Is leaving DC really viable?
 

Hi there,

I note some people are talking about moving over to other programmes, such as LH M&M. I might be missing something here but I tried to work out if this would be viable for me.

Assuming the M&M table is going to stand I came up with this based on the booking classes and routes I usually travel (and I rounded to nearest easy numbers!)

LHR-EDI DC 300/600 M&M 500 (flying BD)
LHR-BRU DC 400/800 M&M 750 (flying BD)
LHR-VIE DC 800 M&M 750 (flying OS)
LHR-SFO DC 10000 M&M 10000 (odd 15000) (flying UA)
LHR-BOS DC 6500 M&M 0 (direct VS flight)

plus DC 25% bonus.

"raw mileage" wise there is not much in it (except for BOS)

I would need 50K to get to M&M FTL and then I get 25% bonus which means another 40K to get to Senator and Star gold (100K needed for UK residents)

At least for me (about 60K pa) there is no way I will make Senator so I can't move there - I am kind of trapped with DC :( Not that I will keep flying DB when there is a Star alternative :)

Am I missing something? Any suggestions/pointers as to other alternatives? Should I just see DC as a mileage bank account seperate from BD?

I treat DC as a mileage bank account separate from BD, just like you suggest. I am Gold on BD, having switched over from LH, as the 100K mark is hard to hit, with their new minimum mileage levels. Rarely does my travel take me on BD metal, it is the program that works for me.

A low *G level, lounge access in North America, decent minimum mileage levels on *A partners, reasonable award redemption levels and the cash + miles option. To me there is no better program, despite the changes. YMMV.

I agree - though the level of service and availability of awards need to be monitored as the modularisation progresses.

In the UK you need only 35k for FTL status.

M&M doesn't 25% bonus when flying on BD.

Correct. I was making a rather different point though. ;)

M&M not giving 25% for BD flights is not so hot. Do they give 25% on UA? I take it they do for OS.

AJLondon, sorry think I answered the right question with the wrong qoute.

747Sardine: I will put on my best anorak!

you get 25% bonus on AC, JP, LH, LO, LX, OS, OU, UA & US

The 100k for SEN is more achieveable than it seems as only need once every second calendar year.

This summarises my position exactly.

Top level BD FF, yet destined never to set foot on another BD plane ever again (thanks to the changes).

And this is the chance I've been waiting for to jump in and finally offer my condolences to, well, most of you.

Having chosen *A for my own Long Haul trips I've been swayed into booking BMI for a good deal of my European trips. On each of these I've paid more than I usually would and have to admit to succumbing to miles greed - I'd become well and truly hooked on earning them. And now the revery has ended, the needle is being pulled out, and cold turkey sets in. There is no need for me to continue - LHR isn't the most convenient airport, the flight times (esp to ALC) don't always suit me... what was I thinking? Back to Ryanair & Easyjet for me.

Which brings me to why I'm really writing - that I get rewarded more for my non-BMI *A trips than you poor suckers who are flying BMI regularly seems dreadful. I feel a bit embarrassed to express myself in this forum now.
The only way I'll feel 'part of BMI' again with all these changes will be if they do get that LHR-NRT route.

Don't hesitate one bit! We're quite a shameless bunch here you know. ;)