Checked 26 October 2026
British Airways flight delay and cancellation compensation: how to claim
If a British Airways flight reached its destination three hours or more late, or was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, and the cause was not an extraordinary circumstance, BA owes you £220, £350 or £520 per passenger. You claim by raising a case in BA's Feedback and Claims Portal with your booking reference. If BA refuses, the free next step is CEDR.
Which British Airways flights are covered
British Airways is a UK airline, so every flight it operates to or from the UK is covered. Flights leaving a UK airport fall under UK261. Flights arriving in the UK fall under UK261 too, because BA is a UK airline. A flight leaving an EU airport falls under EU261.
That means a delayed Heathrow to Edinburgh flight, a Gatwick to Faro flight and a flight home from New York are all covered. Compensation is due for a delay only if you arrived at your final destination three hours or more late. The time that counts is when at least one aircraft door opens, not when the plane left the gate.
How much British Airways pays
The amount depends on the distance of your flight, not on the price of your ticket. It is paid per passenger, including children with a paid seat.
| Band | Compensation | Example on British Airways |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | Heathrow to Edinburgh |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 | Heathrow to Athens |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | Heathrow to New York |
On a flight over 3,500 km the amount is £260 instead of £520 if you arrived less than 4 hours late, or if you were re-routed and arrived less than 4 hours after your original arrival time. For EU261 flights the amounts are €250, €400 and €600.
How to claim from British Airways
BA takes claims through its own online portal. You do not need a third party to use it.
- Collect your details. You need the booking reference, flight number, date, your boarding pass and any message BA sent you giving a reason for the disruption.
- Open the portal. Go to BA's Feedback and Claims Portal and choose "Raise a new case". Enter your booking reference when asked.
- State what you are claiming for. Say whether it was a delay, a cancellation or denied boarding, give the arrival time if it was a delay, and name the compensation band.
- Claim your expenses separately. Meals, a hotel and transport are owed whatever the cause of the disruption. Keep receipts and include them.
- Keep the case reference. You will need it if you take the matter to CEDR. BA also sets out its own position on the flight cancellation compensation page.
You have 6 years from the date of the flight to claim in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or 5 years in Scotland.
If British Airways says no
BA must prove that an extraordinary circumstance caused the problem, and that it took all reasonable measures. Circumstances usually accepted include severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, airport closures, security risks, bird strikes and a medical emergency on that flight.
These are not accepted as extraordinary:
- Technical faults that arise from the normal operation of an aircraft (Huzar v Jet2.com [2014] EWCA Civ 791; van der Lans, 2015).
- Crew sickness, including the captain (Lipton v BA CityFlyer [2024] UKSC 24).
- BA's own staff striking (Krüsemann, 2018).
- Crew out of hours, crew shortages and rostering, and knock-on delay from an earlier problem of the airline's own.
- "Operational reasons" with no further explanation.
If BA refuses or does not reply, you can go to CEDR, which BA uses as its approved dispute body. You must have complained to BA first. You can go to CEDR if BA has not replied within 8 weeks, or within 12 months of BA's final reply. CEDR is free to you, and its decisions typically arrive within three months, according to the CAA. If you accept a decision it binds BA. If you reject it, you can still go to court.
The last route is the county court. In England and Wales that is Money Claim Online, on the small claims track for claims up to £10,000. The court fee is £35 for a claim up to £300 and £115 for a claim of £1,500.01 to £3,000, with bands in between. You can claim the fee back if you win. In Scotland you use the Simple Procedure in the sheriff court.
Not sure whether your flight qualifies?
Check your flightFree to check. If a claim company takes the case it keeps 35% of the payout, VAT included, and nothing if the claim fails. You can also claim it yourself for free.
Claiming yourself or using a company
Claiming yourself costs nothing and the portal is open to every passenger. The step-by-step guide to claiming yourself covers the letter, the evidence and the time limits.
A claim company takes a share of the compensation, so you keep less. The comparison of claim companies lists each company's published fee, so you can see what you would keep from a £520 claim.
British Airways questions
I booked through a travel agent. Can I still use BA's portal?
BA's own page says to contact the agent for queries about your booking. The compensation claim is against the operating airline, which is BA, so you can raise it with BA directly using the booking reference.
Does CEDR cost anything?
No. CEDR is free to the passenger. You must complain to BA first, then wait 8 weeks for a reply or use CEDR within 12 months of BA's final answer.
My flight was only a short hop. Do I still get £220?
Yes. The £220 band covers flights up to 1,500 km. The same rules on delay length and extraordinary circumstances apply as on a longer flight.
BA offered me vouchers. Do I have to accept?
No. Compensation is due in the amounts set by law. Vouchers for meals or a hotel are care, which is owed separately and does not replace compensation.
My delay was caused by a technical fault. Can BA refuse?
Not on that alone. Faults that arise from the normal operation of an aircraft are not extraordinary. A hidden manufacturing defect can be, and BA must prove it.