BMI Manchester - Washington DC

[Tanya934]

Has anyone done this route to the US?

I noticed that they are operated by Icelandair for BMI & i was wondering if their arrangement is similar to that of Virgin & Air Atlanta & if the have a PE section on this route.

Have checked on the BMI website but can't find the info i need.:confused2

[SimonB]

In answer to your question on Premium Economy the answer is no. It is a 2 class cabin (Business and economy).

The 757 is a single aisle aircraft with 3 seats either side of the aisle in economy.

[tonyhughes2003]

Hiya Tanya...BMI have moved their Manchester - Washington Airbus to Heathrow and replaced it with the leased 757. As Simon said, there is no PE on board. We were originally booked on this flight but changed to go to Orlando via Chicago. I suppose that doesn`t help if you want to go to Washington.:confused2

Have a look here a previous thread. http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55788&highlight=bmi+washington

[Tanya934]

OMG it looks terrible!
Is the seat pitch any better than they use to ply from MAN to LHR?

Think i may consider using another airline to get to DC.

[tonyhughes2003]

There is quite a long and detailed discussion here Tanya..http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409282&highlight=bmi+washington about the service. It should provide the answer to your questions regarding seat pitch etc.

[Villainlover]

It is charter configuration so I would have thought sardine seats..

I changed my flight to the Chicago route too as soon as I found out.

[dcmax]

wow this must have changed significantly since christmas when bmi were using there spankingly new a330s which i believe are now being used on the direct manchester to vegas route..

Regardless of that, as can be seen on page 1 of our christmas trip report, and the last page, the biggest problem with the washington dulles route is dulles itself...

[Tanya934]

Tony, thanks for the link & thanks to everyone else for their posts!
Looks like we'll fly US Airways next year & risk a change in Philadelphia.
The lengths we go to to avoid the World Cup!

[Villainlover]

Originally posted by Tanya934
Tony, thanks for the link & thanks to everyone else for their posts!
Looks like we'll fly US Airways next year & risk a change in Philadelphia.
The lengths we go to to avoid the World Cup!

USairways were excellent last year and grab a philly cheese steak sandwich whilst you are connecting .. Mmmnnn

[Tanya934]

Originally posted by Villainlover
USairways were excellent last year and grab a philly cheese steak sandwich whilst you are connecting .. Mmmnnn

Shelly, we'll be lucky to make the flight if we go as the planned schedule shows a 2.45hr connection time & you have to race across to another terminal.
Hopefully grab one on the way back! :jump:

[Villainlover]

Originally posted by Tanya934
Shelly, we'll be lucky to make the flight if we go as the planned schedule shows a 2.45hr connection time & you have to race across to another terminal.
Hopefully grab one on the way back! :jump:

thats plenty of time ;) we went straight to the gate to get our connection and then bought one in the gate area :D there is food and drinks absolutely everywhere... I have never seen so many outlets

[Tanya934]

What's actually in it?

One of the reps who comes to our company is flying BMI to Washington this Xmas.
I should see him on Thursday so i'll tell him about the change in aircraft.
I don't think he'll be too happy!

[tonyhughes2003]

Hiya Tanya

This is a picture of the plane back in 1993 in its Icelandic colours...:(

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=817689&size=L&width=1024&height=713&sok=JURER%20%20%28ert%20%3D%20%27GS-SVV%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=8

[tonyhughes2003]

and the interior probably looks something like this I guess.....

[Tanya934]

Thanks Tony!

All this has definately put me off BMI!

[Tanya934]

DH spoke to a mate of his boss who is a steward for BMI.
He told DH that if the 757 gets a strong headwind they have to strop in Gander to refuel as they can't make it all the way to Washington!
If it's a really strong headwind they have to stop in Greenland.
Definately not flying BMI!

[fionawi]

My friend has just come back after travelling on the 757 via washington and she wasn't impressed to say the least. They had no idea that they had changed the planes and were expecting seat back teles etc. She wouldnt fly with them again.

[tonyhughes2003]

Originally posted by Tanya934
DH spoke to a mate of his boss who is a steward for BMI.
He told DH that if the 757 gets a strong headwind they have to strop in Gander to refuel as they can't make it all the way to Washington!
If it's a really strong headwind they have to stop in Greenland.
Definately not flying BMI!

:( :( :( :( Blimey Tanya.....Lucky escape for me too....

