The controllers hands are tied, direction comes from management and is not open for individual discretion.
If we are unsure of RVSM status we ask the pilot, if you say you are RVSM then that is good enough. In the UAE FIR they wont take that from the pilot, they must have a hard-copy of the flight plan with the correct info in the equipment field. If not, then down to FL270.
It does apply to all operators, I have been told to drop emirates flights (not as often, but it has happend) as well as others, there is no favoritism.
Example: London to Singapore FL410, has to go down to FL270 to transit the UAE FIR, then climbs back to FL410 on the other side. Go figure !!!
