A friend is getting married, so as the group 'plane geek' I have been tasked with planning the wedding. Logistical nightmare as we have 18 people from the UK coming, 11 from Australia and another 7 from Europe (wedding is in the United States)...

Anyhow, so I rang up United, got a price, no issues. Missed Virgin as their office in New York is shut, no drams. Ring up BA and this is the conversation:

Me: Hi, I need a quote, 12 people from the UK to San Fran for a wedding, can I get a quote?
Agent: Oh no sir, you have to go through a travel agent for that...
Me: A travel agent, no don't want to do that, would rather go direct, can you give me a quote
Agent: No sir, we only offer group quotes via travel agents its company policy.
Me: If I go direct, am I going to get a better price as what is online as I just got a quote from United and it was a decent amount less then their website?
Agent: Well the agent may charge you $10/$15 booking fee per passenger.
Me: Well obviously that is exactly what I am trying to avoid.
Agent: Sorry Sir that is how BA do things with groups.

Now before the die-hard BA fanaticals defend this policy....can anyone with a sound mind tell me if there is something wrong with this policy or is it me? Almost every other airline will give you a group quote...except BA?