A gas turbine engine component (60, 160) comprising: an external wall including adjacent bounding pedestals that extend from an external wall surface to establish a cooling passage, and including a common pedestal situated between the adjacent bounding pedestals to establish a first branched section (170B-1) and a second branched section (170B-2) of the cooling passage that join together at a merged section of the cooling passage, first and second inlets (172, 173) established between the common pedestal and respective ones of the adjacent bounding pedestals, the first and second inlets (172, 173) coupled to an internal cavity, the merged section interconnecting the first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) and an outlet, the outlet established along the external wall surface between the adjacent bounding pedestals which extend to the outlet, and the common pedestal spaced apart from the outlet; wherein the adjacent bounding pedestals and the common pedestal are dimensioned such that first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) are established along the respective first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) and such that the first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) expand towards the outlet to establish respective diffusion zones, the diffusion zones interconnecting the merged section and the respective first and second throats (178-1, 178-2); one or more coatings extending into the outlet to establish a coated outlet region of the cooling passage; and wherein the first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) establish a local minimum cross-sectional area (A1, A2) along the respective first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2); characterized in that a local minimum cross-sectional area (A1, A2) of the cooling passage along the coated outlet region divided by a total of the minimum cross-sectional areas (A1, A2) of the first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) establishes a coated area ratio, and the coated area ratio is greater than or equal to 0.8, and is less than or equal to 1.5. an external wall including adjacent bounding pedestals that extend from an external wall surface to establish a cooling passage, and including a common pedestal situated between the adjacent bounding pedestals to establish a first branched section (170B-1) and a second branched section (170B-2) of the cooling passage that join together at a merged section of the cooling passage, first and second inlets (172, 173) established between the common pedestal and respective ones of the adjacent bounding pedestals, the first and second inlets (172, 173) coupled to an internal cavity, the merged section interconnecting the first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) and an outlet, the outlet established along the external wall surface between the adjacent bounding pedestals which extend to the outlet, and the common pedestal spaced apart from the outlet; wherein the adjacent bounding pedestals and the common pedestal are dimensioned such that first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) are established along the respective first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) and such that the first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2) expand towards the outlet to establish respective diffusion zones, the diffusion zones interconnecting the merged section and the respective first and second throats (178-1, 178-2); one or more coatings extending into the outlet to establish a coated outlet region of the cooling passage; and wherein the first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) establish a local minimum cross-sectional area (A1, A2) along the respective first and second branched sections (170B-1, 170B-2); characterized in that a local minimum cross-sectional area (A1, A2) of the cooling passage along the coated outlet region divided by a total of the minimum cross-sectional areas (A1, A2) of the first and second throats (178-1, 178-2) establishes a coated area ratio, and the coated area ratio is greater than or equal to 0.8, and is less than or equal to 1.5.