Well, CR got back to me. "5,000 Avios have been credited to the two passengers with my compliments." Part of me just wants to leave it -- almost 7 weeks of back and forth is exhausting. And part of me wants to ask her if she thinks the equivalent of $50 is really adequate compensation for 11+ hours with essentially no seat.

Maybe being less nice is the answer. I don't think the "more flies with honey" adage applies here.