Way back in the days of the cold war the UK would have a five-yearly excercise to mobile a large part of the TA (army reserves) and get them out to (West) Germany. We used to be processed through Windsor Barracks and then bussed to a temporary terminal on the S side of LHR.
Imagine an entire regiment of young, fit (ironically we were an airborne unit) men on a 747. The lovely BA lasses got a round of applause just for the safety brief, and then plenty of attention for the rest of the 100 minute flight. Can't think why they preferred us to grumpy business men and crying babies.
They were happy too, since they were a long haul crew, and so they got several rest days after completing 2 SH sectors.