British Airways delayed flight compensation
If your British Airways flight arrived more than three hours late, you are owed €250, €400 or €600 per passenger under EU261 — decided by distance, not by ticket price. Yes on any flight departing the EU or EEA, and — because British Airways is licensed in GB — also on flights arriving in the EU/EEA.
| Distance | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 |
| Over 1,500 km within the EU | €400 | £350 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 |
What British Airways typically does
- —Responds relatively promptly, then often offers vouchers — you are entitled to cash.
- —Technical-fault rejections are common and are rebuttable under Wallentin-Hermann.
- —Typical time to a first reply: about 4 weeks.
If they stonewall, escalate free to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (PACT).
Questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed British Airways flight?+
€250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km or over 1,500 km within the EU, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km — per passenger, if you arrived more than three hours late and British Airways can't prove an extraordinary circumstance. UK departures pay £220, £350 or £520.
Does EU261 apply to British Airways?+
Yes on any flight departing the EU or EEA, and — because British Airways is licensed in GB — also on flights arriving in the EU/EEA.
How long does British Airways take to reply?+
Typically about 4 weeks. If you've heard nothing after six, that's normal rather than a bad sign — send the follow-up letter, then escalate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (PACT).