The fastest frequent flyer programme to get Star Alliance Gold (bmi British Midland Diamond Club)

Member Name: jamesontheroad

Product:	bmi British Midland Diamond Club
Date:	16/10/08 (355 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Generous earning opportunities on dozens of airlines

Disadvantages: Lower fare classes come with puny earning: pay attention if not in business class

The Diamond Club isn't just a handy frequent flyer programme for regular travellers with bmi (formerly British Midland) and their subsidiary bmi Regional, it's also a very useful stepping stone to mid and upper status levels in the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world. You can earn and spend miles on all seventeen airlines of the growing alliance, as well as bmi partners Transaero Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Qatar Airways and low-cost subsiduary bmibaby. bmi maintain a number of airport lounges with snacks, refreshments and amenities throughout the UK and at a handful of European airports, and have reciprocal lounge access arrangements at most destinations (but check the t+c of your fare: a silver card holder can't access the lounge when travelling on the cheapest "economy saver" / "tiny" fares).

Diamond Club membership can often be nabbed with a healthy starter bonus of miles or status. There are four status levels: blue, blue plus, silver and gold. You reach blue plus after 3,000 miles, silver after 16,000 and gold after 38,000. Silver and gold are recognised as Star Alliance silver and gold, so you can enjoy perks on most Star Alliance airlines.

Briefly - a bmi flight earns a certain number of miles. This depends on the distance flown and the class: anything less than 600 miles earns 600. The cheaper the fare class, the smaller the multiplier, e.g. 0.25 x miles for an "economy saver" / "tiny" fare. The more expensive the fare class, the greater the multiplier, e.g. 2.0 x miles for business.

You will earn the same number of miles in two balances - "destinations miles" for redemptions and "status miles" for status. You have to hit the totals listed above within one calendar year to get the status. If you hit gold ten years in a row, you get gold for life.

There are many many many other ways to earn desintations miles, notably the bmi American Express card (which can usually be enrolled with a five figure miles bonus as a gift), partner hotels, Hertz car hire etc. Check the bmi website at http://www.flybmi.com/ for details.

Most importantly - join the lively Diamond Club forum on FlyerTalk. This is an independent community of Diamond Club members who have prepared extremely detailed FAQs and who can also answer questions about anything to do with Diamond Club. There is also a long standing "lurker" (an employee of Diamond Club) who regularly responds to specific problems. Her presence in the forum is invaluable.

Summary: One of the better ways to enjoy FF perks on many Star Alliance airlines