hope I haven't hit a raw nerve here, just a late night thought and I appreciate the replies! I get the relative cost of wasting miles + £25 though six of us will have lounge access as part of our booking so flipping it on it's head, 7 of us in T5 (or even in F&M!) would cost a lot more...

Having said that it already sounds like hard work - we may just wave at him through the window - at least that way he will have a taste of the flight to come...!

Thanks again for all the replies ^^