WRT holding pool, I'd say different companies, different policies.
I was kept in the Britannia one for a little bit less than 4 years, yet today I work for them.
BA, I believe has a different approach (obviously) since the holding pool is kept alive for a set period of two years which have now come to term.
Hopefully this move will be far from terminal for the previously successful swimmers... All I can say, is, be patient an good luck.