Marlowe - you are right. Its not easy and seeking a solution through negotiation is always going to be the final outcome.
We are not all talking about holidaymakers here. Some of us fly for business - pay the big bucks for the "pleasure "of doing so only to have an internal dispute disrupt our business and possibly more.
Luckily most of us will have a choice - and once gone I hope BA enjoy flying half empty planes. The "better the devil you know" approach will be lost. The inept attitude of some towards their customer base somewhat surprises me.