[Villainlover]

I am so glad that I was warned about this change too.. though I don't go until October and they could have whisked the other A330 down to Heathrow by that time :(

the 757 is a medium range plane so should not be used for long haul IMO

[hamptonlakes]

We flew BMI from Manchester to Las vegas via Dulles and the flight out from Manchester was on the a330 and we have seat back TVs and the service was excellent until we got to Dulles to find we were making a connection with TED (United cheap airline) and oh my the TED flight was so bad no food, no seat back TVs and totally unconfortable planes for a whole 4 hours but you could purchase a snack pack with some really intresting snacks inside.

When we arrived in Dulles on our return we found that we were travelling on this old Icelandic plan and to be honest the plan is old and battered and really tacky. The service was not very good and the food the same not very good. We were lucky that seats infront were free so we could stretch but by doing this no TV.

But i guess you get what you pay for and at £308 each return i guess would could not expect to travel style :rolleyes:

[Pino_Spetzberg]

We flew BMI to Chicago at the beginning of this month.
The knowledge it was a fairly new Airbus A330 was part of our reason for choosing BMI.
We boarded as normal and waited for take off - feeling the cabin temperature was hotter than usual. An apologetic announcement was made that the air-conditioning reserve power unit was faulty, attempts to repair it had failed - it would have to be replaced - causing a two hour delay. The bad weather at O'Hare causing a further 30 minute delay on landing.
These things happen - it isn't anybodys fault - but I couldn't help notice there seemed to be a good few on board that were upset they had missed their connecting flights.
Some were travelling to Las Vegas but most families seemed destined to Orlando. Waiting at US Immigration quite a few people were in tears - I overheard one mother complaining that she would never take an indirect flight again and that she thought BMI were rubbish. I understood her frustration but wondered at her choice of flying via Chicago ?
Compared to the relative simplicity of travelling directly from UK to Orlando non-stop isn't it just too much hassle to risk missing a connection - and either way it turns an already long journey into something of a marathon.
Must say we felt great sympathy for everybody feeling stranded.
We wouldn't choose an indirect flight for a family trip to Florida having witnessed these events - something to consider.

[Villainlover]

I have booked indirect flights for the past few years .. as your relatively simple direct flights only include Virgin from Manchester for me.. I would prefer a delay in chicago to paying an extra £1600 for our family to fly direct with Virgin...
So I have flown Manchester to Orlando via Chicago and with USAirways via Philadelphia. we have only experienced one overnight stay at Chicago on a return flight due to Snow. Though not happy at the time, it turned out to be the best return I have had as we had no Jetlag at all ...

I do not think that I would be crying as I am sure they would put you on the next available flight to your destination..

a few years ago...
I have also been on a 'direct' charter which had engine failure when we landed at Bangor to refuel.. I was alone with an 18 month old baby (long story) for over 16 hours while they found the problem, sent a mechanic to Canada and back and fit the faulty part.. I spent a few of those hours in a cell!! as it was the only place I could have a lie down with DD... So there are swings and roundabouts to all options.. now that time I did end up crying as I had a baby that wouldn't go to anyone and had to carry my hand luggage around the whole time...

just thought I would explain my reasons for booking indirect :D

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Originally posted by Villainlover
....just thought I would explain my reasons for booking indirect :D

That makes sense too. :thumbup:

Flying Virgin from Manchester has not been an option for us as we won't fly on a 30 year old Icelandic 747 shed - no matter what colour it is painted.
Mostly our Orlando ( OK Sanford ) direct non-stop flights have been charters - costing around £179 per person more or less.

Wonder when the next available flight was for those on our plane, would be fascinating if any Dibbers were on board - to find out.

[Villainlover]

It is great if you can get a charter, but going for a three week duration that is only booked 1 year in advance during the October half term holiday..charters just do not want to know :(

I know that I have 2 1/2 hours between connections and there is another United flight a couple of hours after that one so that would give me at least 4 1/2 hours befor I started to panic.. and I know which hotel I would choose to stay at if I had to stay overnight (which wouldnt be a major problem as I am going for 23 nights this time :D

Those were the days ... going around thanksgiving on a direct charter upgraded to premium economy. for about the same price as the indirect in economy that I booked this year.... ahh well ...
but I suppose you forget about the 6 hour delay here and the 10 hour delay there, stuck at Sandford befor the days of the guest house :confused2

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Originally posted by Villainlover
.... as I am going for 23 nights this time :D




Have fun ! :spin: