BMI (British Midland Airways)

http://www.flybmi.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

1/5

No business class

Family Traveler

3/5

Average amenities, infant baggage allowance

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

2/5

Limited service to adventure destinations

Student
Budget Traveler

4/5

Competitive fares

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Reasonably helpful to special needs travelers

Long Term Traveler

3/5

Fairly good reach

Novice Traveler

3/5

User-friendly web site

Introduction

British Midland Airways was founded as Derby Aviation Limited in 1949. It began domestic flights within the UK in the 1960s and launched international service as it grew. In 2009, the airline was bought out by Lufthansa. It is now a fully owned subsidiary of the German carrier. BMI serves about 11 million passengers a year, making it the UK’s third largest airline.

BMI has been scaling down its services. After the Lufthansa buyout, the airline announces that it would be doing away with business class and offering two versions of economy class. Though it is a smaller airline, BMI has good reach in Europe and also offers trans-Atlantic flights.

Ratings

Important Factors 3/5

Average Delay

20%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330, Boeing 757

General 3/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

Major Airports and Destinations Served

London, Pairs, Dublin, Washington DC, Madrid, Chicago, Cairo, Ankara, Berlin, Amsterdam

Location of Hub

London Heathrow

Countries Served

UK, United States, Spain, France, Russia, Germany, Turkey

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

Berlin-London, London-Dublin, London-Beirut. London-New York, London-Paris

In-Flight 3/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

All routes offer at least a snack

Food Quality

Average

In-flight Menu

Sandwiches, continental food.

Average Leg Room

30-33 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Movies, television and audio; some aircraft have individual screens; Voyager Magazine

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

Unlimited pieces as long as the sum of their weights does not exceed weight restrictions

Weight Limits and Restrictions

30kg in business class, 20kg in economy

Web Site 5/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

Above Average, easy to use

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Average accessibility

Pets

In cargo hold. Fees depend on the weight of the animal and cage

Special Offers /Partners 4/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Star Alliance

Hotel Partners

Diamond Club

Competing Airlines

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic

Strengths

Good alternative to larger carriers
Sometimes offers cheaper fares
Good reach to North America, Europe and West Asia.

Weaknesses

No business class
Not always the cheapest option
Other airlines offer better in-flight services, especially on long haul flights

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

BMI’s frequent flier program is called the Diamond Club. The program was recently changed, making it more difficult to earn elite flying status. However, it is still possible to earn miles on all BMI flights as well as on flights operated by other members of the Star Alliance. Fliers have access to BMI’s lounges in London Heathrow. However, since the airline has done away with premium class lounges, it is more difficult to gain access to these lounges without elite Diamond Club status.

Conclusion

BMI is a good alternative to Britain’s other carriers. Its prices are competitive and it offers service to a wide range of destinations in Europe and Asia. BMI was recently bought by Lufthansa, an airline that has turned several subsidiaries into success and profitable airlines. Fliers hope that BMI can continue offering competitive fares and a great selection of routes while improving its in-flight services.