Guys and gals I wouldn't even waste your energy getting emotive on this subject.
Firstly, take a look at how this thread started. By someone called Virginfsm (no offence to you virginfsm) based on a post s/he had read on yet another airline 'forum'. Hardly anything concrete.
Secondly, unlike many other airlines our allowances form part of our Contract of Employment and are worded in a way that just don't allow changes such as those suggested by traveller5.
There are many people, some who post on this thread, that would love to see us lose our conditions and try to stir things up. Don't rise to it.
Our contracts cannot be changed without our approval. When a new allowance system that is fair to both the crew and BA are negotiated then maybe we can adopt it.