UK domestic flights

[Gaynor]

We're flying from Manchester to Heathrow with BMI this August then on to LAX. We fly down to Heathrow the day before which is great but coming home we land from LAX at 12 noon and the BMI flight doesn't leave until 5.05pm back to manchester. We booked the bmi flights with virgin and at the time never questioned the times.
If there was an earlier flight with seats available would BMI allow us on to that flight?

 

[juliebro]

I think it will depend what sort of ticket you have got.

It tends to be the more expensive ones that have that sort of flexibility.

Worth asking your agent.

 

[heatherbelle]

I am in exactly the same position as you. In a word, no.

When you look at the connecting flights, the earlier one, does not allow enough time for you to collect your luggage and change terminals, that's why they have put us on the 5.00 flight.

believe me, I have tried to get this changed but they won't. When they book connecting flights, they allow between 2.5 hours and 3 hours.

Orginally they wanted us to wait 8 hours in LHR for our Leeds flight, I made a complaint and it was changed to the earlier flight, but the BMI cancelled all flights in and out of LHR, so it was back to Manchester.

Also you need to be aware, that you need to collect your luggage when you arrive at LHR. BMI and VH will not ticket your luggage all the way through connecting flights.

My Mum when with BMI to LHR and then on to Bankok, she had 2 hours between flights and she only just made it. Coming home they did ticket her flight back, but she came home on Malaysian Airways. BMI wouldn't ticket her through going out though.

 

[Gaynor]

Thanks Heatherbelle for that info I didn't know we had to collect our luggage, Virgin never mentioned this
BMI will still allow our Virgin baggage allowance won't they?

 

[Claire L]

If booked as a through ticket then the allowance stays the same.

Claire

 

[Gaynor]

Thanks Claire