"That's my point. BPK-Woburn is a straight line that goes through the EGGW overhead. By giving the full route I'm basically implying "I know what I'm doing, I've done this many times before and I've planned to give you, the ATCO, minumum hassle but still get a direct transit." It may seem redundant, but, in my opinion and experience, it increases your chances of an on-track transit."
It may even be that if you look at the map BPK-WAL is a straight line going through the Luton overhead, but I will guarantee you that it will not change the transit clearance you receive. For the reasons you gave before:
"this is exactly where ATC wants you - out of the way of their instrument approach and missed approach."
... a clearance through the overhead is *the* clearance that you will receive if it is at all possible. The only reason for a Luton ATCO making you route differently is the presence of other conflicting traffic. This may be missed approach IFR traffic, or, more likely somebody else transitting in the opposite direction. In this case, whatever route you request, you will not get the transit.
Your HEMEL routing is more likely to have been as a result of the need to waste a little time before clearing you into the zone. ATCOs are normally not keen to hold VFR traffic outside their zone, in close proximity to another ATZ (ie Panshanger)
Under those circumstances, I am not sure why you wouldn't simply cancel the request and route up the eastern edge of the zone towards Baldock and Stewartby, it would be much faster...and a a habit well worth developing, given the recent change of ownership of 129.55
[This message has been edited by 2Donkeys (edited 15 March 2001).]