I don't fly BA often -this kind of attitude is the reason why.

The "Guard" should have asked for the card -it's hardly rocket science just decent customer service.

I belong to the generation who regarded flying BA as flying the flag and an almost automatic choice (not just for me-in my twenties I worked in business travel -it applied to almost all my blue-chip UK based clients and many of the overseas ones too). Nowdays I prefer to fly carriers who appreciate my business-I may fly economy but I fly enough to warrent mid tier elite status with two or three carriers each year. I certainly don't want to be treated with arrogence or to be told that I'm not good enough for a published benefit because I'm turning right and not left.