All this talk of lounge access is missing the point.
Inbound to FRA in my shorthaul days asked to reduce speed - OK thats sequencing. Short burst of quickfire German made my colleague sit up and take notice ( that's him with a degee in German - and a German wife) What was said was to LH behind us "keep your speed up and we'll jump the Brits!"
Inbound MAD had the usual FL150 "overhead join" but this time extended routing to the south - could nearly see Seville
Again some Spanish back chat but I had another secret weapon, co-pilot lives in Spain. The phrase they used was "The Moors are at the Coast" i.e. Spaniards stick together. He replied in Spanish "Yes, but the Moors are listening"!
Favouritism for national carriers in Europe? Of course......