Flew Toronto-LHR a few weeks ago on a flight scheduled in at 0620. As we were taxiing for takeoff the Captain announced that due to strong tailwinds we would have to fly slower than usual, and hold before landing due to the 0600 opening time at LHR. As SLF this throws up 2 questions:
1) would it not be cheaper to stay on the ground at Toronto, and delay departure to avoid holding (and flying slower, though I don't know whether slower=cheaper or not)
2) if one of the favoured few who is scheduled to arrive before 0600 is delayed, and won't get there till after 6, does the first guy in the after 0600 club get to land early?
I could stir up a bit of a hornet's nest by asking why we had to park off stand at T4 when we arrived just after 6, but that could sidetrack the thread!!
All fairly trivial in the grand scheme of things, but I'd be interested to know the answers.