Is that a loop hole? I never quite understood why IST is not excluded from that list as it is further than some of the airports/countries already listed.
Does not seem so popular a destination though so maybe no incentive to put it in the rule ? LHR-MCT is still the big earner of all the EU/ME routes.
For my next one i want to see how much i save if i avoid LHR a lot more, use FRA/HEL/MAD etc instead.
E