British Airways Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Claim Up to £520 / €600
British Airways flights operating from UK airports fall under UK261 — the post-Brexit equivalent of EU261 with identical compensation amounts. For BA flights departing from EU airports, the original EU Regulation 261/2004 applies. Either way, you're entitled to fixed cash compensation per passenger.
UK law: 6-year claim window
Unlike EU countries (3 years), UK contract law gives you up to 6 years to file a British Airways compensation claim. A BA delay from 2020 may still be claimable today.
Eligibility checklist
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | Example routes | GBP / EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | London–Amsterdam, Heathrow–Paris | £220/ €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | London–Marrakech, London–Riyadh | £350/ €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (delayed 4+ hrs) | London–New York, London–Tokyo | £520/ €600 |
How to file your British Airways claim
- 1
Submit via BA's online claim form
British Airways has a self-service claims portal. You'll need your booking reference (PNR), the flight number, and your departure/arrival times.
BA customer relations portal → - 2
Escalate to CEDR arbitration
BA is a member of CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution). If BA rejects your claim, you can escalate for free — CEDR decisions are legally binding on BA.
CEDR Aviation Arbitration → - 3
Use a claims specialist
AirHelp has strong UK success rates for BA claims, including legacy delays from the 2017–2019 IT outage period. No win, no fee (~25% on success).
Check via AirHelp →
British Airways denial tactics to watch for
- →2017 and 2019 IT outages — BA argued "extraordinary circumstances"; UK courts ruled this is NOT extraordinary
- →Offering Avios points or travel vouchers — you can demand cash (GBP/EUR) instead
- →Routing your complaint through generic customer service — always cite UK261/EU261 specifically
- →Claiming the 14-day notice rule doesn't apply if they offered alternative flights
Find past BA claims in your inbox — up to 6 years back
SubRadar scans Gmail and Outlook for British Airways booking emails and surfaces potential EU261/UK261 claims within the 6-year window.
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