Just a few points:

1. ANA, although a minor carrier from LHR, still have their own staff. I'm sure of this because 90% of their ground staff seems to be immaculately mannered and etc. Also if they were contract then I doubt they will have as many Japanese staff as they do presently.

2. In LHR T3, there is no passport control on your way out, only security checks. When you're eligible for Fast Track (F/J/Gold) you go through a separate security check lane which is always so much quicker. The ordinary line could take forever to clear...

3. Arrivals fast track: When arriving as F/J (never tried as a gold) you receive a bright pink card in the flight. When you arrive, you will find that Fast Track takes about 3 minutes max. to clear, whereas the normal line could take as long as 20-30 minutes to clear. Quite a wait if you're unlucky.

AC*SE: I don't think the airlines have to pay for the deparature fast track, because it's just a red circle sticker which I could buy from my local stationary shop! and besides, they don't write down which carrier you're going on.

Anyway, so it looks like letter writing time to me!

I hope this might change something... I doubt that agent will get much though...