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bmi has announced details of the move for members towards the BA’s Executive Club. Gold members are matched to gold, and miles can be transferred 1 to 1, a much better deal than forecast.
However bmi is to leave the star alliance on 31 May 2012. Star Alliance status benefits, including lounge access, priority check-in and priority boarding will cease on 31st May 2012. Equally, after this point there will be no way to earn or redeem miles on Star Alliance flights.
Already, it is impossible to earn or redeem miles on Lufthansa Group airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian, and Swiss, although it is still possible on some airlines that use Miles&More such as Lot.
An Email has already been sent to Diamond Club members. It gives details of the latest benefit from a new partnership with British Airways from 20 April 2012. This will include the ability to earn destinations miles on BA, and spend your destinations miles on BA award flights. Also Diamond Club Gold and Silver members will be able to access the British Airways lounges at London Heathrow and London Gatwick, when flying with bmi or British Airways. There is no access to other BA lounges at other airport.
A curious irony is that BA has only just left London Heathrow Terminal 1, and surrendered its lounge there to Star Alliance and bmi. It has now already announced on its website that it will take over the bmi Great British Lounge, the London Room and the Arrivals Lounge. The status of the old BA lounge in Terminal 1, now used as the Star Alliance lounge, is unclear, as this was run by bmi for Star.
Diamond Club Gold customers will be invited to become Gold members of the Executive Club and Silver members to become Silver. There are no details however of what will happen to those few bmi Gold members who are also Gold with BA. An online tool will allow Diamond Club and Executive Club customers to undertake transfers of miles which will be available from 3 July 2012.
The good news for most members is the status match, and with airlines like Turkish and Aegean Airlines willing matching Gold Executive Club membership for the equivalent in their Star Alliance scheme, this should mean that most bmi DC members can maintain Gold membership in both alliances for the next year. The transfer of 1 to 1 also means the loss of Cash and Miles booking on Star is offset by the ability to book a cheap economy or WTP ticket on BA, and upgrade with miles. However this doesn’t make up for the lack of availability to Asia on BA or its oneworld partners. One issue among many that is unclear at the moment is when the ability to use bmi miles on Virgin Atlantic will cease.
