... in the same context , only different ... why don`t ATC offer " direct - to ..." more often than they do at present. I`m always asking , and you may find it annoying , but after all , that`s why we fly , - the quickest we can get where we are going , the better for all , - I`m out of your hair earlier and I`m in the pub sooner and the punters or the packages get where they intend to go , hopefully near to schedule. Seriously , how many times have I sat there at FL 360 wondering if ATC has a reason for us going all around the looong way ( this includes all of Europe and a lot of Asia too ). And by the way , does the UK really think the Germans are still going to invade from the East , they sure make it inconvenient with all the military airspace on the Eastern side of the British Isles. You open that airspace up to civilian traffic more , then you`d see some fuel savings. Rant on !