Minogue,
Your assumption of our average wage is pretty wide of the mark.
Including allowances our pay may average 60K (I got just over 40K last year including allowances - before tax). However, what many people forget is that our allowances are there to cover expenses we occur whilst we are away from home at the companys behest. The money has already been spent on food (and incidentals - hic) before we get reimbursed by the company. Our pensionable salary - I suggest - averages at about 40K, far less than both you and the media would have everyone believe. Of course this may not make great headlines - and so the facts get buried under hype.
You say that cuts would have to be made elsewhere; fine - for a long time now most people have realised that BA is overstaffed. Swingeing staff cuts - however unpaletable for those involved - have been a real necessity for some time now. I'm sure Rod is sharpening his axe as we speak.
ATB,
Underdog