The problem with jumping to gun and offering up a lot of seats at below cost is if a strike occurs, it will cost BA far more to reaccommodate these passengers on other carriers. Not to mention the fact that it will be peak summer time when other airlines are probably full themselves. The last thing you want to do it offer a "welcome back to BA" sale and then have them all be stranded due to BA's inability to get them transported. Even if other carriers had space, BA would have to buy seats at a premium thus negating any extra revenue they might have brought in from the sale. If a brand is damaged, having 1000s hanging about the airport complaining to the media how BA ruined their summer vacation would not be the "back to normal" image any service oriented company would want to portray.