Originally Posted by
stifle
No, it's pretty normal for BA and most European airlines.
I just checked - out of interest - the cost on ba.com of a return flight LHR - JFK on 2 random dates in March 2012.
£386.13 per person.
Quite how you can think a choice of £386 in cash or 40,000 miles + £600 is not outrageous is beyond me. That it is "normal" doesn't mean it is not outrageous.