[Senator]

Good afternoon from Stockholm,

I don’t know much about the bmi DIamond Club card, so a true comparison is hard for me to make. Let me give you a quick rundown on the good and bad about M&M:

GOOD:

* Qualification can be done one out of two years, and status is held for two years

* Companion awards for Senator (Gold) and HON – get 50% off second award ticket

* FlySmart awards in Europe (book between 2-14 days before) are only 15.000 miles in Y and 25.000 miles in C. (To put in perspective: ARN-LHR via HAM/FRA-MUC cost £400 return in C and I earn 10.000 miles so a “free” ticket anywhere in Europe in Y cost me £600 in revenue tickets)

* Always double miles in business, triple in first

* 25% bonus on FTL, SEN and HON card which also count towards status

* Call centres are typically very good – no India but AUS, US or South-Africa for English

* 2 upgrade vouchers for SEN and 6 for HON when qualifying or re-qualifying

* Simple calculation is that for UK residents you need 10 returns in business in Europe via FRA, MUC, ZUR, VIE to make Senator or about 3 intercontinental trips

* Pay taxes and fees with miles

* Use miles across Star Alliance for more choices

* Using LX Business Upgrade Fares I would calculate you would need about £3000-3500 spend annually to get the Senator card.

BAD

* The FTL (Silver) status is not as good as BA Silver

* The FTL/Business Class lounges in FRA specially are not very good

* Fees and taxes on award tickets very high

* Earn on hotels and hire cars low

* Limited distribution of credit card partners beyond core markets (even BA has credit card in Sweden).

[PatJordan]

Hi Martyn,

I just checked with Dublin Airport and they tell me that Immigration is cleared in Dublin when flying DUB-MCO. Incidentally, Aer Lingus are doing great deals on Business on this route.

Hope this is of help, Martyn.

[VintageKrug]

A reminder that bmi’s Company Rewards will close for ever on Tuesday 31 August, so don’t dilly dally if you haven’t already either liquidated you points into a voucher (s) or opened a Company Plus account.

[PatJordan]

Martyn,

I spoke to a lady in the Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge this morning and she informed me that pax do NOT clear US immigration in Ireland on DUB – MCO…..I don’t know what to believe now.Sorry to confuse the issue.

[dubtraveller]

Hi there,
Believe that flight is scheduled (12:15pm) after US immigration closes at Dublin airport (11am I believe), which may explain the answer from Gold Circle. Have not used this route from here, but have been caught out before with later flights (to JFK) from Dub!

[Author]

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