Avios, BMI!

BMI, 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:

So, Adios BMI; Avios BMI…

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