Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
Well in my case it simply means I don't know. I'm not privy to BA's procurement deals, but given it was a competitive tender what you suggest is not unreasonable. Equally these things can be complex (e.g. factoring in or out the cost of supplies) so comparisons could require textual exegesis of the contracts concerned.
In a previous life I worked in global procurement (for too long) for a large multinational. It is very common for a company to focus on price rather than value depending on the message from the top. It certainly seems the case with LHR lounges.