Third Class!
 

Well, it has begun. Used automatic check in very early (05:45) this morning en route to BRU on what was a Baby Fare and the first seat available was row 17! As a GC holder I presented myself at the lounge and was given what I considered quite a frosty reception and was pointedly informed that I would gain no points/miles on my fare but if I had purchased a "real" fare would have 200% (?!). She also confirmed that the DC lounge would be closing and we would all be in the business lounge if entitled!
On the flight I found that most of the mid section behind the curtain was empty with the back end, from row 16 back, quite crowded. So giving Tiny fares lowest priority is a fact.
The menu was duly distributed but there were very few takers. So, BMI save money and the CC are not overworked. The usual paninis were served in biz!

Very sorry to hear all this... :(

Thanks for the very early report. ^

I thought free food was going no matter what fare class !

Not in business class on those routes where business class is retained, of which BRU is one.

Andy

Thanks for the report ^ - albeit a very depressing one :td:

Incidentally, were your travelling to BRU on business?

Gawd. This sounds awful. :(

No, I work in Bru and have to pay my own way! As a very frequent user I value the lounge access and hover between gold and silver. It is about the only perk with DC. SN Brussels still award miles and as a member of the FF Programme will look more closely at the fares to T4.

Do you think she was blaming her frustration regarding the changes upon not just the managment but now upon those who purchase the tiny fares too? Someone needs to inform her that it's rather difficult to but a non-tiny reasonably priced fare these days.

Very like SAS or indeed JET domestic where only in C do you get a lifejacket, (In Y you have to grab your seat pad).

I have used SN Brusssels several times this year and they are marvellous

So when was the last time an aircraft landed on water and anybody was saved using life jackets?

And I remember when they were just like any other airline. It shows just how bad things have gotten.

To compare... boarded the BA flight from LHR this morning to Brussels, had nice breakfast in the lounge, was sat in economy Row12 depsite being on a cheapie and enjoyed a hot Ham and Chess roll, orange juice and a cup of tea....

Looks like BA are stepping up the attention right now to try and win over the premium passengers. I try to fly bmi but it is getting more difficult to find the reasons...

Flying back later this week up in bmi business... we'll see how it go's

How cheap was your cheapie, out of interest? I'm guessing the OP's T fare LHR-BRU was about £70 return all in.

I was on BD585 MAN-LHR this morning.

Check-in was quieter than usual, with armed guards ensuring only those with the correct paperwork got access to the check-in desks.

Gold, travelling on a full-fare Y ticket. Thought I'd be nicely up the front. Asked if I wanted window or aisle. "Window please". Allocated 7D.

Lounges unusually empty. New signs displayed (see the drinks thread).

Menus handed out. Not many takers.

The carts started being wheeled, one from each end. (By the way, the curtain had been pushed right to the back).

The crew spent over half the flight serving the people in 1D, E & F. (They appeared to be buying the entire contents of a bento box piecemeal). Meanwhile a woman on my row had thought ahead and was tucking into a picnic hamper. I think she got away with it.

The trolley passed me shortly before the seatbelt signs came on, swiftly followed by an announcement apologising for being unable to serve all passengers due to the short flight.

At least there wasn't much rubbish left for the crew to clear.

All in all - pretty much as feared.

Please forgive the simpleton question, but I've got a War and Peace's worth of UG vouchers to use. Do these work on even baby fares? BRU is one place which is pleasant for a weekend.

Just flown LHR-Dub, business class free food as usual, but economy is paid food, cabin crew certainly did not look too happy,asking passangers for exact money only, not too bothered about loosing food in economy, but not to happy paying Eur 180 qnd not getting points or lounge access.

I think the answer is yes (but not 100%)
If I was you however I would open a separate thread for your questions, you have a better chance of getting some answers....

Yes, but you will be glared at the entire flight and receive a public dressing down from the Captain for failing to "buy a real fare".

Welcome to the dark side
 

It sure has... I've just gone through LHR T1 checkin, and there are currently 3 bmiers stopping anyone from approaching what were the checkin desks until you've used the automatic machines. Along with signs ordering you to checkin at the machines. Cue suitable chaos which I spent a happy 10 minutes watching as one person after another was unhappily twatwaffled though how to check themselves in on a machine - and then taken up to the desk to have their luggage taken. It is the future.

To make it worse, as soon as you get to security - there is STILL that large poster by the X-ray machines advertsing "bmi... for low fares with free food and drink". :rolleyes:

And yet as I said there I was happily watching the chaos... Cos I've swapped to the dark side, and I tell you what, C in BA is the same money as old bmi C, but a much better product! The terraces lounge in T1 is fab - I've spent the half hour going through the wine cellar. And free internet! The future's blue... the future is BA.

And a simple walk around the lounge reveals 3 bmi gold tags, and 2 silver... hardly a good sample, but good enough for me. Sorry bmi, there goes a huge chunk of your revenue... :(

Walking past this morning I saw this in action. Truly pitiful and some dreadful - truly dreadful - service being offered by the ground staff, most along the lines of 'don't do that you idiot' when a 70 year old is trying to use the machine. i was very happy when my colleague arrived and we toddled off.

It is really sad to see what bmi is doing. While in the short term it is good for BA I can see the resulting lack of competition affecting those of us that live primarily on the dark side too - after all what incentive is there for BA to try that hard anymore? A bad day for quality in British aviation. :(

It was about £112 all in so not as cheap as the BD lowest fare but I never book far enough in advance for get the lowest fares (as the OP probably can). I know that when I looked to book my next trip to BRU in 3 weeks time for Mon 9 AM out and Thurs 9 PM back BD were 30 pounds more expensive though could get me into BRU a little earlier and back later. This is just one specific example and not necessarily representive, however if I was flexible and looking for the cheapest option, then this is to book the ticket from SN (Codeshare on BA).