On bmi’s Facebook page they’ve posted some details on their expected exit from Star Alliance. The sale of the airline from Lufthansa to British Airways’ parent is expect to close on April 20, at which time bmi will no longer be a Star Alliance member though they plan to work on some period of transition for Star Alliance benefits, and tickets booked prior to April 20th for travel after that point using miles will of course be honored. The specific April 20 date could slip, but that’s the best information as of now.
I have perhaps 70,000 miles in my account, I probably won’t get around to burning those in the next two weeks, and sadly they’ll eventually become Avios unless I come up with a brilliant plan for them.
In response to the queries we’ve received around Diamond Club, redemption flights, and bmi’s role in Star Alliance, we’ve posted some FAQs below.
This is the information we can provide at the moment. We will however add more updates over the next two weeks in the run-up to the probable sale completion date.
Q. When is the official date when bmi will leave Star Alliance?
Following last week’s approval by the EU Competition Authority, bmi’s current owner, Lufthansa, is now progressing with the necessary steps in order to complete the sale to International Airline Group (IAG).
It is the intention that bmi will begin to withdraw from Star Alliance at the date of completion of the sale, which we expect to be around 20 April, 2012.
bmi, Lufthansa and Star Alliance will be working together during the coming weeks to ensure bmi’s smooth exit from Star Alliance. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Q. What happens once the sale completes?
It is the intention that bmi will begin to withdraw from Star Alliance at the date of completion of the sale, which we expect to be around 20 April, 2012.
bmi, Lufthansa and Star Alliance will be working together during the coming weeks to ensure bmi’s smooth exit from Star Alliance. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Q. Can I still continue to earn Diamond Club status and destinations miles on bmi?
Yes, we will operate our summer schedule as normal and you can still earn and redeem during this period.
Q. What if I have already made a redemption booking for travel on another Star Alliance airline. Will this booking be honoured?
Existing Diamond Club redemption bookings are unaffected by the sale of bmi to IAG, which we expect to be completed around 20 April.
Q. After completion will I still be able to use my benefits on other Star Alliance carriers?
bmi is working with Star Alliance member carriers to ensure that once bmi begins to withdraw from Star Alliance there are opportunities for Diamond Club members to continue to receive certain benefits on the Star Alliance network for an agreed period of time. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Q. Can I earn / redeem destination miles on BA?
We hope to be able to announce a Diamond Club partnership with British Airways following completion. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available.
So the big question….. how much longer will our BMI cards get us into the RCC??
@hobo13 I don’t know yet unfortunately, it’s how I access United Clubs myself…
I know that Avios bashing is in vogue on some forums, but there are some good deals to be had in the new program. Sadly, of course, the “big ticket” items like First Class to Asia, etc., are gone, but some medium-haul flights have improved slightly and short-haul did so significantly. So, while the aspirational awards (as I believe you call them, Gary) are mostly gone, some more practical awards have become better deals. I don’t love Avios, but I don’t hate it, either. What would be a deal-breaker, though, is if BA starts trimming its above-average availability.
@A.S. look Avios does still have some value, albeit not as much as before. And being able to fly DCA-JFK or DFW-IAH roundtrip for 9000 points doesn’t replace being able to fly JFK-HKG-DPS roundtrip in Cathay business class for 100k. My point though is that trading BMI DIAMOND CLUB points for what will presumably be an equivalent number of BA AVIOS POINTS is going to be a devaluation. Although UK-based bmi members will certainly survive, since BA Avios is best for UK members…