British Airways delay compensation: what you're owed and how to claim
If your British Airways flight arrived three or more hours late, you could be owed between £220 and £520 per passenger, depending on the distance. Here's how the rules work and how to claim it yourself, for free.
Last checked against official sources: 4 October 2026.
How much compensation can you get from British Airways?
Under UK law (known as UK261), compensation depends on the distance of your flight and how late you arrived at your final destination. Because BA flies long-haul as well as short-haul, all three bands apply. The amount is per passenger.
| Flight distance | Example BA route | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500km | London Heathrow to Paris | £220 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | London Heathrow to Athens | £350 |
| Over 3,500km | London Heathrow to New York | £260 (3 to 4 hours late) or £520 (4+ hours late) |
Lateness is measured by when you arrive at your final destination, not when you take off. If you were on connecting flights booked together, what counts is how late you reached your final destination.
Is your British Airways flight covered?
- Flights departing a UK airport are covered, whichever airline you fly with.
- Flights arriving at a UK airport are covered when the airline is licensed in the UK or the EU, which includes British Airways.
- Flights departing an EU airport are also covered by the EU's version of the rules (EU261). Compensation for those is set in euros: €250, €400 or €600.
When British Airways doesn't have to pay
BA doesn't owe compensation if the delay was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" that it couldn't have avoided. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, these mainly include:
- weather that makes it unsafe to fly
- strikes by people who don't work for the airline, such as air traffic control, airport staff or Border Force
- security risks, terrorism, sabotage, or political unrest
- a hidden manufacturing defect that grounds a whole fleet
Technical problems with the aircraft are not extraordinary circumstances. The Court of Appeal confirmed this in Jet2 v Huzar, and the same rule applies to British Airways.
If BA rejects your claim as extraordinary, ask it to explain what happened and what it did to try to avoid the delay. It is up to the airline to show that the circumstances really were extraordinary.
How to claim from British Airways, step by step
- Gather your details: booking reference, flight numbers, date, the names of everyone you're claiming for, and roughly what time you actually arrived.
- Claim through BA's website. Start from British Airways' delays, cancellations and refunds page, which links to its customer relations claim form.
- Include receipts for any meals, transport or hotels you paid for during the delay.
- Keep copies of everything you submit and any reply you get, with dates.
You don't need a claims company. If you claim directly, you keep 100% of the compensation instead of losing a share in fees.
If British Airways rejects your claim or doesn't reply
British Airways (and BA CityFlyer) are members of CEDR, an alternative dispute resolution scheme approved by the Civil Aviation Authority. It's free to use.
- You can go to CEDR once BA has given you a final response you disagree with, or once 8 weeks have passed since you complained without it being resolved.
- You must take your complaint to CEDR within 12 months of BA's final response (or of your last written contact with BA, if it never replied).
- An adjudicator decides your case. If you accept the decision within 20 working days, it becomes binding on BA. If you don't accept it, you're free to take other action instead.
- Applications are made online at cedr.com.
Going to court is a last resort if ADR doesn't resolve things. For larger or more complicated claims, consider getting independent advice first.
Meals, hotels and expenses during the delay
Separately from compensation, BA has to look after you while you wait (known as the "right to care"). This applies from 2 hours for flights under 1,500km, 3 hours for flights of 1,500km to 3,500km, and 4 hours for flights over 3,500km. It covers:
- food and drink in proportion to the wait
- two phone calls or emails
- hotel accommodation and transport to it, if you're delayed overnight
If BA didn't provide these and you paid yourself, keep your receipts and claim the reasonable costs back. You're entitled to care even when the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
British Airways compensation questions
Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
How much compensation do I get for a delayed BA long-haul flight?
For flights over 3,500km, such as London to New York, you can claim £520 per passenger if you arrived 4 or more hours late, or £260 if you arrived between 3 and 4 hours late.
How far back can I claim for a delayed BA flight?
Up to 6 years after the flight in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to 5 years in Scotland.
Does British Airways pay compensation for technical problems?
Yes, if the delay meets the other conditions. Technical problems with the aircraft are not extraordinary circumstances, as the Court of Appeal confirmed in Jet2 v Huzar.
Is a CEDR decision binding on British Airways?
Yes, once you accept it. A CEDR adjudicator's decision becomes binding on BA if you accept it within 20 working days of it being issued. If you don't accept it, it isn't binding on you either.
Do I need a claims company to claim from British Airways?
No. You can claim directly from BA for free and escalate to CEDR for free if it refuses. Claims companies typically take a percentage of your compensation.
Don't let a "no" be the final word.
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