic into LHR but apart from that I cant see how *A would be at a loss as carriers like UA (ex CO) offer connections from most of the regions through EWR as do LH from the regions though their German hubs.
What exactly did BD offer *A towards the end? I'm sorry but as someone who actually flew BD metal regularly up until last year, I'm now of the opinion that towards the end there has been very little value it offered to the alliance as a whole.
London whilst one of the prime destinations in the world is also becoming a lower yield destination simply due to the competition that now exists in the market. BD did not appear to offer anything that you could not get with another carrier instead.
I've enjoyed some of the BD staff over the years (lounge girls especially), loved the FF programme, but at the end of the day, BD is a shadow of it's former self and has become increasingly irrelevant in today's market. As much of the mid-haul strategy could have worked had this been a different point in time, it sadly did not partly due to troubles in the oil rich world.
London whilst one of the prime destinations in the world is also becoming a lower yield destination simply due to the competition that now exists in the market. BD did not appear to offer anything that you could not get with another carrier instead.
I've enjoyed some of the BD staff over the years (lounge girls especially), loved the FF programme, but at the end of the day, BD is a shadow of it's former self and has become increasingly irrelevant in today's market. As much of the mid-haul strategy could have worked had this been a different point in time, it sadly did not partly due to troubles in the oil rich world.
Feb 13, 2012 | 1:10 pm
#252
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: Hyatt: Plat, HH: Dia, Spg: Au, VS: Red, Accor: Plat, BAEC: Ag, Nordic Choice: Au
Posts: 198
Sorry, but I still don't understand what BMI has to do with redeeming VS miles on SK.
SK (Scandinavian) is a VS redemption partner. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us...anairlines.jsp
There are number of tools that you can use to check SK award inventory - X for economy and I for business.
SK (Scandinavian) is a VS redemption partner. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us...anairlines.jsp
There are number of tools that you can use to check SK award inventory - X for economy and I for business.
So please pray tell, from the link above, where is the "Spend Miles" option for SK?
I think you will find that SK are no longer regarded a VS redemption partner, though they are still an earning partner. BMI remain a redemption partner, and operate codeshare flights with SK. But you cannot book any of them with VS points. Or so I was told!
Here is the link which illustrates this: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...rlines/bmi.jsp
Does this clarify my point?
Feb 13, 2012 | 1:52 pm
#253
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
The question still stands, what an earth does it that have to do with bmi? 
Your question is about SAS and about Virgin...
A codeshare flight operated by SAS but with a bmi flight number is still a SAS flight.
The page you mention links to another one:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...&bfSubmit1.x=8
where it says
and this would indicate the reverse is also true.
You're complain is not with bmi, it's with SAS or/and Virgin.
Your question is about SAS and about Virgin...
A codeshare flight operated by SAS but with a bmi flight number is still a SAS flight.
The page you mention links to another one:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...&bfSubmit1.x=8
where it says
The Mileage credit is not available on flights offered by SAS but operated by another airline.
You're complain is not with bmi, it's with SAS or/and Virgin.
Last edited by jbfield; Feb 13, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Feb 13, 2012 | 2:19 pm
#254
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
Out of all my leisure travel over the last 8 years, it's bmi that made me book over 90% of the flights on *alliance airlines. I may not have always connected with a bmi flight (although sometimes I did), they're the ones that brought the *A airlines revenue.
Feb 14, 2012 | 4:05 am
#255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,847