How much UK261 compensation does BA owe for a 4-hour delay on London to New York?

£520 per passenger. LHR-JFK is 5,500+ km, over the 3,500 km threshold. Halved to £260 if BA rebooked you with arrival within 4 hours of original.

Is UK261 different from EU261?

UK261 is the UK's retained version of EU261 after Brexit. Amounts, triggers, and process are essentially identical, but in GBP and enforced by UK CAA instead of EU NEBs. For flights departing UK airports, UK261 applies. For flights departing EU airports arriving UK on BA, EU261 still applies.

Can I file a UK261 claim from the US?

Yes. Nationality and residency are irrelevant. If the flight meets the route and carrier test, you can file. BA pays in GBP via international bank transfer.

How long does BA take to pay UK261?

Typical approved claim: 42 to 60 days from filing to payment. CAA escalation extends to 120 to 180 days. Small claims court can be faster (6 to 12 weeks).

What if BA cites extraordinary circumstances?

BA must prove the circumstances were beyond its control and genuinely unavoidable. Weather, ATC strikes, and bird strikes often qualify. Technical faults, crew timeouts, and staffing shortages rarely do. Escalate to CAA if BA cannot substantiate.

Can I claim UK261 on a BA codeshare operated by American?

No. UK261 obligations fall on the operating carrier. If American operated the flight, American handles the claim under whichever rule applies (likely US DOT if arriving the US).

What is the UK261 statute of limitations for BA?

6 years under UK contract law. BA occasionally disputes older claims but the 6-year limit is settled law.

Does BA pay Avios as compensation?

Avios is BA's loyalty currency, not cash. UK261 requires monetary compensation. If BA offers Avios, request bank transfer. Conversion rate: roughly 1 pence per Avios point, so the compensation cash is typically far more valuable.

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British AirwaysMay 5, 2026•8 min read

British Airways UK261 Claim: Fees and Timelines

British Airways handles the most UK261 claims in the industry as the UK's largest carrier. BA's process is formal and has a Civil Aviation Authority escalation path. Here is exactly how to file a BA UK261 claim and what timelines to expect.

When British Airways Owes You UK261 Compensation

British Airways is the UK flag carrier, based at London Heathrow. UK261 (the UK's retained version of EU261 post-Brexit) applies to all flights departing UK airports regardless of carrier, and to all BA-operated flights arriving UK airports from anywhere. See the UK261 passenger rights pillar for the framework.

Three triggers unlock UK261 cash on BA: a cancellation with less than 14 days notice, denied boarding, or arrival 3+ hours late at the final destination.

UK261 amounts are in GBP, not EUR. For BA flights, compensation is £220, £350, or £520 depending on route distance. The amounts mirror EU261's €250, €400, €600 in GBP.

BA UK261 Compensation Amounts

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Under 1,500 km: £220 per passenger (Heathrow to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh).
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1,500 to 3,500 km: £350 per passenger (Heathrow to Athens, Moscow, Canary Islands).
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Over 3,500 km: £520 per passenger (Heathrow to New York, LAX, Tokyo, Singapore), halved to £260 with fast rebooking.

For how UK261 compares to EU261, see the UK261 passenger rights summer 2026 edition 2, the UK261 passenger rights Christmas edition, and the Manchester UK261 claim step by step.

BA's Denial Patterns

1
Extraordinary circumstances claims. BA commonly cites weather, crew timeout from earlier weather, or technical faults as "extraordinary." Under Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia (still authoritative in UK courts), technical faults are rarely extraordinary.
2
Travel voucher offers. BA's first offer is often an Avios bonus or voucher. Passengers have the right to cash payment via bank transfer.
3
"We rebooked you within 4 hours" exemption. Only applies at the specific distance thresholds for €300/€260 reductions. Does not waive compensation entirely.
4
Heathrow ATC disruption blanket denials. When ATC issues delay multiple BA flights, BA sometimes denies all claims. Each claim must be evaluated on individual facts.

Step by Step: Filing Your BA UK261 Claim

1
Gather your booking reference (PNR, 6-character code), boarding pass, and any BA SMS or email about the disruption.
2
Visit britishairways.com and navigate to Customer Relations. Find the UK261 / EU Compensation form.
3
Enter your flight details. Select bank transfer in GBP, not voucher or Avios.
4
Provide a brief factual description. Reference the specific UK261 article that applies.
5
Submit. Save the case number.
6
BA has 6 weeks to provide a substantive response under UK consumer law.
7
If denied or ignored, escalate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at caa.co.uk/passengerrights.

Escalating to the UK CAA

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the national regulator for UK aviation consumer complaints. Its UK261 complaint process:

1
Complete the CAA online complaints form with your BA case number and evidence.
2
CAA evaluates the complaint and contacts BA within 28 days.
3
BA has 6 weeks to respond to the CAA.
4
CAA issues a formal finding, typically 12 to 20 weeks from complaint.
5
BA typically pays within 30 days of a CAA finding favorable to the passenger.

UK small claims court (MCOL) is the alternative path. Filing fee is £35 to £70 depending on claim size, no lawyer required. BA typically settles before the court date. Time to judgment: 6 to 12 weeks.

Right-to-Care on BA

Regardless of compensation, UK261 Article 9 requires BA to provide right-of-care during any delay of 2+ hours: meals, two free phone calls or messages, and hotel + transport if overnight. BA is generally good about providing Article 9 care but occasionally falls short during mass disruptions.

For parallel EU airline handling, see the Air France EU261 claim guide and the Brussels Airlines EU261 claim guide.

Timeline: What to Expect

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Days 1 to 14: automated acknowledgment of BA form.
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Days 14 to 42: first BA decision (approve or deny).
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Days 42 to 60: bank transfer in GBP if approved.
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Days 60 to 180: CAA complaint process if escalated.
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Statute of limitations: 6 years under UK contract law.

Check Your BA Flight Now

BA delayed or cancelled your flight? Check your UK261 eligibility in 30 seconds. We file with BA, escalate to CAA if denied, and push for full GBP payment. 25% of recovered compensation, nothing if we do not win. For the UK261 framework, see the UK261 passenger rights pillar.

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