BD Charter flights
 

Does anyone know about BD Charter flights?

We've just booked a ski holiday (dead cheap!) and it includes return BD flights LHR to Geneva on Sundays. I don't have the flight number but the reservations girl for the ski company said it was British Midland charter flight, the numbers were something like BD7xxx (might have been BD70xx)

Anyone know about these - will I get miles and more importantly do I get an extra 20KG luggage allowance (I'm hoping to buy new skis and don't want to dump my old ones in France)

BD have operated charters for many years. It seems to be a significant part of their business. The answer to your questions are No. You get no points, miles or extra allowances. I'm 99% certain you don't even get access to the lounge if on a BD charter.

a quick post trip update.

I didn't get any points but they did cut me some slack on luggage. I was about 15 kilos over but they check-in girl spotted the DC tag and said that was OK.

On the way back they never even weighed my skis!

No lounge access with Amex Platinum. They said no charters. I'll check my Amex literature when I get home as I don't recall IT specifying anything. Had to pay £15 for my partner's guest access into Servisair (priorty pass)

Service on BD charter very good. I'd say equiv to BD scheduled. Nice planes, friendly staff.

Hundreds of screaming kids though http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Interestingly, in the SwissAir lounge (p pass again and a VERY nice lounge) in Geneva on the way home, there was an official looking BD chap being shown about. He was also on the plane home. At one point he went down the aisle with his digital camera at stomach height recording each row as we ate. Wonder what all that was about?

Mathew, I have received points for a charter flight in the past (admittedly 3 or 4 years ago)
I checked the latest "membership benefits" guide.."you earn points on the majority of fares when flying on a bmi British Midland scheduled service, even fully inclusive tour operator fares..."
So, I guess you get points if your tour operator puts you on a scheduled flight, rather than a chartered plane.