British Airways Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation
What British Airways says about compensation for delayed and cancelled flights: when you can claim, the amounts, how to claim and what to do if it refuses.
British Airways says you can claim compensation through its online claim form or by post if your flight was delayed or cancelled for reasons within its control. Consumer Protection UK is independent and is not connected to British Airways. This page sets out what British Airways itself says on its official page, checked on 4 October 2026.
When British Airways Says You Can Claim
- Delayed more than 3 hours at your final destination from causes within British Airways’ control, or
- Cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, again from causes it controls.
Amounts
| Flight distance | British Airways |
|---|---|
| Flights up to 1,500 km | £220 (€250) |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 (€400) |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 (€600) as British Airways lists it. The CAA says £260 if you arrive 3 to 4 hours late and £520 if 4 hours or more. |
British Airways says compensation is reduced by 50% if it offers alternative routing and you arrive no more than 2 to 4 hours (depending on distance) after your original arrival time. It says you cannot claim if the delay was under 3 hours, you had 14 days or more notice of a cancellation, or extraordinary circumstances applied (such as weather, air traffic control or security risks).
Help While You Wait
- For delays of over 2 hours it says it provides refreshment vouchers or reimburses reasonable expenses (not alcohol).
- For cancellations it says it provides a hotel if rebooking means an overnight stay, plus meals and communication costs.
How to Claim
British Airways says to use its online compensation claim form at its customer relations portal, or to write to its EU compensation claims address on its page. You will need your booking reference, passenger names and contact details, flight details, and signed authority letters if you claim on behalf of others.
Time limit: British Airways’s page does not state one. The legal time limit is 6 years in England and Wales and 5 in Scotland (Civil Aviation Authority).
If It Refuses
See our British Airways complaints guide for its dispute scheme, and our general guides on flight delay compensation and cancelled flights. You can also use our flight delay checker.
Related
Sources
Last checked 4 October 2026. Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on this. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ready to Take Action?
Tell us what happened. Our initial case review is free.