PATAM99 - 13/04/2011 22:05 GMT
I have been a frequent user of the bmi BHD - LHR service for many years and have found it to reliable and comfortable with excellent,efficient and friendly staff. However, the service at weekends has now diminished to 4 daily flights and most of these operated by the tiny Embraer. It used to be A321s.
It was my first experience of the Embraer last Saturday on the BD80.
The entrance to the cabin is cramped to say the least squeezing past the galley and wardrobe, the overhead bins are small and the whole atmosphere in the cabin is one of claustrophobia. "Wheelie bags" are taken from passengers at the bottom of the steps and returned on the tarmac on arrival. However, this meant that no one was allowed off the aircraft on arrival until all the "wheelie bags" had been placed at the bottom of the steps. Unfortunately, the crew did not inform the passengers of this so there was some confusion in the cabin as to why we were not being let off.
Basically, a poor reflection on the rest of the airline and its operations.
Welcome to the real world, PATAM99. Most of us flying from regional airports have had this situation for years. On the whole I find British Midland fine.
I would like to know why BMI have the right to hold us all on the aircraft whilst we await these bags?
Recently, 10 mins was taken, in which tome, with no bags, i could have been in my car.
Can they really demand you stay on the plane?
NTarrant - 15/04/2011 11:30 GMT
This is not unusual. I have not been on an Embraer-145 since travelling LHR-LBD a few years ago and regularly between SOU and MAN when BA were operating the route. The same applied. As it also does when travelling with Eastern Airways SOU-NCL comes to mind.
Of course they can hold you on board for as long as they need to but it is better than checking in a trolley bag.
I too have had the experience when bmi ploughed the GLA - MAN route. Sadly bmi are no more from GLA, well south anyway, a great shame and one wonders if they could have turned a profit using these smaller jets and retained their GLA - LHR route and provided some competition to BA.
LcyA318 - 20/04/2011 11:10 GMT
BMI also use the Embraer 145 on BD847/848 LHR-TXL-LHR service as I found out last week. It was strange sitting in row 2 getting a business class service, 3 course hot meal, etc with no dividing curtain and then row 3 onwards getting their sandwich and a hot or cold drink. I actually like these little jets but appreciate they are more cramped and the wait to get off can be frustrating, especially if like me, all I had with me was a small bag.
