Cairo
 

Ok, elementary questions here.

Off to Cairo in a few weeks. Am I right in thinking that the plane is laid out like the Moscow ones, and service is pretty similar? Is there a decent lounge at CAI, and is it accessible to BD silvers/Amex platinums (platina?), in particular if they are on the Egyptair codeshare? And finally, any idea what the chances are of using a GUV are?

If anyone has any first hand experience, do tell. If not, I shall try to offer a brief account when I get back.

Haven't actually flown BMI LHR-CAI before, but the flight goes to Terminal 1 which handles most of the flights at CAI. The flight codeshares with MS (Egypt Air) so if you're a business class pax you might gain access to a lounge. However, the lounges aren't impressive and are usually quiet sitting rooms with a few newspapers.
What's a GUV?

Gold Upgrade Voucher

A320 Heathrow to Cairo - small seat pitch?
 

travelling LHR-CAI in Business class and been told that we cannot have row 1 as its for infants only and we have been allocated seats 2A and 2C. I notice that there is only a rather small 41" pitch in Business.

Is this going to be enough for 2 x 6'3" travellers for 5 hours? Had been expecting an A330 to be honest like the Egyptair code share models but we are booked on bmi aircraft hence the A320.

Have never flown bmi Business - is it good or bad?

thanks for any input everyone.

Oh that.....
Well then chances of redeeming a GUV are very slim.

41" seems rather generous. If you compare it to e.g. BA Club Europe with 34", or even BA long-haul premium economy with 38". I'm 6"3 and would be absolutely fine with even a 38" seat pitch for a 5 hour flight.

thanks
 

thank you frankvb. I am more used to Singapore Raffles (old style) with 50"+ so was just a little concerned about the 41" as it doesn't look much on a measuring tape !

I was told that it would be an A330 when I made the reservation some months ago and that has much better seat pitch than the A320. I also find the single aisles claustrophobic.

Now that I have been told it is an A320 I am rather disappointed and as the two seats are using redemption miles+cash I am not sure if I can have them changed to the Egyptair flight later in the day on an A330.

I look forward to the report from the other poster using the LHR-CAI route.

Gordie

Cairo
 

Avenarius - spoke to bmi.

The A320 on the LHR-CAI route is arranged as 20 business and 108 economy. It was removed from service recently to be fitted with the same business seats that were used in the Moscow route.

I hope that is the truth and I look forward to reading your report when you come back.

Gordie

Yes, compared to SQ business class even on short trips as BKK-SIN which I did in the summer, 41" seems a bit limited... But for European business class it is not bad at all (though UK-Egypt is just about on the threshold between short and long-haul).

AFAIK Egyptair is not in *A, nor a bmi partner (unless this has changed very recently). So even if bmi has a codeshare you won't be able to use bmi miles for them.

Two threads merged into one for your heightened browsing pleasure.

Egyptair
 

Egyptair joined *A and are now code sharing with bmi on LHR - CAI route.

Gordie

Not yet they haven't. They were invited to join in October 2007 but full membership will take about 18 months to achieve, so although they are codesharing it may not be the case that you will be able to earn and redeem on them just yet.

Please do report back - I am thinking of a redemption booking to treat Mrs bmi Gold if she passes an upcoming exam. Would love to hear a trip report about what the plane and service are like.

GUVs not relevant to me now though as have lost status to BD*S since arrival of the kids...

Thanks.

bmi Gold (as was!)

So this means the configuration on G-MIDY is different than on G-MIDO (24 C & 102 Y), or have they reconfigured G-MIDO to 20 C & 108 Y as well?

Based on what evidence?