Severe traffic delay on way to airport - rang BA to alert them and discuss options re flight to JFK.

Bit stunned to be told I didn't have any, viz no changes within 24 hours of departure allowed and wouldn't even discuss possibility of moving to later flight. Would I like to buy a new cash ticket for £x,xxx !!!!!! To cap it all, I would also lose my return leg as not possible to have a one way 2-4-1 which doesn't start from the UK.

My travel insurance was capped at £1k for missed departure so I was looking at a very big bill. Fortunately got to check in with 5 mins to spare but got me thinking about what it could have cost.

Was the BA call centre correct and is £1k typical for missed depature cover ? Seems like a very big risk to be carrying with no room for error.

Thanks