British Airways Flight Delay Compensation
British Airways operates flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick, and City Airport. If your flight arrived 3+ hours late, EU261 or UK261 may apply depending on the route and circumstances. Check free in 60 seconds.
Check My British Airways Flight →How much can I claim from British Airways?
- 🛫 Short flights (under 1,500 km) — €250
- 🛫 Medium flights (1,500–3,500 km) — €400
- 🛫 Long-haul (over 3,500 km) — €600
Clairo caps its estimate at €400 when both ends of the route are EU/EEA/UK airports, mirroring the intra-Community cap in Article 7(1)(b); it only estimates €600 where one end lies outside that area. Long UK–EU routes sit at the edge of that cap, so treat the figure as an estimate and check the position for your route.
UK261 sets its own figures in sterling, so UK sterling amounts are set separately from the euro bands and the two regimes are not interchangeable. Clairo's checker currently shows euro estimates only — check current UK CAA guidance for the sterling figures that apply.
The applicable amount depends on route distance, the applicable regime and the facts of the disruption.
Can I claim EU261 compensation from British Airways after Brexit?
Yes. The UK retained EU Regulation 261/2004 in domestic law as UK261. For flights departing UK airports, UK261 applies; for flights departing EU airports on British Airways, EU261 applies. The two regimes share the same structure of distance bands, but UK261 states its amounts in sterling and those figures are set separately from the euro amounts — check current UK CAA guidance for the sterling figures.
How much can I claim from British Airways for a flight delay?
Under EU261 the bands are €250 for flights under 1,500 km, €400 for qualifying flights from 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for qualifying flights over 3,500 km such as London–Los Angeles, London–Dubai, or London–Hong Kong. UK261 uses the same band structure but its own sterling figures — check current UK CAA guidance for those. Article 7(1)(b) sets €400 for intra-Community flights over 1,500 km, so the €600 band applies only where one end of the route lies outside that area; Clairo treats EU/EEA and UK airports as inside it, and long UK–EU routes sit at the edge of the cap.
How do I submit a compensation request to British Airways?
British Airways provides an online compensation process. Keep its acknowledgement and response, and verify whether EU or UK rules apply to the route. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence, not the airline name alone.
Does a British Airways Avios booking affect my EU261 rights?
No. Your compensation rights under EU261/UK261 apply regardless of how you paid — cash fare, Avios redemption, or a companion voucher. The regulation covers the passenger–carrier relationship, not the payment method.
What is the time limit to claim from British Airways?
Limitation periods are set nationally and vary by jurisdiction and by the facts of the case. For a UK-departing flight, check current UK CAA guidance; for a flight departing an EU airport, the departure country's own period applies instead. Older claims can be harder to document, so claim as soon as possible.
Common British Airways delay reasons that qualify
- ✅ Technical fault (aircraft maintenance, IT system failure)
- ✅ Crew availability or scheduling issues
- ✅ Late incoming aircraft from a prior sector
- ✅ Catering or cleaning delays within BA's control
- ❌ Extreme weather (fog at Heathrow, storms)
- ❌ ATC industrial action or airspace closures
- ❌ Airport-wide security incidents
UK261 and the official BA claim route
BA is a UK airline with its main bases at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City, so its UK departures sit under UK261 — Regulation 261/2004 as retained in UK law, with its own sterling amounts in Article 7(1). Its EU departures sit under the EU regulation instead. Read what UK261 says for the scope test and the amounts.
- • Claim first through BA's delayed and cancelled flights page.
- • The CAA's list of approved dispute-resolution schemes places British Airways and BA CityFlyer with CEDR. Check the list for the current position before you file.
- • Deadlines apply at each stage, and the escalation window is the shorter one.
Checking a British Airways disruption
Clairo can screen the route and arrival delay, but it does not currently determine extraordinary circumstances or calculate UK sterling amounts. Confirm the disruption evidence and current UK CAA guidance before relying on the estimate.