British Airways announces penalties for cellos

This just in from an international soloist:

I am playing at Carnegie Hall in January and trying to book flights this morning. BA offer the best fare to New York, only £352 return from Copenhagen with a change in London.
Of that, most is taxes, the actual ticket price is only 63 pounds. Until now, the extra seat has paid the ticket price and no taxes, therefore the cello should travel for 63 pounds, and myself for 352 pounds.

BA have now CHANGED the rules, so any cello in the cabin has a minimum fee of £300 long haul. So now the cello is paying almost the same as I am, with no meal, no baggage allowance, no airmiles, no online checkin, no upgrades possible etc.
Here’s the official statement BA have sent me:

“From Wednesday 03 September 2014, British Airways is making changes to the way extra seat pricing is charged. We are introducing a minimum charge of £40 on Short Haul and £300 on Long Haul for all extra seat requests.”

Cellists, beware.