According to the guys on the 'Wings' thread it is £8K.
The AQC is an MCC+JOC
No it isn't. You received a JOC certificate did you?
You are not bound or bonded to CTC.
That's a big part of the problem. And I would WANT to be for £8K, £6.5K or any other K.
You can get an MCC for £2K and stay in a £60 a week lodging, there are plenty around, especially right now. From what I have seen on here a larger than 50% proportion of the people applying/ thinking of applying already have an MCC = a waste.
What risk would that be then?
Did you really ask that question?
My feelings are if you don't want to wait and see in 9 - 10 months time you'll find out the hard way. But if you treat 8K as frivilously as Sciolistes and have as easy access to it then perhaps not.