BMI is the UK's second biggest airline, with some 2,000 scheduled flights a week serving some 10 different countries with 28 destinations. BMI mainly do the short haul flights such as Heathrow - Paris, Manchester - Amsterdam and the like. as part of the star alliance group you could easily plan a trip to the US to feeder airports such as Chicago, Washington or Boston from either Manchester or Heathrow. But on the whole BMI is better know for it's domestic UK flights and it's European flights.

Prior to my going to the US from Heathrow last May I assumed that I'd just travel down to London on the train the day before. This then meant having to get to Heathrow during rush hour from North London and I decided to put caution to the wind and actually fly from my local airport Manchester. After a search for cheap fare's majortravel.co.uk came up with a bargain which really wasn't that much more if I'd have traveled to London on the train if you added up all the other fares I'd have had to pay to actually get to Heathrow.

~~BUYING A TICKET~~

BMI themselves offer two ways to buy tickets either by calling their reservations desk -all numbers can be found on their website -www.flybmi.co.uk or you can for a discount which averages £5 per flight book directly online with them. Credit card payments will attract a surcharge of £3 per transaction not per ticket.

Having received £150 worth of travel vouchers due to the fact that when I first flew with them I very generously agreed to go on a later flight down to Heathrow. I had to book via their telephone reservations desks. Again this was made easy due to the fact I'd already searched for flights on the web site. My phone call was answered very promptly. all details were taken along with my voucher numbers and I was informed I'd get a written confirmation throw the post regarding my flights. I was also informed that the credit card I had booked my tickets on was my ID for my e tickets.

My second trip corresponded with one of the hottest days this year the outward journey consisted of a flight to Heathrow then a 2 hour stop over till we got the flight to Paris. The first flight was delayed by some 15 minutes. On arrival Heathrow at 10.30 am it was already getting slightly warm - why can't airports have air conditioning? The flight to Paris unfortunately was then delayed by some one hour 20 minutes meaning Niamh and I had to hang around the very stuffy Heathrow for well over 3 hours. Delays on our return were minor around the 15 minute mark for both flights.

Given that I was only flying short haul journeys I was surprised that the old tea trolley came around, but it was gratefully received. A range of beverages were on offer. Given that BMI were the innovators when it came to providing sustance for us veggies I found on my first trip that nothing was available, but given the time of day and jet lag eating wasn't a great priority. On the Paris trip for both legs a vegetarian sandwich or Panni was offered.

My trip to Paris was part of Niamh's birthday present, we had decided to go to Euro Disney. For their short haul flights BMI do not discount tickets for children. Transatlantic fares are roughly a third cheaper. Given the fact that the flights were of a short length no special consideration was made for children such as children's meals etc or goodie bags like other airlines do. But given the fact that we were armed with comics and the like this didn't really matter. On the return journey they did allow children to board prior to general boarding. I get the impression this depends on the airline crew as for the four other flights I went on this did not happen.

Unfortunately this is where BMI falls down badly, if I had never had to contact them I would have most definitely recommended flying with BMI.

Being rather naive person I just assumed it would then be a quick phone call and a credit back on my card. On ringing the reservations department much tooing and throwing occurred till I was given the number of their credit sales department and told to ring them. On ringing this number I found that all I was going to get was a recorded message advising me I would either have to email them or write for a refund. I found this a wee bit annoying to say the least so I rang the reservations number again, I was then informed that even the staff working for BMI couldn't talk to them!! I was duly given another number for the Customer Services department ( complains department) on ringing this number I was informed that they were too busy to take calls and I should try again later! My call was then disconnected!!At this juncture I fired off two emails to the Credit Sales department and to the Customer Services department - two weeks on I am still awaiting a reply from either department.