There is no way that this was the best option available to BA or that BA would have not known just how badly this would have played out, as anyone with half a brain could have forecast it.

In my opinion anyone who keeps bleeting on about how BA had 'no choice in the matter' either has their head firmly buried in the sand or somewhere else equally dark and dank.

If I had negotiated this deal I would been fired, unless the orders came from higher up (and then possibly fired anyway as the proverbial lamb).

This has all the hallmarks of cost cutting wherever possible that has plagued BA over recent years. It is certainly not costing them more money and I'd wager a hefty bet with anyone that there were other more expensive options on the table which they turned down rather than make any attempt to maintain a semblance of a premium service on the ground at LGW.