Avios, BMI!

a large white airplane at an airportBMI, the one and only UK based Star Alliance member has been acquired by British Airways. BMI has had a tumultuous couple of years. They were first bought by Lufthansa, which bode well for those of us who love Star Alliance, but Lufthansa did not integrate it into it’s suite of airlines (they own Austrian and Swiss) and decided to sell BMI off to IAG, the group that owns British Airways and Iberia.

This is good news for British Airways, as they get additional coveted Heathrow slots and also get some unique routes that BMI flies – like London (LHR) – Amritsar, India (ATQ) and several other routes to the middle east.

For people collecting miles and status on Star Alliance, we lose the last bastion of Star based in UK. With this deal, there is no Star Alliance with a UK hub left. Also, BMI was traditionally an easy airline to earn Star Alliance Gold status on, so all g those folks will lose out (including myself).

BMI’s Diamond club will become a part of the Avios mileage program that IAG runs. Avois is the common mileage currency used by British and Iberia, for their independently operated frequent flier programs. So, all my Diamond Club miles will become Avois miles in the near future. Not bad, if I can add them to my British Airways Avios miles.

Here is the email I got from BMI:

Dear UnRoadWarrior

We’d like to advise you that the EU Competition Authority has today approved the sale of bmi to IAG. We are very aware that Diamond Club members want to know what will happen to their accounts when bmi is acquired by British Airways.

The deal between bmi and British Airways is due to be completed around 20 April 2012. We would like to reassure you that we plan to operate our summer schedule as normal and you can continue to earn and redeem Diamond Club miles during this period.

We are working together to announce a Diamond Club partnership with British Airways. This will include the ability to earn and redeem Diamond Club destinations miles across the bmi and BA networks.

We will be communicating regularly with you as more information becomes available and flybmi.com will also be updated with the latest information.

Regards

Keeley Downing signature
Keeley Downing
Diamond Club Manager

So, Adios BMI; Avios BMI…

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5 Comments

  1. Hi, I flew on a BD flight from EDI to LHR in discounted economy. My mother entered her BD Diamond Club number on the booking and I entered by BA EC number. Guess what? She got 300 miles I got 250 for the same flight on the same day sitting next to each other! How are DC miles and Avios valued at 1:1?

  2. David

    Wow, that is weird. You should call BD and talk to them. Let me know what they say

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