But they don't so the rules apply. If and when an a/c goes direct to Almaty and it takes more than 7 hrs then L/H allowances will apply. Bmi fly to Cairo and Moscow as a there and back 2 sector day, so working on your theory as the flying time is longer than 7 hrs irrespective of sectors should L/H allowances be paid? If you think so; then what about every other crew member who flies domestic routes for every S/H airline in the UK that regularly flies longer flying times every single day, should they be classed as long haul?
I was only explaining the point about how they can use the CAA rules to their advantage, I wasn't getting into the debate about allowances one way or another.
Yes Moscow and backs are longer than 7 hours but the sectors are still under 7 hours for the purposes of CAP 371 FDP calculation.