Many years ago, back in the 1980’s that is, I remember bmi starting to fly from Heathrow to Amsterdam. I used to visit the city often then, and bmi always had better fares, a nicer service and better planes. My first flights, I recall, had boarding cards that they took from a model of the plane located behind check-in. No computer generated (or home printed) card then, but a proper one. Never had seat dupes that way.

On board they did a great afternoon tea, with scones, cream and jam. I still remember how special I felt.

Fast forward a few years, and I remember arguments with agents at the gate about the size of my carry-on, and taking away all catering. I stopped flying. You really bribe me with a nice plate of food!

A few years ago I used to go back and forth to Brussels a few times a year and had somehow matched to Gold Status, meaning I had upgrade certs which I used. The food was nice and the service was OK.

Still, bmi were stuck with a weird route network, their passing love affair with Manchester to the US routes was oh! so brief. Then they ended up going to places where I didn’t want to go.

Fast forward to the last month when, just as their sale was happening, they did some nice electronic discount coupons, and some good ‘Try Business for Economy” fares. So I’ve taken 6 bmi flights in the last month. Some have been great – typically the shorter, domestic ones oddly. So, as these will be my last flights before bmi becomes BA, I have a few pictures you might like from these last trips.

So it’s goodbye to bmi, and a huge thanks for the trips.