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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.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  1 December 2008 : by L Whitmore

MAN-LAS-MAN Premium Economy. No queue on outbound checkin at Manchester and changed seats to bulkhead 10A/C which were fine. Didn't get bumped by trolley and service was quick. After boarding menus handed out and orders for main course taken before take off. A drinks round was delivered promptly and entertainment system started - about 8 or so newish films were offered on a roll around system. The food was adequate and served with plastic cutlery Adequate wines offered with the meal and a bottle of water handed out to retain throughout the flight. The recline was enough to get a sleep and the pitch was approximately 48" which is far better than most PE competitors. Seats were in a 2-2-2 configuration which is nicer too. It is a shame they're discontinuing these flights as for a 10 hr flight, PE is a good product on BMI with a lot more legroom than Virgin's PE. The return journey was much the same but we couldn't get the bulkhead this time and noticed the difference when the person reclined in front of you. It was fine whilst seated, but if you are in a window seat, it was difficult to get out to go to the toilet without knocking the reclined seat in front. The PE cabin is worked by the chief flight attendant throughout, with only minimal assistance during meal service by another FA. I was informed it's easier to run this cabin than to work in the business cabin due to extra demands thus enabling her to be available anywhere else on the plane should the need arise. On the whole, a good product: shame it's being discontinued in April.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  19 November 2008 : by D Fay

DUB-LHR-DAM & TLV-LHR-DUB in Y class. Check in at Dublin was quick and the staff on both legs were friendly. The IFE on the Damascus leg was good for a 4.5 hour trip. On the return, bag drop at TLV was also quick and simple and we got an upgrade! BMI business class offering didn't seem as good as BA's on this route but the big seats were a treat on an early morning flight. We got upgraded at the gate in LHR for the final leg but the meal seemed much poorer than their business class of old. Overall I'd fly with them in economy but think twice about paying extra for business class.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  16 November 2008 : by Jon Earnshaw

LHR-DUB-LHR Business Class. Though I have flown with Bmi extensively on their regional network, this was my first flight in the short-haul business cabin for nearly two years - how things have changed. On the LHR-DUB leg, a small sandwich, small chocolate bar and a satsuma were provided on this lunchtime peak flight which was full. Perhaps they have the market, they don't need to pull out the stops- service was efficient but lacked warmth and certainly was not friendly. A small cup of coffee offered and all I could hear on the flight was how tired the crew were and they were sick of working these long hours - professional I think not! A small hot towel was provided before landing but this was a very poor service, no newspapers and the wow factor has gone fully. The return flight was terrible, one cabin crew member for 20 passengers and she struggled. She snapped at passengers asking for water "give me a chance" was a terrible start. The meal of lancashire hot-pot was shocking, the small satsuma and small chocolate bar did not even make up for it - again a poor service. Bmi are great in business class on their long haul network, shame their short haul flights have been overlooked and the standards have slipped terribly. I fly them a lot and will continue to do so, I will just avoid paying extra to fly business when it's a poor offering. BA are much better on short haul business routes.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  15 November 2008 : by Tony McLaughlin

LHR-BHD-LHR. I cannot ever fault this airline, and they have a good servant to N Ireland over the years. There is now competition on the LHR to Belfast route, so both my flights were 1/3 full. Flight to BHD delayed 40 minutes at LHR - there were adverse weather conditions at LHR, but this was then compounded by 5 bags being off-loaded - I suspect they belonged to transfer passengers. Reasonable service on board, comfortable seats on the Airbus 320, with enough leg room for the short hop. Return journey left on time and arrived early.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  11 November 2008 : by Richard Vallance

Manchester - Chicago on a A330. Cabin crew seemed quite flustered and very busy (or understaffed). Seats comfortable but Voyager entertainment system was poor as screen was barely viewable and/or too bright. Cabin was also uncomfortably warm for the whole flight.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  7 November 2008 : by S Jones

DUB-LHR-DUB. Satisfactory service and planes, a good alternative to Aer Lingus, which is the only other operator on this route, especially if you fly frequently enough to have a Blue plus or higher frequent flyer card, in which case you get a free meal on the plane and lounge access. The all inclusive fares are a nice change too (ie you don't pay extra to check in a suitcase). The biggest problems are delays to flights, which can be lengthy, and the baggage reclaim. If you check in a suitcase, it often takes one hour for it to appear at the other end. You will not find a representative from BMI or the baggage handlers in the baggage collection area - there is no-one to explain, or to complain to - why it takes more time for your suitcase to get from the nearby plane, than it did for you to fly from Dublin to Heathrow! There appears to have been nothing done to address this as it has been like this for years.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  7 November 2008 : by Darran Burr

BMI are withdrawing all their Manchester long haul services! If you are booked to travel on the following BMI routes from Manchester in 2009 you should contact them asap to find out what alternative airlines they will be re-protecting you on. MAN-Chicago route will cease to operate from 14 Jan 09 and their Barbados, Antigua and Las Vegas flights will cease to operate from April 2009. I have used BMI Las Vegas flight many times, they had the best Premium Economy service, and their Business Class was excellent.

bmi BRITISH MIDLAND review :  7 November 2008 : by Bill Cooke

LHR-Cairo-LHR on A321, excellent crews both ways and 3 choices of hot meal in Y class. Downside just 1 of 2 toilets working on LHR-Cairo flight resulting in blocked aisles throughout the flight! Arrival in Cairo smooth, but leaving Cairo is a nightmare, poor organisation by the ground-handling agents. Gate 6 very small, no pre-boarding, all announcements indecipherable, everyone onto 2 buses, a free for all.