Mrs IJ went PER-LHR / LGW-PER via DXB and got all the seats booked online so I guess it does work.
Flygulfair, being 195cm tall I agree with your comments about being cramped in cattle class. Especially on those damn Airbuses. Don't know it the B777 was any different in seat pitch or whether it was just a perception but it certainly seemed a little better.
Certainly can't agree with your comment about food or service which I found over 2 years of flying back and forth between PER - DXB to be pretty good.