BMI change of flight to Astraeus

purplenatalie

Last January we booked a family trip for 5 persons in June through Expedia with BMI. At the time we made the reservation the trip was on a BMI Airbus 320 and would take 5 hours. My wife is a very nervous flyer and recently checked the details. We were horrified to find that the flight is now with Astraeus, a charter company we have never heard of, on a Boeing 757 and now takes considerably longer.

My wife is distraught - we now have a different airline, a different airplane and a different schedule.

Expedia refuse to refund or re-book with another airline. That doesnt seem very fair to me.

Can anyone advise what we can do?

dmg24

How much longer is the flight? How much later will you arrive at your destination?

alanrowell

Astraeus are good enough for Iron Maiden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astraeus_(airline)

purplenatalie

dmg24 wrote: »

How much longer is the flight? How much later will you arrive at your destination?

Flight out is an extra 45 minutes

M4RKM

there really isn't that much difference in a Airbus A320, to a Boeing 757, neither are widebody, and both seem to have a XXX - XXX formation of the seats, with the 757 having more rows, so it is a larger airplane!

dmg24

Although you have given us no information to work from, I am assuming that you are referring to the LHR - Tel Aviv route (BMI have leased two Astraeus planes for this route).

According to the BMI website, the flight out is still 5 hrs 5 mins, with the return flight being 5 hrs 45 mins (it is quite standard for flights to be different durations, due to tailwinds), which are the same times as the BMI operated flights!

I really don't understand your problem?

M4RKM

actually dmg24, the reason the flight back will be longer, is because of HEADwinds....

tailwinds make the flight shorter....

*grins*

dmg24

markymoo wrote: »

actually dmg24, the reason the flight back will be longer, is because of HEADwinds....

tailwinds make the flight shorter....

*grins*

Ah, but if you reread what I put ... I just said that tailwinds made the flight times vary, I didn't say which way!

M4RKM

yeah yeah.. .whatever!

richardw

Airlines can do this.

BA did this on flights from Gatwick to Tampa, with an inferior business class product, passengers were livid.

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/astraeus.htm

bagand96

If BMI have contracted Astraeus to operate some of their flights then Astraeus will be delivering a service standard that bmi have specified, which at a guess will be the same as bmi's own service (in economy at least).

Astraeus are a perfectly good airline that operate to the same safety standards as bmi (i.e. the UK CAA) so there is no reason to be more worried about flying them than bmi. Also their website states their 757s operate in a 201 seat config that offers 31" seat pitch in economy, so will be no worse than bmi's A320.

Boeing 757s are capable of flying faster than A320's so can't see any reason for the flight being longer, other than what dmg24 has stated above.

Finally, your beef is with bmi not Expedia, its bmi who have subcontracted to Astraeus. Try calling bmi see what they say. But also, consider if its worth all the hassle of trying to rearrange your travel plans. I know it may have come as a shock initially, but really the Astraeus flights will be fine, you will get the same service as bmi and they are just as safe.

http://www.flyastraeus.com