I wouldn't call FL280 a low altitude although I know that some aircraft fly much higher.
That's a fair point but in relation to fuel burn wouldn't that be an avoided altitude for medium range European flights? Typical the cruise altitude for EIN073 the last few weeks has been FL360 - FL370. EIN073, EIN883, EIN491 and an easyJet and Thomas Cook flight on the same track heading to Shanwick all descended to altitudes between FL270 - FL300 after leaving Santiago in Spain, It just seemed odd that's all. There wasn't a lot of Westbound traffic and the wind was coming directly from the West so no headwinds.