I know it's all well and good saying this now, but the cover offered by Amex seems very good (yes, BA redemptions do count).

You should have just gone to any hotel, checked in with the amex card and filled out the forms when you got home.

http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/br...ofBenefits.pdf

You will be reimbursed up to £200 for additional travel, refreshment and accommodation costs incurred prior to Your actual departure if: a) (Delay, Cancellation or Overbooking) Your flight is delayed, cancelled,
or overbooked and no alternative is made available within 4 hours of
the published departure time; b) (Missed connection) You miss Your connecting flight and no
alternative is made available within 4 hours of the published
departure time.