British Airways delay compensation: claiming from BA
British Airways is a UK airline, which matters more than most people realise: its flights into the UK from anywhere in the world are covered by UK261, not just flights leaving Heathrow or Gatwick. With many long-haul routes, BA delays often fall in the top £520 band.
- BA flights into the UK from anywhere are covered, as well as flights out.
- Long-haul BA flights (over 3,500 km): £520 per person for 4+ hours late.
- 3 to 4 hours late on long-haul: £260 per person.
- BA is signed up to CEDR, an independent dispute scheme, if it says no.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | €600 |
Which BA flights are covered?
Every BA flight departing the UK is covered by UK261, and because BA is a UK airline, so is every BA flight arriving in the UK – New York to Heathrow, Dubai to Heathrow, and so on. BA flights departing the EU are covered by EU261. If your booking was sold by BA but operated by a partner airline, the rules depend on the airline that actually flew it.
How much compensation from British Airways?
Some example distances from London Heathrow:
- London Heathrow – Paris (about 350 km): £220
- London Heathrow – Madrid (about 1,240 km): £220
- London Heathrow – Athens (about 2,430 km): £350
- London Heathrow – Tel Aviv (about 3,590 km): £520 (£260 if 3–4 hours late)
- London Heathrow – Dubai (about 5,500 km) or New York (about 5,540 km): £520 (£260 if 3–4 hours late)
The 3–4 hour rule only applies to flights over 3,500 km: arrive between three and four hours late and the amount is halved to £260.
BA cancellations
If BA cancels with less than 14 days' notice, you may be owed compensation as well as your choice of a refund or a new flight. On long-haul routes, a replacement that gets you in within four hours of your original arrival can mean £260 instead of £520 – check the times on your new booking against the original.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
How to claim from British Airways
BA takes delay and cancellation compensation claims online, through its complaints and claims pages. Have your booking reference, ticket numbers and flight details ready. Expenses such as meals and hotels are a separate claim with receipts.
If BA rejects your claim or hasn't given a final answer within eight weeks, you can escalate to CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution), the ADR scheme BA is signed up to according to the CAA's list (checked 2 November 2026).
Or send us your flight: we check it for free and deal with BA for you. You only pay if we win.
Want to claim from British Airways yourself? Start at British Airways' delayed or cancelled flights page. Travel On Board is an independent claims service and is not connected to British Airways.
Questions people ask
How much compensation does BA pay for a long-haul delay?
For flights over 3,500 km, £520 per person if you arrived four or more hours late, or £260 if you arrived between three and four hours late – unless the cause was extraordinary circumstances.
Is my BA flight from New York to London covered?
Yes. BA is a UK airline, so its flights arriving in the UK are covered by UK261.
My BA flight was operated by another airline. Who do I claim from?
The airline that actually operated the flight. Your booking or boarding pass shows the operating airline.
How much do you charge?
Checking your flight is free. If we win, our fee is 25% of the compensation, with no VAT. If you don't get paid, you pay nothing. If a claim has to go to a solicitor or court, the fee is 45%, and no court action starts without your OK.
Check your claim – it's free
Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.
More flight compensation guides
Sources
Checked against official guidance on 2 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
- CAA – Delays (UK261)
- CAA – Cancellations
- CAA – Am I entitled to compensation? (extraordinary circumstances)
- CAA – Alternative Dispute Resolution (which airlines are signed up)
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