What is British Airways required to pay you for a delayed or cancelled flight?
British Airways is a UK airline, so UK261 is your main rule. It covers every BA flight departing a UK airport and every BA flight arriving in the UK, including from New York, Singapore or Tel Aviv. EU261 also applies to BA departures from EU airports such as Madrid or Athens.
Fixed compensation of £220 to £520 per passenger is owed when you arrive 3+ hours late, are cancelled with under 14 days' notice, or are bumped from an overbooked flight, unless BA proves extraordinary circumstances. US flights add DOT refund rights, Canadian flights add APPR, and Tel Aviv departures add Israel's Aviation Services Law.
When BA cancels, you choose a cash refund, rerouting or an eVoucher. UK261 requires the refund within 7 days of your choice, even on a non-refundable fare, and BA's US customer commitment promises card refunds within 7 business days.
Important
A refund and compensation are separate payments. Taking your fare back or an eVoucher does not cancel the compensation owed. The current exception: BA's Middle East suspensions since March 2026, including Tel Aviv (due back late October 2026 ), stem from airspace closures, which usually rule out compensation but never the refund.
Am I Eligible for British Airways Compensation?
Likely eligible:
- You arrived 3+ hours late for a cause within BA's control
- BA cancelled with under 14 days' notice and did not reroute you close to your original times
- You were denied boarding on an overbooked flight after checking in on time
- You flew BA into the UK from outside Europe (UK261 still applies)
- You missed a connection on one BA booking because the first leg was late
- You are still waiting on a fare refund, or were left with an eVoucher you never chose
Unlikely to be eligible:
- You arrived less than 3 hours late
- A genuine extraordinary circumstance: severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, airspace closure
- BA told you about the cancellation 14+ days before departure
- You cancelled voluntarily or did not show up
- You want hotels, meals or lost earnings paid as "compensation" (those are care or consequential costs)
How Much Can You Claim?
Scenario
Distance band
Amount per person
A fixed £220 to £520 per passenger under UK261, or the EU, Israeli or Canadian equivalent. Paid in cash on top of any refund, for every traveller on the booking.
Cancelled, or delayed 5+ hours and no longer travelling? You are owed the full fare back to your original payment method within 7 days. An eVoucher is optional.
If BA ignores a refund it owes, dispute the charge with your card issuer, usually within about 120 days. UK credit card purchases over £100 also qualify for Section 75.
Covers what UK261 never pays: prepaid hotels, missed tours and onward non-BA tickets. Claim it alongside your compensation, not instead of it.
Key Rules & Distinctions
Statutory Compensation
Extraordinary circumstances
Which regulation covers your route
Avios and reward tickets
Cash refund vs eVoucher
One payout per disruption
British Airways Delayed or Cancelled Flight? Claim Up to £520
Claim type
Time Limit
Note:
What Documentation Do You Need?
- Six-character BA booking reference
- Boarding pass or check-in confirmation
- BA's cancellation or delay email
- Proof of actual arrival time
- Card payment record
- Receipts for meals, hotels, transport
- BA's written reason for the disruption
- eVoucher with no cancellation reason
- Undated screenshots
- Agent confirmation without the BA reference
Tip:
export emails and statements now
- Lost wages
- Missed events or meetings
- Separately booked non-refundable hotels
- Self-booked replacement tickets (usually)
- Emotional-distress claims
Note:
travel insurance may cover some
Why Use Gyro Instead of Claiming Yourself
Factor
Claiming Yourself
Claiming Through Gyro
Key insight:
Common British Airways Claim Mistakes
"I took the eVoucher, so I'm sorted"
The voucher replaces your fare, not your compensation. The £220 to £520 is still owed and claimable separately.
"BA said it was weather, so there's no payout"
Ask which weather, where and when. Knock-on delays, crew shortages and technical faults usually still qualify.
"We only took off 2 hours late"
Arrival time at your final destination is what counts. Landing 3+ hours late qualifies, whatever the departure delay.
"I booked through a travel site, so BA won't deal with me"
The operating airline owes compensation wherever you booked. You need the BA booking reference, not the agent's.
"I paid with Avios, so I can't claim"
Reward tickets are covered. Compensation is paid in cash at the same rates as a paid ticket.
"It was two years ago, too late now"
UK261 claims to run 6 years in England and Wales. Older BA flights are often still claimable.
"My ticket was cheap, so the payout is small"
Distance sets the amount, not the fare. A £60 London to Paris ticket can still return £220.
"My Tel Aviv flight was cancelled because of the war, so I'm owed £520"
Airspace closures are extraordinary circumstances, so cash compensation is unlikely. Your full refund and duty of care still apply.
