Piecing together other, less histrionic reports than the Sun's, while BA were certainly inflexible and unhelpful it seems likely that the situation resulted from a combination of "computer says no" and one or more jobsworths within the organisation, rather than malice or bl**dy-mindedness on BA's part.
Strictly speaking (and sadly) by the time the TCX CC were attempting to get back to the UK on BA, they were civilians and no longer airline employees. So while BA could have bent the rules and still given them jump seats (probably without any comeback) the chances are that such a decision was above the pay grade of whoever was asked to make it.
As for the "extortionate" £10K for a seat (actually $10,000), well yes it's extortionate, but that's pretty much what you pay as a walk-up on LAS/LHR in business class (Y was full on the flight in question). Of course the Sun conveniently forgot to mention that fact.
Anyway, regardless of the rights and wrongs, it's good to hear that Virgin were able to take a more enlightened attitude.
Originally Posted by
macdo
sorry, true. BA investigating.
Yes, of course they are, having scored a spectacular
PR own-goal.