British Airways Compensation: How to Claim Up to €600 for BA Flight Delays

British Airways is the UK's flag carrier and one of Europe's busiest airlines, operating hundreds of flights daily from its Heathrow and Gatwick hubs. But with that scale comes frequent disruptions — and if you've been affected by a BA flight delay or cancellation, you could be owed up to €600 in compensation.

This comprehensive guide explains your rights, how British Airways compensation works after Brexit, and the fastest way to get your BA flight delay claim paid.

Does EU261 Still Apply to British Airways After Brexit?

This is the most common question passengers ask — and the answer is yes, with some nuances.

After Brexit, the UK incorporated EU261 into domestic law as UK261 (retained EU law). Here's how coverage now works:

Flights FROM the UK (any airline)

Covered under UK261. Whether you fly BA from Heathrow to anywhere in the world, you're protected.

Flights TO the UK from the EU (EU carriers only)

Covered under EU261 — but only if the operating airline is EU-based. Since British Airways is a UK carrier, flights from EU airports to the UK are covered under UK261 (which BA must comply with) but not EU261.

Flights FROM the EU (any airline)

Covered under EU261. If BA operates a flight departing from Paris, Rome, or Barcelona, EU261 applies.

The practical takeaway

For most passengers, the distinction is academic — BA flights are covered in virtually all scenarios involving EU or UK airports. The compensation amounts and rules are identical between EU261 and UK261.

How Much British Airways Compensation Can You Claim?

BA compensation follows the same distance-based tiers:

Short-haul (under 1,500 km): €250 / £220

London–Dublin, London–Paris, London–Amsterdam. Delays of 3+ hours qualify.

Medium-haul (1,500–3,500 km): €400 / £350

London–Istanbul, London–Marrakech, London–Tenerife. Delays of 3+ hours qualify.

Long-haul (over 3,500 km): €600 / £520

London–New York, London–Singapore, London–Cape Town. BA's extensive long-haul network means many claims fall into this highest bracket.

Note: UK261 uses GBP equivalents, while EU261 uses euros. The exact GBP amount fluctuates with exchange rates, but the entitlements are substantively identical.

Common BA Flight Delay Scenarios

Heathrow Terminal 5 Chaos

BA's home at Heathrow T5 is notorious for occasional operational meltdowns — baggage system failures, IT outages, and congestion-related delays. These are firmly within BA's control and qualify for compensation.

Transatlantic Delays

BA operates one of the world's largest transatlantic networks. A delay of 3+ hours on a London–New York flight means a €600 claim. Given the high ticket prices on these routes, many passengers don't realise they're also owed statutory compensation on top of any refund.

Cancelled Short-Haul Flights

BA's short-haul operation (including BA CityFlyer from London City Airport) frequently sees cancellations, especially during winter weather or crew shortages. If your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice and the replacement arrived late, you have a claim.

Codeshare Confusion

BA codeshares extensively with American Airlines, Iberia, and other oneworld partners. The key rule: compensation is owed by the operating airline, not the airline that sold the ticket. If your BA-coded flight was actually operated by Iberia, your claim is against Iberia (and falls under EU261 as Iberia is EU-based).

When British Airways Must Pay

BA owes compensation when the disruption was within their control:

Technical/mechanical failures — the most common basis for successful claims
Crew unavailability — scheduling errors, crew hour limits reached
IT system failures — BA's 2017 IT meltdown cost the airline over £100m in compensation
Overbooking — denied boarding always triggers compensation
Operational decisions — aircraft swaps, rotation issues

When BA Can Refuse Compensation

British Airways can decline claims for genuine extraordinary circumstances:

Severe weather making flight unsafe
Air traffic control restrictions or strikes
Security incidents
Airport closures beyond BA's control

Important: BA is known for broadly interpreting "extraordinary circumstances." Technical faults, for example, are not extraordinary — the European Court of Justice has ruled repeatedly that mechanical issues are inherent to airline operations. Don't accept a rejection at face value.

How to File a British Airways Compensation Claim

Option 1: Direct with BA

British Airways has an online claims portal at ba.com. The process:

Navigate to "Manage My Booking" → "Complain or Claim"
Enter your booking reference and flight details
Select "EU/UK flight compensation" as your claim type
Submit and wait

Typical timeline: 6–12 weeks for a response. BA often rejects first claims with template responses citing extraordinary circumstances or claiming the delay was under 3 hours.

Option 2: Use FlightOwed (Recommended)

FlightOwed streamlines the entire process:

Enter your BA flight number and date
We verify the delay using official flight data
We calculate your compensation and file the claim
We handle rejections, escalations, and enforcement

No win, no fee. If BA doesn't pay, you don't pay us.

BA's Reputation on Compensation Claims

British Airways has improved its claims handling in recent years, partly due to regulatory pressure from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). However, passengers still report:

Template rejections on first attempt — designed to discourage casual claimants
Slow processing — especially during peak disruption periods
Inconsistent application of extraordinary circumstances — some valid claims rejected, requiring escalation

The CAA has publicly warned BA about claims handling practices, and the airline is under ongoing scrutiny.

Beyond Compensation: BA's Duty of Care

Regardless of whether your delay qualifies for financial compensation, BA must provide:

Meals and drinks for delays of 2+ hours (short-haul) or 3+ hours (medium/long-haul)
Hotel accommodation for overnight delays
Transport to and from the hotel
Communication — phone calls or emails

If BA doesn't provide these, pay yourself and keep receipts. You can claim reimbursement separately from your EU261/UK261 compensation.

Special Situations for BA Passengers

BA Holidays / Package Bookings

If you booked a BA Holidays package (flight + hotel), your EU261/UK261 compensation rights are unchanged. The fact that you booked a package doesn't diminish your flight delay rights. You may also have additional rights under the Package Travel Regulations. Read our package holiday compensation guide for details.

Executive Club / Avios Bookings

Booked with Avios points? Your compensation rights are identical to cash bookings. EU261/UK261 applies regardless of how you paid for the ticket. The compensation is always paid in cash (or bank transfer), not Avios.

Business and First Class

Flying in Club World or First? Your compensation amount is based on distance, not ticket class. A €600 long-haul claim is the same whether you flew in Economy or First. However, business travellers often have multiple qualifying flights and should check each one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to claim BA compensation?

Under UK law, you have 6 years from the date of the flight to file a claim. This is more generous than the 3-year limit in many EU countries. However, earlier claims are easier to prove. See our guide on retroactive flight claims.

What if BA offered me a voucher?

You are legally entitled to cash compensation. BA cannot require you to accept a voucher, Avios points, or future flight credit in place of your statutory entitlement. Learn more about vouchers vs cash.

Can I claim for a BA flight from years ago?

Yes — up to 6 years in the UK. Many passengers have successfully claimed for flights from 2020, 2021, and beyond. Check if your old flight qualifies →

What if my BA flight was delayed but I was rebooked?

If BA rebooked you onto another flight and you arrived at your final destination 3+ hours late, you're still entitled to compensation. The delay is measured by arrival time at your final destination, not departure.

Claim Your British Airways Compensation Today

BA handles millions of passengers per year, and thousands of eligible compensation claims go unfiled. Whether you flew last week or years ago, your claim could be worth €250–€600.

Check your BA flight now →

FlightOwed makes it simple: 3 minutes to submit, zero upfront cost, and we handle everything until you get paid.

Related reading:

British Airways Compensation Guide: Claim Up to €600 for BA Flight Delays