I think that's really poor form from BA if they don't even provide a CE check-in desk. I flew back from Punta Cana earlier, yet another one of BA's holiday routes where there was no lounge provided (although there was a lounge, you just had to pay $50 to enter).
I have to admit, considering the cost of CE tickets to places like HER and JTR, I think something needs to be done here.