When you join an airline and you are told when you sign your contract that there will be staff travel for life you naturally assume that this will be so. There is no need for a lecture on staff travel is a privilege not a right - it would just be nice to know that what the company said to you was actually a fact.
That is why the people that moved to the Antipodes did so knowing ( wrongly it would seem) that they would be safe.
Because I left BA early having been assured that Staff travel was available till I was in my mid 80's I have now forfeited even Hotlines - along of course with everyone else that did so - Flying Staff, Office staff, Ground Staff as well.