Guys

A new boy on the block is looking for a way to get up the FFP ladder. I am presently enroled in AC's aeroplan program and have only taken a few flights with them so no status yet.

However I will start weekly commuting from EDI to LHR on a regular basis soon so I wanted some advice on whether to change to BMi's FFP. As AC run a calendar year, I can't see that I will get to 50 flights by the end of this calendar year (the requirement for Gold and therefore BMi Lounge access). Therefore, staying with AC, it is going to be late next year before I get any lounge access.

The alternative is to use BMi FFP and accrue the status miles. The problem here is I will be travelling on discounted Y fares and so only get 300 Miles a go. That also means I will take almost as long as the AC route to get to BMi Silver (and the lounge access I crave!!). Whilst I would defintely get there quicker as BMi base their accruals on the date when I start collecting the miles, I will only get *Silver.

So my question is - Are there any ways out there to get to BMi Silver status more quickly than simply piling on the miles in the normal way?

Otherwise I think I will go through AC Aeroplan and get to *Gold by taking 50 Flights rather than getting to 16k using BMi as at least I will get to *Gold and that would take only a few months longer than going the BMi route.

Of course, if there is a quick route to get to BMi Silver, then that would defintely get my vote as it is the lounge access that I am after on the weekly commute.

Unfortunately I have nothing to comp and I suppose the stack of hotel points and status I have will be no use. So are there other ways to get to that first rung quickly?

Thanks for the help in advance

Slimey

Wow, bmi mercury level

There has been a status match promotion running on the Irish website (but confusingly open to all) for a while, but this has recently ended. However, if you do have status elsewhere (not necessarily Star Alliance), they may well be sympathetic to a status match request. Mind you, your post implies this is not the case...

Your only other options, then, are a mileage run (see the mileage run forum), or toughing it out...

Depending on how much you want this you can do a quick return on Emirates to Aukland which should get you a silver card (in Y) and then status match. I have BMI silver via this route. Cost me �700 in the summer but I'm sure you can get to AKL for less right now.

roger

A LON-LAX rtn in Y on UA will net you not far from 11000. Not quite silver, but close enough to make reaching Silver much faster. It is usually best to do that in winter as flighs between Europe and the US are then dirt cheap, but I am sure that you can probably find a reasonably priced one even in summer. Throw in a few extra legs (doing a mini-run on UA or US) and route via SFO if going to LAX or LAX if going to SFO and you will be almost there. The great advantage of UA or US is that you get 100% mileage even on cheap fares.

why don't you just buy a priority pass or Qantas Club (BA lounge access)- or, if you are really desperate, Servisair- membership instead of worrying about how to earn the dwindling benefits of BD silver?

There is no PP lounge in LHR T1 Domestic.

I think that it is slighty unfair to suggest that the benefits of BD silver are "dwindling" by the way -- seems to me that they're not changing at all. Gold card members may lose the voucher upgrades (or, indeed, they may be improved), but I don't see any other major changes to the diamond club package.

ETA: On the other hand, if the OP flies BA instead, Qantas Club membership would be a great substitute.

http://www.executivelounges.com/apply.asp Don't know what the current price is of a PP, but I'm sure it's much more than the c�250 annual charge for a Servisair Lounge pass which also allows a guest. Remember also that most of the PP lounges in the UK ARE Servisair lounges - so not so much desperate as sensible see www.executivelounges.co.uk

This site needs a username/password...

I wouldn't be so sure:

Servisair: �250
Priority Pass (Prestige): �259

your mail doesn't say where you're based, whether Edi or LHR. right... options:

1. take out Amex Platinum. cost is an annual sub �230 but for that, you get BD lounge access, servisair lounge access (via Priority Pass) and annual travel insurance for travel outside the uk. works a treat.

2. post your own itins on the flyer talk forum under "itinaries" and tell us when you're in Edi or Lhr and if other flyer talks are around, we could take you in with us as a guest. happy to invite you, myself, if our trips co-incide.

3. take a mileage run. lot of hassle, in my opinion, plus the wife and kids would moan (a lot) if i disappeared simply to get status on an airline!

4. time your airport arrivals such that you have no time to access the lounge. use the cash saved rom not having to biuy lounge access to go to the local off licence to stock up on miniatures which you then scoff at your leisure.

hope this helps... welcome to flyer talk, by the way!
Gordon

I think the correct url is www.executivelounges.com

Erm, if your willing to pay in advance and seeing as your going to be regularly flying the same route, you can buy a book of BMI commuter tickets. These give you instant silver and instant lounge access. BMI call it "Routepass".

You have to buy them in full economy or business class though and you do get the option of changing your route later if you need to. The minimum number of flights you can book are 10 but you have to book each as a one-way. Since it's route specific I am going to assume this means a book of tickets will get you 5 return flights on your route, but you'd best check this with BMI first.

Price is meant to be a saving on the usual full-fare economy prices, but then will still more expensive then cheapest of cheap.
Note that the page witht he information goes on to mention 8000 miles but this is for the *company* routepass rather than the individual.

Full information is at:
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/plan...routepass.aspx

Although the SG pass includes a free guest