BMI - it's over. Thanks for the memories Pune/Donington/Keeley/Joanna!

[MAN Flyer]

SQ expect BD to be out of *A by the end of May apparently.

[Guy Betsy]

I wonder if BD*G's who are also existing BAEC Golds might be able to snag a CCR card or something... After all, there must be tons of incoming BD*G to accommodate.

I think it would be more feasible if BA would compare the current BD*G members' total qualifying elite status miles with theirs and give out statuses accordingly.

That means maybe only those who have earned above 75K status miles on BD may become Gold on BA.

But speculation aside, we really do not know. Its like us wanting to know what will happen to the world on Dec 21, 2012 !

[milehighj]

I wonder if BD*G's who are also existing BAEC Golds might be able to snag a CCR card or something... After all, there must be tons of incoming BD*G to accommodate.

[SQflyergirl]

I actually started out this journey hoping BA would lose and the status quo would remain - will happily admit I was wrong, because close to the end it became clear that if IAG had lost - we all would have also.

[MAN Flyer]

BA given green light !

At least we won't lose our miles, as LH would have surely wrapped BD up if they had said no or delayed...

The owner of British Airways, IAG, has received approval for the takeover of BMI from current owners Lufthansa.

European authorities cleared the deal after IAG agreed to give up landing slots at Heathrow airport.

Together IAG, which also owns Iberia, and BMI would have controlled 53% of landing slots at Britain's biggest airport.

Virgin urged regulators to block the deal saying that it distorts competition in the aviation market.

IAG reached a deal worth £172.5m ($273m) to buy BMI late last year.

The European Commission said its decision was conditional on the release of 14 slots at London's Heathrow airport in order to allow other airlines greater access.

It was also dependent on IAG committing to carry connecting passengers to feed the long-haul flights of competing airlines out of London Heathrow.

Opposition

EU's Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement: "The commitments package includes an appropriate number of very sought-after slots at London Heathrow as well as far-reaching feeder arrangements as regards connecting passengers.

"We are therefore satisfied that the competitive dynamics will be maintained so as to ensure choice and quality of air services for passengers."

The takeover had been strongly opposed by rival airline Virgin Atlantic.

Earlier, in a letter to Mr Almunia, Virgin founder Richard Branson wrote: "I am really battling to understand why the Commission seems to be bending over backwards to clear this deal at phase one rather than submitting it to the proper scrutiny intended in phase two of the clearance process."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17559317

[RHG]

So beware.. once BMI folds and their issuing plate ceases to exist... so do all their tickets, awards or revenue. Refunds may take weeks if not months to process. Or it may even be taken through to the courts as the airline clearing houses will not process any payments for the 236 issued tickets anymore.

The scenario you mentioned is unlikely to be repeated in the bmi case. There are lots of conjectures and speculation in the forums which is further exacerbated courtesy of IAG PR department as well as the bearded white man.

The only problem is the UK/regional situation as BMI together with BA are the major domestic carriers together with perhaps easyjet. The red carrier does not do domestic flights.

Those who follow the news will likely know the outcome.

I would remind you that the latest major bankcruptcy carrier in APAC was Ansett and all "ticketed" Ansett paper stock were honoured. And to the kiasu people, please do not call BMI and ask stupid questions such as i demand a paper confirmation for my redemption booking or why can't you email me when bmi will close.

[FlyingDan]

When airline ceases to exist, so do all tickets issued on their airline stock.

I had issued a RTW ticket once upon a time ago.. in 2000 I think on the then bargain RTW fare with SR/DL/SQ. It was something like US$2999 for F I think, ex-BUD. The ticket was issued on first outbound carrier which was on SR for the routing, BUD-ZRH-GVA-LAX-PDX-NRT-SIN-BKK-ZRH-BUD.

I had used the ticket up to LAX when SR went belly up. Even though LX eventually took over, all then SR issued tickets were deemed worthless. My paper ticket could not be used unless one of the partners SQ or DL reissued it on their document.

