BA's policy is maddening and it just doesn't make any sense. As long as they're going to have economy passengers at all, what's the use of alienating them? Might as well keep them satisfied and coming back for more, rather than asking them to pay such a hefty premium in order to have their loyalty rewarded or even recognized. I once asked the airline for an explanation of this policy, and was given a restatement of the policy rather than an explanation. I just don't see why going after so-called premium passengers necessitates alienating everyone else. Wouldn't it make more sense to try to appeal to as broad a base as possible? Sure, offer the premium passengers more and better, but why do so explicitly at the expense of other, often even more loyal customers?