bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  18 May 2009 : by L Ross  (USA)

Amman to London Business Class. Old, broken seats with tape patches and ashtrays. Flight attendent told me all the seats rocked when I requested to move before take-off. So, either putting seat in upright position isn't a necessary safety precaution, or BM doesn't care about passenger safety. The rest follows. Hard to complain about food after that, but its pretty bad as well.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  13 May 2009 : by Paul Turner  (UK)

CAI to LHR Economy. The seat was comfortable and pitch adequate. The food and service was good. The only niggle was the wait of 45 minutes for the luggage to appear. This is my 4th trip on this route with BMI and in my opinion the experience is better than the opposition, flight times are more convenient and price is excellent.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  12 May 2009 : by Paul Turner  (UK)

LHR to CAI Premium Economy. Being very tall my primary consideration is seat pitch. At 50", pitch, the seats were former business class seats and very comfortable. I was able to sleep much of the way. The food was fine and IFE adequate although the screen was difficult to see because of glare. The cabin crew were excellent.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  11 May 2009 : by Kevin Mann  (UK)

LHR-BRU-LHR. Initially not happy as original flight time changed, but check in at Terminal 1 excellent. Gold card holder so able to check in at business desk and use Star Alliance lounge. Through security in less than 5 minutes. ERJ135 outbound, a number of comments from fellow passengers as to 'size' of plane and 'cramped interior. Return similar apart from unhelpful check in staff at BRU. Overall ok, but would consider Brussels airlines when they join Star.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  10 May 2009 : by O Banderas

Very confusing and inconsistent product in both business and economy. Seems like a very patched together company, and not value for money due to the many types of seats and aircraft, and hence surprises at high fares. Catering in business very badly planned, with full meals on 2hour sectors and an embarrasing stale sandwich as pre-arrival snack long-haul. Entertainment practically zero unless you are luckier to be on the tired and dirty A330 planes.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  5 May 2009 : by Malcolm Scott

Las Vegas with BMI from Manchester return. Fairly grubby aircraft, very poor service, burnt food, really hard seats (Rows 30 HK going and 29HK returning). The staff couldn't give a damn and seemed to want to get themselves settled as quick as possible. To top this we had a stag party group in the middle next to us along with two couples who we thought were going to drink themselves stupid in front of us. Surely the crew should keep an eye on the amount of alcohol people are drinking. Numerous people spent a lot of time just standing chatting in the aisles during the flight, clogging up the gangways and being a pain to those who wanted to just relax on what is after all a 10 hour+ flight. On returning we are used to warm flannels from Virgin etc to freshen up after the overnight flight - nothing like this with BMI. Overall we have to give BMI a big 'thumbs down' and say never again.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  27 April 2009 : by P Bainbridge

LHR-MAN. BD used to be an excellent airline but with its new low cost status the airline staff have adopted a 'cannot be bothered attitude'. I had the 'pleasure' of a checkin agent who never looked at me once, barking orders at me like she was some kind of robot. But that was just the beginning. At the boarding area my flight disappeared from the departures board so I approached their so-called 'service desk' what there was an employee filing her nails as I asked what had happened to the Manchester flight. Her response was a very surly "have you checked the departure board!" again without even looking up from filing her nails. About two minutes later the flight said it was going from gate 2. I got to gate 2 and nothing on the board saying the MAN flight departed from said gate so I approached yet another staff member. This time she was talking into her cellphone about the night out they had had the night before and - actually looking at me - asked what it was I needed? Whatever happened to "can I help you."? I asked if the flight to MAN was in fact going from this gate and she said I think so, it should appear on the board in a minute. Quickly returning to her cellphone.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  24 April 2009 : by G Tully

LHR-CAI. Didn't start well when online check-in didn't seat my wife and I together. Still, this was better than it did to a family we met on the same flight who were only given one seat for the four of them! I thought the seat pitch was bad enough but realised just how bad it could get when the passenger in front of me decided to recline his seat for the whole flight. Couldn't watch any of the in-flight entertainment as the screen provided for my seat was faulty. Flight crew were somewhat less than sympathetic and totally unhelpful in all regards. Won't be flying with BMI again unless I have to. "Dry" return flight with Egyptair was a much more pleasant experience despite the lack of alcohol.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  24 April 2009 : by Ross Clark

LHR-EDI. Was late off inbound service from SIN, meaning my luggage didn't make it through (and I was lucky to); but the ground staff at EDI made a real effort to ensure that I would get my luggage in a timely fashion when it did arrive the next day. I don't like the new LHR T1 arrangements for transferring pax, and BMI need to take this up with BAA.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  8 April 2009 : by A Mitchell

LHR-GLA in business class. Business seating on A320 was that I imagine would be used on routes such as Tblisi etc with a 2/2 armchair type seat configuration- very comfortable for a 1 hour flight. Nice hot lunch served but to the embarrassment of the cabin crew there was no bar service - only tea/coffee and water Passengers in economy could purchase a drink while those in business had to go without- lacks logic.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  6 April 2009 : by James Crichton

EDI/LHR/EDI on the 26th March. Has been quite a few years since I had flown with them. Both flights were an hour late in departing. Outbound was due to weather and inbound due to the late arrival of the plane from an exotic location. The outbound flights plane was quite dated inside, though clean it looked really dull. I was surprised that if you wanted a drink or snack on the plane you had to pay for everything. I hadn't realised that BMI was now a budget airline. Pretty disappointed with this, after all, if I wanted to fly budget I would have flown Easyjet. Service was efficient and couldn't complain about it. On the return flight we found out that one of our party was sitting in an out of use seat due to it not being secured correctly. She was upgraded without fuss and they apologised that they couldnt upgrade the rest of us due to the flight being full.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  6 April 2009 : by M Golding

