Keeperboy - good post. Hot rumour is that all hotels where crew nightstop are going to include breakfast, lunch, dinner as part of the deal, i.e there will be 'no need to claim' as meals have been provided

I think that way its gets around allowance contract issue in some way
I don't think a strike will happen, as you so rightly point out, BA management crumble in the face of a strike threat - always have, always will