Originally Posted by
sadiqhassan
I think the UK limits are so large because passengers from many different parts of the UK commute to big airports such as MAN,BHX,LHR,GLA etc from smaller towns in order to fly EK onto Dubai. I don't think the same is true for MEL.
Cheers
Before EK began flying from so many UK regional airports, the mileage limit was unlimited for both first and business class pax.
You're correct in your assumption about the why the UK CD mileage limits are so large.
You also have to remember that carriers like BA (routing via LHR/LGW), AF (via CDG), KL (via AMS) and LH (via FRA/MUC) are all wooing regional passengers with transfer connections.
Offering a premium traveller based in EDI a free ride to GLA (some 60 miles away) to take EK's direct flight is a way of competing, say, with KL who will be trying to get the passenger to fly EDI-AMS-DXB.