If your British Airways flight was delayed by more than 3 hours or cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, you may be owed €250 to €600 — regardless of what the ticket cost.
Updated 23 September 2026 · FlightFund editorial team
British Airways is not registered in the EU. The regulation only applies to flights departing from an EU/EEA airport. The reverse direction is not covered.
Country of registration: United Kingdom. Main hubs: London Heathrow, London Gatwick.
Since Brexit the carrier is no longer EU-registered. Flights from UK airports fall under UK261 with payouts in pounds; flights from EU airports fall under EU261.
| Flight distance | Delay 3–4 hours | Delay 4+ hours or cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | €250 | €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | €400 | €400 |
| over 3,500 km | €300 | €600 |
Full table: UK261 amounts, real routes and the 50% reduction rule →
Paid per passenger holding a separate ticket, children included
The limitation period is set by the law of the country where the carrier is registered. For British Airways that is United Kingdom, so a claim can be brought within 6 years of the flight date. Legal basis — Limitation Act 1980 (5 years in Scotland). After Brexit the UK261 regime applies — a British copy of the regulation with amounts in pounds.
For comparison: France — 5 years, Spain — 5 years, Greece — 5 years. Full table for 21 countries →
Only “extraordinary circumstances” release a carrier: dangerous weather, air traffic control strikes, airspace closures, security requirements, bird strikes.
These do not and compensation remains due: aircraft technical faults, strikes by the airline’s own staff, scheduling problems, late crew, overbooking.
According to the AirHelp report, roughly 52% of rejections turn out to be unjustified — carriers most often cite weather where the real cause was a technical fault. Court of Justice case law on refusals.
What to write if British Airways refuses anyway: 15 refusal wordings analysed →
The next step after an airline refusal is the national enforcement body of the carrier's country of registration (United Kingdom): Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Complaints are filed in English and handled free of charge.
One precondition: you must first send a claim to the airline itself and either receive a reply or wait out the response deadline (roughly 8 weeks).
An enforcement body cannot force payment directly, but its opinion carries weight — airlines settle noticeably more readily once one is involved.
The fee is deducted only from the compensation recovered. No payout — no fee.
6 years — the period is set by the law of the carrier's country of registration (United Kingdom), under Limitation Act 1980 (5 years in Scotland).
At arrival — from the moment the aircraft door opens at the final destination (Court of Justice, C-452/13).
Yes, the amount depends only on flight distance, not on the fare.
A refusal is not the final word. According to AirHelp, 52% of rejections turn out to be unjustified. Ask the airline to state the exact cause in writing and to document it, then escalate to the national enforcement body of the carrier's country of registration.
Base airports and key destinations for British Airways. Each airport page covers the rules for departures from there and the local enforcement body.