BD product verse UN on LHR-DME vv
 

Listed differences between BD and UN according to flybmi.com

(Rearranged layout slightly for easier comparison).
http://www.bmipromotions.com/moscow/about.asp
NB: This link directs to a page intended for Travel Agents. You will not be able to register or play the game if you're not a travel agent!

my first LHR-DME today. Used upgrade vouchers for both myself and my travel companion (even though she was on a UN ticket).

Seats up the front are very comfortable - puts BA to shame for sure. The business cabin was only half full. Food/service excellent. Personal DVD players if you wanted them.

Downside from BA is no e-tickets, no booking online ex-DME, no OLCI and no zone R - but the seats and the ability to use upgrade vouchers certainly outweigh all of those for me.

Hmmm...may need to do a status match next time I need to go to DME.

no problem using an upgrade voucher ex-DME yesterday and another very good flight.

I was surprised though - and I would think BD would be concerned - to see only 10 people in J (capacity 24) and the Y cabin maybe 2/3rds full. It's early days on the route, but 5pm Friday is the real moneyspinner for BA - the 873 generally has 20-25 rows of J, with a few Y,B.H stuck down the back. If BD can't sell 24 J seats on a Friday afternoon ex-DME, then they never will.

It may be a poor load, but at $2,000+ each, how many J seats do they really need to sell to make the route economically viable?

A friend flew DME-LHR this week in economy and was favorably impressed compared to both BA and SU.

well I paid £200 for my ticket and I don't know how many other people were using vouchers.

I would say give it time. I've already seen threads on the BA board praising the BD service (when does that ever happen!) and I think as word gets out and BD can prove they can operate a reliable schedule they will attract more biz traffic for sure. I think in the end this will end up being a great route for BD.

I have to agree with this. Now that Moscow is in its ascendancy this market is going to become more and more important for all carriers, especially BD and BA as there are strong historical links between Moscow and London.

quick question : does the dedicated A320 with the enhanced business cabin just fly a daily Moscow rotation, or is it scheduled to operate other sectors at the beginning and end of the day ?

Good question ^

It does the late LHR-CDG rotation, which is an all-economy route :D I suppose that means you could buy a one-way for £48 all-in and end up travelling in the new C seat?

must take the award for "world's best economy-class seat". ^
With the changes to the schedules to keep the Mumbai slot, the late Paris currently stays at CDG overnight....so I presume the rotations are changed should overnight maintenance be required at Heathrow

Ah, good point. The information I had predated the collapse of the Mumbai route and subsequent slot rejigging. It was certainly planned to operate a CDG rotation, but I can't imagine bmi would want the a/c nightstopping in CDG. Perhaps a change of plan.

Either way, somebody flying somewhere gets a very good seat for very little money ^

Wouldn't bmi just save those nice C seats for people paying "premium economy" fares, sticking the tiny lot as far back as possible?

Arguably, yes. But this is bmi ;)

7 in J on today's BD 891. The check in person at LHR told me he had to get authorisation for my gold upgrade voucher. Don't know why, but after disappearing off for a few minutes he came back and duly printed the J BP.

Another good on-time flight. Sticky Toffee pudding was excellent :)