Free Gold Circle Card for Aer Lingus

mp3ireland2

This works. I just registered last night and got confirmation today.
(I've quoted below from a forwarded email I got so perhaps a lot of ye have already seen this)

Aer Lingus are giving BMI Diamond Club members a free Gold Circle membership. I think they intended to require BMI Silver membership, but they didn't, only Blue is required. But you can sign up for the basic BMI Blue card online without even flying, so this is basically a way to get a free Gold Circle card for a year.

http://www.aerlingus.com/goldcircle/abouttheclub/frequentlyaskedquestions/

“As soon as you have received membership of the Gold Circle Club you will be able to earn Points towards free flights while availing of lounge access at most airports served by Aer Lingus. “

Doubt if there’s free booze but you get access to a lounge which might be worth it for those of you who fly a lot. You might get to meet Bill Murray or something (who doesn’t want to meet Bill Murray?). The worst that can happen is they spam you to death.

1) Sign up for BMI Diamond Club blue card at
https://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/loyalty-programmes/diamond-club/join-now.aspx?rec=1JA1KD

2) Download your "virtual membership card" from the BMI site
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/loyalty-programmes/diamond-club/members/manage-my-account/account-information.aspx

3) Go to http://www.aerlingus.com/goldcircle/
and sign up as an "applicant" (if you don't already have a Gold Circle number)

4) Got to http://www.aerlingusgreendiamond.com and fill in your details. Upload your BMI virtual card as proof.

5) Get your free Gold Circle membership in the post.

silverwood

Great find OP!

__Robinhood__

Once you sign up to airlingus gold circle, do you get your gold circle number by email?

tatli_lokma

thanks for this - would be handy as I will be travelling with Aerlingus in October.

But I can't download the virtual card - it is only giving me the option to print it???

tatli_lokma

__Robinhood__ wrote: »

Once you sign up to airlingus gold circle, do you get your gold circle number by email?

it'll be in your account details. Actually, before you even complete the sign up they tell you what your card number will be at the top of the application form

rx8

The last part, where you upload the bluecard doesn't seem to be working though.

__Robinhood__

Thats the job, thanks lads

mp3ireland2

Little Ted wrote:

thanks for this - would be handy as I will be travelling with Aerlingus in October.

But I can't download the virtual card - it is only giving me the option to print it???

print to pdf and then upload...

tatli_lokma

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

print to pdf and then upload...

thanks - I did think of this, but then I was wondering if there was a specific download version or something....
I'll give your suggestion a try..

....nope that didn't work. Now when I try to even print the card, the little pop up just shows the home page again!

SomeFool

You sir are a genius!! Thank you

paidi_ed

Thanks OP!

elsparko

thanks op, great find!!!

to anyone having issues downloading the card..... right click and save as

rx8

Not working here either, just shows a server error page.I've even printed the Bluecard, scanned it to a pdf file and it won't upload.

Not super computer literate,is there something silly I'm missing,

Will get herself to look at it later methinks.;)

paidi_ed

rx8 wrote: »

Not working here either, just shows a server error page.I've even printed the Bluecard, scanned it to a pdf file and it won't upload.

Not super computer literate,is there something silly I'm missing,

Will get herself to look at it later methinks.;)

I just cancelled the print dialog and did a Print Screen and saved the small Blue card dialog as an jpeg file and attached that. Seems to have been accepted for me.

tmc86

Nice one OP! I'll be waiting on the post now!

Thanks OP!
Anyone know how long that takes to process?

irelandrover

thanks OP. great find

BrookieD

Just done that, nice one OP worked a treat

RayCon

Great - thanks OP ... if the OH signs up too , does that mean the family (2ads / 2 kids) can all use the lounge when we travel with Aer Lingus in Oct to Orlando ?

choons

Thanks OP

I can't get the gold circle number part to work! I put in Applicant but it just says please enter gold circle number!

BrookieD

@RayCon - yep that's correct as each card holder can invite one guest each on the same flight.

:-)

choons

choons wrote: »

Thanks OP

I can't get the gold circle number part to work! I put in Applicant but it just says please enter gold circle number!

Got it!!

You can view your new aer lingus gold number in my profile or something like that

Thanks again OP

s_carnage

Thanks for that OP!!

mtdelany

what file do i upload. is it a PDF from the BMI diamond club?

okidoki987

Just tried it, got to the very end and after uploading picture of BMI card and sending it, wouldn't go through.
Wonder has it been pulled?

Bigcheeze

Great, the lounge will be full of riff raff for the next 12 months.

And yes OP there is free booze, once you have a card.

TomCo

Is there a lounge in each terminal, or just the fancy new terminal?

maximoose

Just applied, score! Thanks OP!

Rowley Birkin QC

Sweet, cheers OP. Flying with AL in a few weeks so will go for a snoop in there.

For anyone having trouble printing to PDF; I used the Snipping Tool and uploaded a jpeg without issue.

Now, what does this actually get me?!:o

mp3ireland2

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Sweet, cheers OP. Flying with AL in a few weeks so will go for a snoop in there.

For anyone having trouble printing to PDF; I used the Snipping Tool and uploaded a jpeg without issue.

Now, what does this actually get me?!:o

Not a clue!

Rowley Birkin QC

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

Not a clue!

This seems to be the jist of it.

Lounge Benefits

• Tranquil setting
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Notification of boarding and flight times
• Computer access
• Complimentary newspapers and magazines
• Spacious, comfortable and quiet
• Complimentary drinks and snacks
• Entertainment facilities

okidoki987

•Complimentary drinks and snacks

That's the killer!

