bmi reducing flights between Dublin and Heathrow

BuffyBot

From http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0113/1224262208576.html

From March 28th, BMI will fly four times a day from Dublin to Heathrow, as opposed to the six a day it currently operates.

This will result in the removal by BMI of an Airbus A320 aircraft based in Dublin, with the airline using a plane located at Heathrow to service the route.

Suspect this may be the beginning of the end for this route

Fratton Fred

BuffyBot wrote: »

From http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0113/1224262208576.html



Suspect this may be the beginning of the end for this route

I really really hope not. BMI are the best airline between London and Dublin by a country mile. If EI are the only airline on this route prices will go through the roof.

They have been reducing capacity lately by using only A319s and they have already cut one flight. I wonder if this has anything to do with Continental code sharing with EI, I would have though Star Alliance partners would stick together.

Enigma'

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I really really hope not. BMI are the best airline between London and Dublin by a country mile.

Nonsense. Aer Lingus are cheaper more often than not and offer a much better choice of flights to/from LHR. Up to 13 daily. Both carriers offer a buy-on-board product in Economy.

The BMI Business class product is sh1te and overpriced.

BMI make a lot of noise about their "no checked luggage fees", but lets face it, it's not many people who need or even want to check in luggage for a short flight to London anymore. Could you explain how BMI are the best airline between London and Dublin by a "country mile".

Fratton Fred

Better legroom, easier check, friendlier staff, better loyalty programme, flexibility to decide if you want to check a bag in or not, usually cheaper than aer lingus, from recent events, less likely to cancel a flight and much better to deal with when they do, lounges far more accessible to people than EI, better food on board (with the exception of the EI breakfast) and free snack deal for regulare flyers.

Other than that, nothing to choose between them.

Aer Lingus are a budget airline with pre booked seating tbh.

BuffyBot

They have been reducing capacity lately by using only A319s and they have already cut one flight. I wonder if this has anything to do with Continental code sharing with EI, I would have though Star Alliance partners would stick together.

You mean United? Probably, as UA previously would have had given them some feeder traffic, but I doubt that's the be all and end all. The product has degenerated over time, and more most travellers the difference between bmi and Aer Lingus has dimimished quite considerably. Even including a baggage fee, for most of my recnt trips EI has come out quite considerably cheaper. For a one hour shuttle, the difference just isn't justifiable.

bmi's crazy pricing strategy hasn't helped either - their revenue management department must have been eating some of the out of date food they once served me. Prices seemed to swing wildly from day to day with no pattern discernable.

Enigma'

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Better legroom, easier check, friendlier staff, better loyalty programme, flexibility to decide if you want to check a bag in or not, usually cheaper than aer lingus, from recent events, less likely to cancel a flight and much better to deal with when they do, lounges far more accessible to people than EI, better food on board (with the exception of the EI breakfast) and free snack deal for regulare flyers.

Legroom - difference is negligible. EI legroom is more than adequate on a short flight to London.

Easier check-in - not sure what you mean here. Both carriers offer OLCI and airport kiosks.

Friendlier staff - cabin crew on both airlines are usually excellent.

FFP - I agree here, Diamond Club is a pretty decent FFP. Gold Circle is very outdated and is need of a major revamp. EI and BD lounges in Dublin are nothing to write home about.

Food on board - Personal choice I guess. I prefer the EI buy on board menu.

On a major business route like DUB-LHR, frequency is often the most important factor for business people and commuters, and BD simply cannot compete with EI here. I'll bet that BD won't be flying DUB-LHR in 18 months time after the latest cuts.

Fratton Fred

BuffyBot wrote: »

You mean United? Probably, as UA previously would have had given them some feeder traffic, but I doubt that's the be all and end all. The product has degenerated over time, and more most travellers the difference between bmi and Aer Lingus has dimimished quite considerably. Even including a baggage fee, for most of my recnt trips EI has come out quite considerably cheaper. For a one hour shuttle, the difference just isn't justifiable.

bmi's crazy pricing strategy hasn't helped either - their revenue management department must have been eating some of the out of date food they once served me. Prices seemed to swing wildly from day to day with no pattern discernable.

Yep, United, sorry.

I definately agree with the pricing policy. I tend to fly BMI if the return price is with €30 of EI as this is what I consider the benefits, what I find though is that there will be the odd weekend where BMI are two or three times the EI price.

sitstill

I'm flying to Newark on the 3rd June and I booked on Expedia.co.uk

I'm flying BMI Dublin - London and BA London to Newark

I'm booked on the 6:40 flight with BMI to catch a 10:15 flight in London.

I contacted BA about the 6:40 not running and they told me that my booking is still confirmed so then I contacted Expedia who also said that the BMI flight is operating and my booking is confirmed.

Then I went to flybmi.com and looked at the flights for 3rd June and there is no 6:40!

So what's going to happen? I know its a few months away, its just I'm going to an important conference and I'm giving a paper so I can't risk it!

Qprmeath

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Better legroom, easier check, friendlier staff, better loyalty programme, flexibility to decide if you want to check a bag in or not, usually cheaper than aer lingus, from recent events, less likely to cancel a flight and much better to deal with when they do, lounges far more accessible to people than EI, better food on board (with the exception of the EI breakfast) and free snack deal for regulare flyers.

Other than that, nothing to choose between them.

Aer Lingus are a budget airline with pre booked seating tbh.

You forgot BMI staff are 20 years younger.

Bloody*Mary

sitstill wrote: »

I'm flying to Newark on the 3rd June and I booked on Expedia.co.uk

I'm flying BMI Dublin - London and BA London to Newark

I'm booked on the 6:40 flight with BMI to catch a 10:15 flight in London.

I contacted BA about the 6:40 not running and they told me that my booking is still confirmed so then I contacted Expedia who also said that the BMI flight is operating and my booking is confirmed.

Then I went to flybmi.com and looked at the flights for 3rd June and there is no 6:40!

So what's going to happen? I know its a few months away, its just I'm going to an important conference and I'm giving a paper so I can't risk it!

Expedia is the one you need to contact and they should either move you onto the Aer Lingus at 06.40 or otherwise you'll have to get the later BMI flight at 08.40 which won't get you there in time for your original BA flight so they could move onto a later BA flights from Heathrow (the next one is 15.35) either way I'd insist they look at it now for you as the 06.40 is showing cancelled.

rossie1977

sitstill wrote: »

So what's going to happen? I know its a few months away, its just I'm going to an important conference and I'm giving a paper so I can't risk it!

the 6.40am bmi dublin to lhr is gone, we were booked on that in march to connect up with united flight direct to san francisco and i contacted ebookers (whom i booked with) and they contacted united/bmi and put us on 2 flights adding about 8 hours to our journey

OPENROAD

Enigma' wrote: »

Legroom - difference is negligible. EI legroom is more than adequate on a short flight to London.

Easier check-in - not sure what you mean here. Both carriers offer OLCI and airport kiosks.

Friendlier staff - cabin crew on both airlines are usually excellent.

FFP - I agree here, Diamond Club is a pretty decent FFP. Gold Circle is very outdated and is need of a major revamp. EI and BD lounges in Dublin are nothing to write home about.

Food on board - Personal choice I guess. I prefer the EI buy on board menu.

On a major business route like DUB-LHR, frequency is often the most important factor for business people and commuters, and BD simply cannot compete with EI here. I'll bet that BD won't be flying DUB-LHR in 18 months time after the latest cuts.

Diamond Club is excellent, while lounges are far better than Aer Lingus even considereing bmi lounge at Dub is small. bmi also good for upgrades for frequent flyers even for middle tier members.

Fares, much of a muchness for me but I get free snack and drink with bmi.

For me bmi win out on cabin crew also.

Checkin easier on bmi particularly at Heathrow for frequent flyers.

Fratton Fred is correct imo, bmi over Aer Lingus every time.

Sadly doesn't look good for the Dub-LHR for bmi

BuffyBot

I contacted BA about the 6:40 not running and they told me that my booking is still confirmed so then I contacted Expedia who also said that the BMI flight is operating and my booking is confirmed.

Then I went to flybmi.com and looked at the flights for 3rd June and there is no 6:40!

So what's going to happen? I know its a few months away, its just I'm going to an important conference and I'm giving a paper so I can't risk it!

Expedia should get in touch with you in due course to make the changes. Generally they'll get in touch with those travelling closer to the date change first, and work their way out from there

BA/Expedia details probably are showing as fine to them - the new schedule only went live on bmi's website today, so it'll probably take a day or two to filter through to other agencies/airlines. I was looking at a flight elsewhere earlier, with bmi connections and that airline's site was still showing the old schedule

Enigma'

OPENROAD wrote: »

Fratton Fred is correct imo, bmi over Aer Lingus every time.

Well I may be a little biased, I have a soft spot for EI. Other than the fiasco that is Gold Circle, I find them pretty good all round.

For the sake of competition, I'll miss bmi on the route. It's sad to see them running the route into the ground.

BuffyBot

..and business class is also scrapped.

bmi email wrote:

From 27 January all our UK and Ireland flights to and from London Heathrow will be operated on single cabin Economy only aircraft.

At the same time, we're introducing new Flexible Economy fares intended to give you full value for money without compromising on the comfort and flexibility you expect with bmi. When travelling on Flexible Economy fares you'll benefit from an enhanced service. You'll be seated at the front of the plane, receive complimentary inflight food and drink, as well as lounge access and 200% Diamond Club miles.

Everyone in regular economy must now pay for food. Previously bmi blue plus, silver and gold frequent flier program members got some free food from the buy on board menu.

Tabnabs

During the recent snow "crisis" (:rolleyes:;)) my flight from London City was cancelled so I hoofed it out to Heathrow. BMI had also cancelled their flights to Dublin, but Aer Lingus got a bigger aircraft and combined three flights into one to get all their passengers to their destination that day. All that legroom and free snacks wouldn't have got me home with the snow falling in Dublin and forecast in London...

Fratton Fred

BuffyBot wrote: »

..and business class is also scrapped.



Everyone in regular economy must now pay for food. Previously bmi blue plus, silver and gold frequent flier program members got some free food from the buy on board menu.

I blame myself for singing their praises.

cityjet still have 7 flights a day to Lcy.

All one class I think and 2x2 seating but you get complimentary drinks and snacks and a morning paper if you do the morning flights.

BuffyBot

All one class I think and 2x2 seating

No, 2 class (3 x 3 in economy - they aint called Squishyjet for nothing )

Fratton Fred

yeah. 3x3 but should be 2x2

I like flying with them though, very nice airline

BuffyBot

BuffyBot wrote: »

No, 2 class (3 x 3 in economy - they aint called Squishyjet for nothing )

heh.
Yeah I have been told that it's 3x3 in economy alright but I did a dummy booking in march and there was no business class offered-just 3 types of economy

Fratton Fred

Their higher rate is effectively the airfrance premium economy type fare, which means you get a bigger seat and a nicer snack.

Some of the seats are very tight, especially the onesd under the wings(because the walls are thicker) but otherwise they aren't too bad tbh. I usually try and get one of the ones towards the back on the left where there are only two seats. The first row of the two seat section is my favourite.

Tbh though, you are on and off pretty quick so its not too bad all in.