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British Airways flight delay compensation: how to claim

Updated 5 November 2026 · General information, not legal advice.

Quick answerYou can claim from British Airways under UK261 if your flight leaving a UK airport arrived more than three hours late and the cause was not an extraordinary circumstance. Claim from British Airways first, then escalate to an ADR scheme or the CAA if you are unhappy or wait more than eight weeks. Amounts are £220, £350, or £260 to £520 per passenger, by distance.

Does UK261 cover British Airways flights?

British Airways is a UK airline, so UK261 can apply to its flights leaving a UK airport, arriving in the UK, and arriving at an EU airport.

Check the operating carrier on your booking: the airline that flew the plane may differ from the one you booked with. If you are not sure, ask British Airways or see UK261 vs EU261.

How much can you claim?

The amounts are fixed by distance and delay, per passenger: £220 under 1,500 km, £350 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £260 or £520 over 3,500 km. See the full table and calculator.

How to claim from British Airways

  1. Collect your booking reference, flight number, date, and scheduled and actual arrival times.
  2. Find the compensation or customer relations page on British Airways's own website, or write to its customer service. Do not use look-alike sites.
  3. State the UK261 amount and ask for payment. Keep a copy.
  4. If the answer is no, or you hear nothing for eight weeks, escalate to the airline's ADR scheme or the CAA.

Claim yourself or use a service?

You can claim from British Airways for free. If you would rather hand it over, Compensair lists British Airways among the airlines it files claims against. Compensair pays us a fixed reward (€8 for a valid application on this airline group), which does not cost you extra. See claim yourself or use a claims company.

Other airlines

You can apply to any airline. Whether you are paid depends on your flight and the cause of the disruption, so we cannot promise a payout. We use names and codes, not logos: we are independent and not affiliated with any airline.

Common reasons British Airways may refuse

The usual reason is extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather. Ask for the specific cause in writing. Delays caused by a technical fault or strike are often disputed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim compensation from British Airways?

Yes, if UK261 applies to your flight, you arrived more than three hours late, and the cause was not an extraordinary circumstance. British Airways must be claimed from first.

How long does British Airways take to respond?

The CAA says you can escalate if an airline takes more than eight weeks to respond or you are unhappy with its final response.

Does UK261 cover British Airways flights arriving in the UK?

Yes, because it is a UK airline.

Sources and official bodies: CAA: delays and compensation · CAA: cancellations · CAA: resolving travel problems · GOV.UK. Reviewed 5 November 2026.