EU261 · British AirwaysUpdated July 2026

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

Flight departed from a UK or EU airport (any airline)
Flight arrived at a UK or EU airport operated by British Airways
Arrival delay of 3+ hours (4+ hours for long-haul over 3,500 km)
Cancellation with less than 14 days notice
Denied boarding due to overbooking
Extraordinary circumstances: genuine natural disasters, terrorism, political unrest
Note: IT failures and staff shortages are NOT extraordinary circumstances

Compensation amounts

Flight distanceExample routesGBP / EUR
Under 1,500 kmLondon–Amsterdam, Heathrow–Paris£220/ €250
1,500–3,500 kmLondon–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. 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. 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. 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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