I had tried everything and DL refused to even look at it, and it was eventually SQ that reissued it provided that I give up flying on anyone else but them and they reissued the ticket as LAX-NRT-SIN-ZRH-BUD. It was hard but eventually it paid off with my numerous phone calls to SQ in LAX and pulling favours etc and they (SQ in LAX) instructed SQ in BKK (where I was at the time) to reissue the ticket. BKK office would not even touch the ticket before the autorisation came down.

So beware.. once BMI folds and their issuing plate ceases to exist... so do all their tickets, awards or revenue. Refunds may take weeks if not months to process. Or it may even be taken through to the courts as the airline clearing houses will not process any payments for the 236 issued tickets anymore.

Thanks for the pointer.. I really have no idea what to do.. I'm left with so many miles and so little time. Have a ticket booked for August but it's getting on my nerves

[Guy Betsy]

When airline ceases to exist, so do all tickets issued on their airline stock.

I had issued a RTW ticket once upon a time ago.. in 2000 I think on the then bargain RTW fare with SR/DL/SQ. It was something like US$2999 for F I think, ex-BUD. The ticket was issued on first outbound carrier which was on SR for the routing, BUD-ZRH-GVA-LAX-PDX-NRT-SIN-BKK-ZRH-BUD.

I had used the ticket up to LAX when SR went belly up. Even though LX eventually took over, all then SR issued tickets were deemed worthless. My paper ticket could not be used unless one of the partners SQ or DL reissued it on their document.

I had tried everything and DL refused to even look at it, and it was eventually SQ that reissued it provided that I give up flying on anyone else but them and they reissued the ticket as LAX-NRT-SIN-ZRH-BUD. It was hard but eventually it paid off with my numerous phone calls to SQ in LAX and pulling favours etc and they (SQ in LAX) instructed SQ in BKK (where I was at the time) to reissue the ticket. BKK office would not even touch the ticket before the autorisation came down.

So beware.. once BMI folds and their issuing plate ceases to exist... so do all their tickets, awards or revenue. Refunds may take weeks if not months to process. Or it may even be taken through to the courts as the airline clearing houses will not process any payments for the 236 issued tickets anymore.

[SQflyergirl]

Oh... thanks for the clarification. I had assumed (incorrectly, I guess) that if SQ issued the ticket now, BD would have to pay SQ right away.

BD issues the ticket, not SQ. SQ issued tickets start with 618.

All those BMI awards you've been flying on on SQ, (if you have) are BMI issued.
They're not SQ tickets.

[ginkoka]

In essence, say you booked on SQ, when the time comes to flying it, SQ will "take" the coupon and present it to BD for payment. (BD has taken and held on to your money since the day you booked it) - but if BD does not exist anymore when the time comes to fly, SQ won't get paid because there's no one to collect from.

Oh... thanks for the clarification. I had assumed (incorrectly, I guess) that if SQ issued the ticket now, BD would have to pay SQ right away.

[SQflyergirl]

if the redeemed and issued ticket was on other airlines, it would still be valid, rite?

That's not quite correct:

The tickets you get through BMI are issued BY BMI and carry the 236- stock numbers.

In essence, say you booked on SQ, when the time comes to flying it, SQ will "take" the coupon and present it to BD for payment. (BD has taken and held on to your money since the day you booked it) - but if BD does not exist anymore when the time comes to fly, SQ won't get paid because there's no one to collect from.

Now, before you go panicking, this scenario is unlikely to happen - There is the potential that LH if not to create a huge mess and bad publicity, may underwrite these tickets.

[ginkoka]

if the redeemed and issued ticket was on other airlines, it would still be valid, rite?

[demue]

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0f7fe...#axzz1ozmjK3x7

hmm.. there are some speculations on other forums tat LH will let BMI fold if things are being dragged.

There is another article than the FT one which is a bit more informative and not quite as gloom & doom. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...l-economy.html

However, if LH would pull the plug even redeemed & issued tickets will be worthless. Let's hope it doesn't come to this as I really wouldn't be keen to fight for getting my cash and taxes / surcharges returned in addition to loosing a bunch of hard earned miles.

[slacker]

Clearance from EC to take longer than expected?

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0f7fe...#axzz1ozmjK3x7

hmm.. there are some speculations on other forums tat LH will let BMI fold if things are being dragged.

[SQtraveller]

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