I “stepped away from the keyboard”, as they say, for a few minutes after posting this.
I’m so grateful to come back and read all your supportive replies - saying it out loud and hearing back it was indeed not acceptable sounds corny I know, but it has indeed helped. I think @
mjh0’s reponse got to the heart of it - the reason it got under my skin so much was I felt really powerless, as kicking up a fuss isn’t really an option on board - in this climate it feels like that could end in a crazy escalation like diversion and deboarding.
This was a few months ago now (I know, like I say, stewing) - so despite all the recommendations to complain, I’m not sure it would be possible to really follow up.
Will have a think about it, but thanks again all of you, and especially those who seem to be BA colleagues.