I think the person upping his/her post count and who lives in France but is located in the UK has issues of his/her own which are different from the rest of us.

Comair was mentioned earlier. Comair operates domestically and s/h in southern Africa. In my experience and that of many FTers, Comair Club service knocks BA CE into a cocked hat, and I'm told that Comair economy is superior to ET. So the staff earn less? Probably, but I am happy to take up the airline's offer. Cabin service, punctuality and reliability are superior - I for one would be happy if BA standards were raised to Comair's.

Now I know a thing or two about motors. I wonder how many of us know that the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C Series in the UK market are manufactured in South Africa, and until recently so was the VW Golf. I'm sure drivers of these cars are happy with their 'German' quality.

There are 4 BMW factories worldwide manufacturing the 3 Series. Three are in Germany and one is in SA. In BMW terms, they are identical with the same investment and production levels. Just one thing, the SA-built Beamers are higher quality, something which is not understood too well in Munich.

There are many issues regarding branding and nationality which frankly are irrelevant in the general nature of things. Just as UK drivers of German-branded cars are happy with their SA-manufactured models, whatever BA Lite operates ex ORY/BRU/wherever with a mixed crew will tailor its offer to the markets involved and succeed or perish. I'm inclined to the 'succeed' theory.