VS and BMI - have a listen to this

Hmm, I wonder what this would do to my Diamond Club miles? A 1:1 transfer to FC miles? Would be a nasty hit to lose the "miles n' cash" benefit you get in DC...

Darryl

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by randalf

Hmm, I wonder what this would do to my Diamond Club miles? A 1:1 transfer to FC miles? Would be a nasty hit to lose the "miles n' cash" benefit you get in DC...

Yep, many of us thinking the same. The expansion and slots would be great for VS, and i think they could apply some business sense in the areas where BMI have been failing, but i do like the DC/*A rewards scheme and i'd hate for it to change.

I guess we can speculate forever on the what-if's and maybe's if VS do buy BMI, there are a hell of a lot of issues on the *A side that would need serious planning and forethought otherwise there will be a lot of angry *G's and DC members if the benefits change (any more!).

Thanks,
Sarah

great news if it happens [^]

not sure that i care what happens to diamond club miles and *alliance miles (i have over 300,000 and never get to spend them)... [|)]

all i care about is the re-introduction of 'through check' of luggage from vs to bd flights... [|:)]

Originally posted by sailor99
More likely British Virgin - Although marketing gurus would say using the two words in the same brand name would be a confusing and unfamiliar concept

Only true if the word Essex were to appear somewhere in the title, surely???;)

Originally posted by hamishbrown

all i care about is the re-introduction of 'through check' of luggage from vs to bd flights... [|:)]

and some bd flights to LGW [y][y][y]

David

Which *G should we consider jumping to if bmi goes VS... Which one has the best perks and lets people 'transfer'

Interesting program, and a week old shipping forecast at the end of it just to remind me of dear old blighty!

I noticed on PPRUNE that BMI has suspended their BOM route due to one of their 330's being broken and no replacement can be found.

Are they not making a big effort to find a replacement aircraft since you can bet this will be one route that will go if Virgin take over?[?]

Just a thought on the name front - BMI Virgin as in B MI Virgin as in Be My Virgin;)

VS.

Originally posted by VS045
Just a though on the name front - BMI Virgin as in B MI Virgin as in Be My Virgin;)

VS.

I'd trade mark that quick! You could make a fortune[:o)][y][oo]

bmi's response to the rumours:

Asked by ABTN whether persistent rumours that bmi was in negotiations for a sale to Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic, bmi ceo Nigel Turner denied it. Òbmi is not for sale,Ó he said, which also removes stories that minority shareholder, and Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa, might bid for a majority interest.

http://abtn.co.uk/bmi_Not_For_Sale

Originally posted by scally
bmi's response to the rumours:

Asked by ABTN whether persistent rumours that bmi was in negotiations for a sale to Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic, bmi ceo Nigel Turner denied it. Òbmi is not for sale,Ó he said, which also removes stories that minority shareholder, and Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa, might bid for a majority interest.

http://abtn.co.uk/bmi_Not_For_Sale

So it's true then

{Edit to repair smilie!}

Originally posted by PVGSLF

Originally posted by VS045
Just a though on the name front - BMI Virgin as in B MI Virgin as in Be My Virgin;)

VS.

I'd trade mark that quick! You could make a fortune[:o)][y][oo]

Well, bmivirgin.com is already taken since 2003 by a bloke in Brighton and there are several amusing and related domain names just waiting to be picked up.[:I]

What would interest me is what would happen if BMI Virgin did form. Am I right in presuming that they would have no rights to the website as if the person set it up before a merger was even thought of then he can;t be accused of squatting, or could the company still get it off him without offering a huge enticement.

I think it'd be Baby Virgin for the domestic flights and virgin atlantic for anything else...?

A few points on this thread:
1. Lufthansa do not have to consider bidding for the majority stake in BMI, because SMB is holding a put option to force them to buy his 51% at a price way higher than current value.
2. If SRB wants some of the action he could take the option off Lufthansa's hands, but he would want to be paid millions to do so (for the same reason as in 1). And then he would want SMB to exercise his put option. Does Lufthansa have those millions?
3. If the real asset value in BMI is in the LHR landing slots, then SRB taking over BMI would make sense in an 'asset-stripping' sense only, i.e. buy BMI, transfer the slots to VS and close BMI down. Would SMB want that? Even SRB might only want a selective few of those landing slots for long-haul use - selling off the unwanted ones.
4. ...and as for the statement that BMI is not for sale, well, every business is for sale at the right price!