Savman

Don't be surprised if they close this loophole or add some minimum miles requirement. It's their Programme and their lounge so I wouldn't count those chickens just yet...

Lots of sign-ups on the one day is bound to raise an eyebrow, whether they choose to let it pass is anyone's guess.

él statutorio

Savman wrote: »

Don't be surprised if they close this loophole or add some minimum miles requirement. It's their Programme and their lounge so I wouldn't count those chickens just yet...

Lots of sign-ups on the one day is bound to raise an eyebrow, whether they choose to let it pass is anyone's guess.

from reading through it I think (not 100% sure) you have to maintain a balance of 2400 points per year?

bren2001

Ive found out about it now, so I agree with Mr. S. close the thread. Nobody else needs to find out about it until I WE get our cards.

2smiggy

LOL , ya mods, please delete thread now :P:P

Savman

Technically, this is not a Bargain Alert, it's basically swindling Gold Circle membership by exposing a loophole in a goodwill gesture that was offered to frequent fliers of a soon-to-be-defunct programme.

Seeing as EI themselves set the rules for their own membership, I'd be very surprised if they don't pick up on this, if they haven't already. They are under no obligation to honour any memberships for a club they themselves run.

I think any chance this had of staying off the radar has now gone, I was already aware of this offer but never bothered simply because it's barely worth the effort for a few cold biscuits and a begrudging beverage from some lounge dragon (from all reports I've read previously, the Gold Circle club is nothing to write home about).

But hey, if it works for some Boardsies, great!

testicle

Do you not have to pay for each visit? The card just grants access in the first place?

RayCon

Please quote your Gold Circle application number at the time of booking. This is important as it will ensure that you earn application points on Aer Lingus scheduled services towards full membership of the Gold Circle Club.

Once you become a fully qualified Gold Circle member you can then look forward to the benefits of the Club such as access to our Gold Circle airport lounges as well as earning and redeeming points with our partner airlines.

Thank you for applying for membership of the Gold Circle Club and we look forward to welcoming you as a full member in the near future.

Bolded parts from the email received would suggest this isn't going to be of much use ....

deisedevil

I right clicked the image and saved it to desktop.

Bigcheeze

Savman wrote: »

it's barely worth the effort for a few cold biscuits and a begrudging beverage from some lounge dragon (from all reports I've read previously, the Gold Circle club is nothing to write home about).

But hey, if it works for some Boardsies, great!

The new lounge in T2 Dublin is pretty good as is the new lounge in T1 Heathrow.

tatli_lokma

elsparko wrote: »

thanks op, great find!!!

to anyone having issues downloading the card..... right click and save as

the card isn't even in the pop-up box...its just the main page again.

Bigcheeze

testicle wrote: »

Do you not have to pay for each visit? The card just grants access in the first place?

Once you have the card there is no payment for you and a guest, but it's only valid when flying A.L. and they ask to see your boarding card.

paidi_ed

testicle wrote: »

Do you not have to pay for each visit? The card just grants access in the first place?

No you don't, once you qualify for access its free from what I remember when I had it a few years back.

RayCon wrote: »

Bolded parts from the email received would suggest this isn't going to be of much use ....

I dunno, the two emails I received. One for myself and another for my wife both state "your Gold Circle account has been upgraded to Gold Circle Gold status." So looking good so far...

ripcord

The virtual bmi card uploaded correctly - I got this message:

Thank you for applying to match your BMI Diamond Club Tier status to your Gold Circle account. We will process your request as soon as possible.

But has anyone got a confirmation email yet from aerlingus to say that this was accepted and you are now a "full" Gold cricle member? How long does it usually take?

kn

I click 'proceed' and it uploads the Diamond Club Account screen shot alright but the page does not refresh or lets you know that the application has been received. Have I done anything wrong?

EDIT: Sorted. It was not going through on the Opera browser I use but it did go through on Mozilla Firefox.....here's hoping.....

Thank you for applying to match your BMI Diamond Club Tier status to your Gold Circle account. We will process your request as soon as possible.

Harpy

Nice one op Hopefully it works..

acer15

I have some bad news.

This is not an automated process, they have a member of staff compare your current BMI status and then asisgn you the equivalent gold circle status(3 status, basic, prestige and gold). So therefore if you have basic BMI Blue you will get basic Aerlingus which is worth nothing.

I know this because i have silver status on BMI and I completed this process a week ago. To back up my silver status I had to scan a copy of my silver BMI card(you can also attach a copy of your BMI statement). Here is my reply from aer lingus which i received a week after i replied

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for your request to match your BMI Diamond Club tier to your Gold Circle applicant account.

As a BMI Silver member your Gold Circle account has been upgraded to Gold Circle Prestige status.

A membership card has been ordered for you. Please allow 14 days for delivery of your new card.

We look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you onboard an Aer Lingus service in the very near future.

Best Regards,

John XXXXX

dan185

Nice of John to add the kisses there at the end, a personal touch.

hada

Does this allow access if one is flying with a different carrier or has an initial connection on a flight operated by AL for example (but originally booked through BA or some such?)

Also, flying out this weekend - think if I don't have the card I would still be able to gain access to the lounge? Would be a great start to a holiday!!

ripcord

paidi_ed wrote: »

No you don't, once you qualify for access its free from what I remember when I had it a few years back.



I dunno, the two emails I received. One for myself and another for my wife both state "your Gold Circle account has been upgraded to Gold Circle Gold status." So looking good so far...

paidi - how long was it between uploading the bmi card and getting the email confirming your upgrade? Thanks.