The "pay peanuts and get monkeys" argument is pure nonsense. There is a lot of evidence that there is little relationship between terms and conditions (in any service industry) and service given. The key is the overall climate and culture within the company .The fact is that BA service is -and has been for many years, -highly inconsostent. It can be the best in the world and it can also be the worst. The preoccupation on long haul is too often visibly to get away from the customers and into horizontal rest as quickly as possible and "To Fly to Rest" seems to take over from "To Fly to Serve". The allowance culture which drives many seems to undermine rather than enhance the attitude towards service,- despite it providing some of the highest financial rewards in the business. The crews of Easyjet and FlyBe within the UK and the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers and some smaller niche airlines on long haul are often more consistent and certainly more cheerful than many BA experiences. And as for the very highly paid US legacy carriers....................................