EDI to Copenhagen return. Trip out was wasn't even half full (Embraer 145). Fairly dire catering (unimaginative sandwich) but as it's only 1 hour 45 mins flight it's not a huge problem. Ground staff were pleasant but crew on board both ways were a little surly. However pleasant flight and would fly BMI again on this route for convenience of direct flight.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  29 March 2009 : by N Sutherland

ABZ-LHR. Specifically chose BMI to connect with Asiana to Seoul. Since they are both Star Alliance Airlines and proudly displayed as such at the check-in desk, we foolishly believed we could check bags all the way through to final destination - wrong. Since 2 e-tickets were involved their system would not allow a single check-in and bags had to be collected in LHR and rechecked to Seoul. What is the point of sticking to Star Alliance Airlines if they cannot provide one of the most obvious advantages? Surly check-in staff didn't help matters. The flight was fine but the Alliance isn't working and I'll use BA next time since they have a better connection time.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  21 March 2009 : by J Watkiss

ABZ-MAN Business. Started off badly with unfriendly check in staff. There are only 3 seats in business on this flight and I had trouble being allowed to choose seats online. A very unfriendly check-in lady insisted on me using the check-in machine (even though I discovered later business passengers have the option to check in at the desk) The machine wouldn't allow me to change the default seat I had been allocated, the only non window seat, to another so I had to plead with the check in girl to change it!. I think she must have forgotten she was manning a business check in!

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  3 March 2009 : by C McCafferty

LHR–BHD–LHR. Online check-in was easy, Heathrow T1 on a Saturday morning was quiet. On the other side, Belfast City Airport is convenient – from touch down at 12:10pm I was out of the airport (hand luggage only), on the shuttle bus and checked-in to the Hilton by 12:45pm. On the return we arrived at Heathrow approx 20 mins ahead of schedule. Crew on both legs were pleasant and accommodating. I didn’t purchase anything so can’t comment on that. Overall, a good trip, I hope BHD isn’t next on the list of routes to be scaled back by bmi.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  16 February 2009 : by Mark Evans

LHR-CAI-LHR in economy. Pretty OK overall - check-in machines at LHR worked well, bag drop was quick. In-flight service on both legs was friendly and food offerings exceeded expectations, with surprisingly good Thai green chicken and chicken and vegetable rice dishes. Main negative was somewhat tight seat pitch for a flight of nearly five hours.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  4 February 2009 : by Richard Brown

LHR-Leeds/Bradford. Short simple lunchtime flight. Left 3 minutes early, no queues for take-off and arrived 15 mins early. Friendly efficient service on board, good range of snacks for purchase and comfortable seat. Quick disembarkation at Leeds and was in a cab within 5 mins of landing. If only all domestic flying was as easy as this!

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  3 February 2009 : by B Stewart

LHR/DUB/LHR business class. Faultless experience for this short haul shuttle. Ground staff and inflight crew friendly and efficient. Food and drink offered inflight and lounges in both LHR and DUB acceptable.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  1 February 2009 : by Terry White

London-Baku return, business class. Unfortunately, the cabin staff could not overcome the shortcomings of the antiquated aircraft. On the flight over, my AV didn't function (and the control panel actually popped out exposing the wiring) and on return the seat couldn't recline (so I didn't manage a much needed sleep). The passenger next to me lost their luggage, and on the return the person next to me couldn't get their AV to work, and the TV set casing was shattered. So I met no one that had a good flight. The business class seating is what one would expect from an aircraft of this age, I just wasn't aware that any european airlines were allowed to fly planes this old anymore. Heathrow Terminal 1 business class lounge is basic, certainly not up to what you would expect in Heathrow. The cabin staff were as helpful as they could be. Food OK, flights on-time, flies direct to Baku - what should one expect?

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  6 January 2009 : by Simon Smith

Jeddah-London-Jeddah Business Class. Excellent service on board although food was a bit average. Plenty of drinks. Let down a bit by ground handling, on this occasion my bag went missing and took 5 days to reappear. BMI staff were helpful but it's irritating nonetheless. I would recommend using the Oneworld lounge in Heathrow as it is better than BMI lounge - hot bacon or sausage roll plus various breads.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  22 December 2008 : by W Warnock

LBA - LHR return. Did not feel at any stage that this was a premium service. The boarding process at both airports was through an untidy gate with a walk over the apron in the pouring rain to the aircraft. In Heathrow, this was made worse by the fact of waiting at the foot of the aircraft stairs for people to board even though BMI staff (who never ventured into the rain by the way) were 'controlling' the flow of passengers to reduce this weather onslaught! I recognise that this route is not a major BMI one but at least try to pretend a little bit that our custom matters.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  19 December 2008 : by S Harrison

Edinburgh - Brussels return Economy. Both legs on Embraer 145 jets. Comfortable 1x2 seat layout. Checked in online outbound. No queue at fast bag drop. Both flights departed and arrived on time with speedy delivery to baggage belts. Drink plus sandwich service on board with a smile from crew. Surprisingly long security queue at Brussels Terminal B.