Coping with flight disruptions can be really frustrating. However, the bright side is that the European Union has regulations to support travelers when things get messed up. If you’re traveling by air in the EU, it’s a good idea to know about these protections. They can be useful if your flight gets messed up.
Understanding your rights can make handling travel problems less stressful. While it won’t get you to your destination quicker, it can help you feel less stressed when things get disrupted.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
If your flight has problems in the European Union, you’ll get help. EU laws make sure airlines assist their passengers when things go wrong.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must provide you:
- Refreshments and snacks
- A hotel room if you’re stuck overnight
- Transportation to and from the hotel
- Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
If you’re delayed for a long time or your flight is cancelled, you might also receive:
- A refund
- An alternative flight
- Compensation to make up for the inconvenience
Don’t forget to inquire with airline representatives about these things if your plans change. They are obligated to tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
British Airways Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from British Airways can be really annoying. However there’s some good news: if you’re stranded for more than three hours owing to the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation.
Regulations in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could receive up to €600 per person. What counts is when you reach your destination, not when you leave. So monitor your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
The amount you receive depends on your flight distance. A short flight won’t be compensated as highly as a long one, even if they’re both delayed the same amount of time.
Want to know exactly how much you could get? Check out the table below to see what compensation you could receive:
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
British Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation
Europe has laws to protect you in case of flight cancellation. Here’s the important information:
If your flight gets cancelled less than two weeks before your scheduled departure, you might get compensation up to €600. But there’s a catch – the airline can avoid paying if they offer you an alternative flight that aligns closely with your original schedule.
The airline may not need to compensate you if they provide an alternative flight that meets the following conditions:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
If you accept an alternative flight from the airline, you can still receive compensation. The key factor is your arrival time at your destination.
How much money you might get is based on two factors:
- The length of your flight
- The delay in your arrival
Therefore, even if you arrive later than planned, you could still be eligible for compensation.
Refer to the following table to understand better:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
The airline may not need to compensate you if they can provide a transfer to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even with a slight delay, you might not be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from British Airways
It’s essential to understand how to request the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s how to do it:
- Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws well and will do our best to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
Keep in mind that you have the right as a passenger to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed as a result of operational issues or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as inclement weather or air traffic control decisions, you qualify for compensation.
Which British Airways Flights are Covered by EU261?
The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union have a wide-ranging scope. They cover all flights departing from an airport in an EU member state and every flight landing at an airport in an EU member state when an EU-based airline operates the flight.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These regulations also apply to airlines from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. This means when you travel with any airline within, to, or from Europe, you most likely have these rights. It’s helpful to know about these regulations – they’re in place to assist you if issues arise with your flight. They make sure you’re not stranded when your travel plans fall through.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
British Airways isn’t always at fault when flights are delayed or cancelled. Occasionally, things happen that the airline is powerless against, like extreme weather or unforeseen issues.
For example, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an emergency at the airport, or air traffic controllers go on strike, British Airways is not liable. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline is unable to prevent.
When these things happen, you are unlikely to get any compensation. The airline isn’t seen as doing anything wrong when these unexpected issues come up.