Thanks to the wonderful work by Miss Vivian Gou, the BA representitive on the ground at Beijing Capital International Airport, not only was I spared another 3 nights of using the airport as an hotel but she also upgraded me from 'cattle' class.

You'll have to buy the book if you want the full story but, with 10 minutes before the gate closed I got confirmation of my ticket transfer. They messed up really and over-booked the flight because of me. They had no choice but to upgrade my seat.
I scurried off to Level 2 to collect my bags and then hot-footed it back to the 4th where my bags were checked-in.

There was some concern about the fact I was in China illegally. I was informed that I could be charged 500元 per day of overstay. This would be decided by the immigration people further down the line.

When I reached said people I managed to explain in my best pretend-I'm-really-trying Chinese that I had arrived in the airport before the expiry date and that I had not left the terminal building at all. That's only slightly bending the truth but it was enough for him to waive the 1500元 fine that he could have imposed.

The flight was uneventful and surprise, surprise it was drizzling when I arrived in the UK.

1975 days in China