British Airways delay compensation: what you can claim
If a British Airways flight got you there three hours or more late, you can claim £220 to £520 per passenger — in either direction, because it is a UK or EU airline.
Which flights are covered
British Airways is licensed in United Kingdom, a the UK airline. That means both directions are covered: leaving a UK or EU airport, and arriving at one from anywhere in the world.
This is the part passengers most often get wrong, and it is worth being clear about: the rule follows the airline’s licence, not where the aircraft happens to be registered or where you bought the ticket.
How much
| Distance flown | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500km | £520 | €600 |
Per passenger, and the same whatever the fare. The three hours is measured at arrival, not departure.
Claiming with British Airways
Claim directly through britishairways.com, under Help then Delayed or cancelled flights. Have the booking reference, flight number and date to hand. Keep what the airline tells you about the cause, in writing — it is the first thing any later challenge turns on.
As a UK airline, British Airways is covered on long-haul flights back into the UK as well as out of it. A 10-hour delay arriving at Heathrow from New York qualifies; the same delay on a US carrier does not.
Where British Airways flies from
Main bases: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City.
Common questions
How much compensation can I claim from British Airways?
£220 for flights under 1,500km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500km, and £520 over 3,500km, per passenger, if you arrived three or more hours late. The amount depends on the distance flown, not on what you paid.
Which British Airways flights are covered?
British Airways is licensed in United Kingdom, a the UK airline. That means both directions are covered: leaving a UK or EU airport, and arriving at one from anywhere in the world.
How do I claim from British Airways?
Claim directly through britishairways.com, under Help then Delayed or cancelled flights. You will need the booking reference, the flight number and the date. If the airline refuses and you disagree, the next step is its alternative dispute resolution body, or a claims service that will take the case on.
Can British Airways refuse to pay?
Only where the cause was genuinely outside its control: severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security alerts or a bird strike. A technical fault, late crew or a knock-on delay from the aircraft’s previous flight are not valid reasons, though they are often given.
Check your flight
AirHelp will tell you whether your specific British Airways flight qualifies and handle the claim. TravelTrauma earns a commission on a successful claim, at no cost to you.
Check your claimOther airlines
- Ryanair delay compensation
- easyJet delay compensation
- Wizz Air delay compensation
- Jet2 delay compensation
- TUI Airways delay compensation
- Virgin Atlantic delay compensation
- Emirates delay compensation
- Qatar Airways delay compensation
- Lufthansa delay compensation
- Air France delay compensation
- KLM delay compensation
This explains the rules and is not legal advice. The circumstances of your flight, and the airline’s own conditions of carriage, may change what applies.