Bmi regional told off for prize promotion
British Midland Regional has been reprimanded by the advertising watchdog for running a prize promotion to Legoland Billund and then not coming up with the goods.
The airline ran a competition on its Facebook page last year offering a family trip to Legoland Billund, including flights with bmi regional, a two-night stay and entrance to the park for two adults and two children.
But in the time between the winner being notified of their prize and the point when they attempted to book return flights from Birmingham to Billund, bmi ceased to run flights on that route.
Instead bmi regional offered the winner flights from Birmingham to Gothenburg, but those were declined by the winner.
The airline then offered the winner flights from Stansted to Billund with an alternative airline, but these were also declined.
The winner then complained to the Advertising Standards Authority, which launched an investigation.
Publishing its findings today, the ASA said it agreed that the airline should not have run a competition with a prize that meant the winner would incur the additional cost of travelling to and from Gothenburg to Billlund, or to and from Stansted.
"For those reasons, we concluded that the ad breached the Code," said the ASA.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026