British Airways. Aaaaargh!!

[Sarajevo]

I have been a happy frequent flyer of British Midland International (BMI) for many years. They are a small airline, and despite having fallen on hard times recently, I still liked them. They were recently bought over by British Airways and I am not lying when I say that I thought that this was a recipe for disaster.

I have been putting off transferring my frequent flyer account, but thought I would do it tonight as I had some spare time. Big mistake. 1 hour later, I am really annoyed and reconsidering whether Easyjet or Ryanair might not be so bad after all... "Combine my Avios" is the BA-chosen phrase for transferring frequent flyer points from newly-acquired airlines.

Here is a copy of an e-mail I just sent to the BA complaints department (when I eventually found them....). What do you think? I will post updates if/when I get them.


"I am a BMI Diamond Club member (account no. xxx) and have been trying to transfer my DC membership points to my newly-created BA account. Every time I follow the links to combine my Avios, I receive a notice telling my session has timed out and that I have to log in again. I have now done this 4 times and received the same message every time. You have managed to turn a relaxing Saturday evening into a stressful one. Well done.

I should add that I only managed to get to the Combine my Avios page after much to-ing and fro-ing, bouncing about your website endlessly. The same applies to finding out how to complain.

When I heard BMI was being bought by BA, I thought that the hitherto-excellent BMI service would be brought down to the levels of BA (lost baggage, T5 fiasco, etc.). It seems that I was right to be concerned. You really have managed to disappoint me, at every opportunity, on my first interaction with your company.

It would be most wonderful if you could let me transfer my BMI points to my BA account. I am not holding out too much hope. By the way there are only two acceptable outcomes to this query: (i) yes we can and (ii) no we cannot. I don't want any rubbish about taking my complaint seriously, failing to satisfy expectations, etc."

[Silvio Mosiello]

I don't know what to say. I got fed up with airline so I bought my own jet. Makes everything so much easier.

[z32turbo]

Originally Posted by Silvio Mosiello

I don't know what to say. I got fed up with airline so I bought my own jet. Makes everything so much easier.

Now that's the way to fly!!!!  

[xjeeunitx]

Comment deleted.

[Baco Noir]

Transitions are generally bumpy. I'd say you overreacted in your email.

Sent by my Android.

[zama]

Look on the bright side there have been many of us who have watched their favourite airline go bankrupt/chapter 11 or whatever it is in each market, I lost 1,000,000+ points one time.

BMI was a fun regional carrier BA is big and safe, I have had good and terrible flights on BA, I would imagine as a Diamond member there is a number you can call, you would probably be a priority member and somebody most likely in India (that was fact not racist) will happily help you move your points over. Not to mention BA fly to as many destinations as any airline on the planet, so once transferred sounds like it could be a good outcome.

[Dr. Robert]

I remember when they were B.O.A.C., which meant "Better on a Camel"

[jamesbondOO7]

No airline is better than another.

I agree, flying private is the way to go.

[jolimont]

Originally Posted by zama

Look on the bright side there have been many of us who have watched their favourite airline go bankrupt/chapter 11 or whatever it is in each market, I lost 1,000,000+ points one time.
.

ansett? Thats a heck of a lot of points

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I remember when they were B.O.A.C., which meant "Better on a Camel"

I fly SAS (Sex And Sandwich).

[dalip]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I fly SAS (Sex And Sandwich).

I hope there was a decent sandwich selection ?

[esm]

I hate flying and dealing with airline staff....

/rant over

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by dalip

I hope there was a decent sandwich selection ?

Naah, they are getting a bit stale, used to be much fresher.

[dalip]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Naah, they are getting a bit stale, used to be much fresher.

.....Best to just focus on the filling ...and leave the bread.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I fly SAS (Sex And Sandwich).

Both you dont get with SAS...

CRAPPY service even when I fly business with them... Same seats, just slightly easier to swallow crappy food..

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Both you dont get with SAS...

CRAPPY service even when I fly business with them... Same seats, just slightly easier to swallow crappy food..

Speak for yourself.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by dalip

.....Best to just focus on the filling ...and leave the bread.

I used to bring my own bread and enjoyed it in the privacy of the bathroom.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I used to bring my own bread and enjoyed it in the privacy of the bathroom.

busy enjoying playing with your hot dog in the lavatory??

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

busy enjoying playing with your hot dog in the lavatory??

It takes one to know one.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I used to bring my own bread and enjoyed it in the privacy of the bathroom.

Originally Posted by MonBK

It takes one to know one.

Well you did say .......

[dalip]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I used to bring my own bread and enjoyed it in the privacy of the bathroom.

Wholemeal?

Originally Posted by MonBK

It takes one to know one.

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Well you did say .......

I have no idea what you're talking about

I'm going to look it up in the moderation dictionary of acceptable innuendo

[Puffy]

BA is alright, bit like Maccas, same deal wherever you go. Cheap and cheerful.

I'm much more of a Singapore Airlines kind of guy.