I have no more detail but did question whether they were a bit previuos in offloading me given that even by the time I got to the desk I was only 2 minutes after the cut off. My inbound flight was overbooked that morning and they were looking for volunteers at £100/head so I do wonder if I had been axed before 1855?
If so, coupled with the fact that I may still qualify as a commercially important passenger, this might explain what is a very welcome U-turn.
I have learnt enough never to look a gift horse etc.
If I ever do fly via T5B I will be careful to avoid this nonsense again but I think, for me LCY will remain my preferred London Gateway.