UK261 · EU261 · BA
British Airways flight compensation
Dual regime. Long-haul cases route to AirHelp; six-year UK window applies.
Typical amounts
€250 / £220 · €400 / £350 · €600 / £520
Set by distance under Art 7(1), per passenger.
Regulator
UK Civil Aviation Authority
Free escalation if the airline refuses or ignores you.
Registered in
United Kingdom
Relevant to arrivals into the EU or UK from outside.
Where to send it
Online claim form; CEDR is the approved ADR scheme for BA.
What they tend to argue
- IT and systems outages have been argued as extraordinary — the courts generally treat the airline's own systems as within its control.
- Long-haul network means the Article 7(2) halving is frequently in play.
Claim it yourself first
- Write to British Airways quoting the article. “I am claiming under Article 7 for a delayed arrival on [flight] on [date].” Free, and you keep the whole amount. Use the template.
- Give them 28 days and diary the deadline.
- Refuse a voucher offered in place of cash.
- Escalate free to UK Civil Aviation Authority if they refuse.
- Only then consider a claims service.
Long-haul refusals are the ones most likely to need legal follow-through. Doing it yourself costs nothing and keeps the full amount — use a service once you have hit a wall.
Questions
How much compensation can I claim from British Airways?
The amount depends on flight distance, not on the airline and not on your fare. British Airways routes typically fall in the €250 / £220 · €400 / £350 · €600 / £520 range under Article 7.
How do I claim compensation from British Airways?
Online claim form; CEDR is the approved ADR scheme for BA. Write first, quoting Article 7 and your flight number, and allow 28 days before escalating to UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Which regulator covers British Airways?
UK Civil Aviation Authority. You can also complain to the enforcement body of the country you departed from.