Thanks for the comments. I'm lucky to be a silver member so I get to stock up internally on wine and food pre-boarding, so I would simply be paying 500 gbp extra for a posh meal (nope) and tier points (not that desperate for them).

With OLCI I always pre-select 12a, the exit row, and have the largest seat on the plane after having chilled out in the lounge for an hour. The most agreeable short-haul flight I know of.

Rich.