Does British Airways cancel many flights?

British Airways has a cancellation rate of about 2.4%, above the industry average of around 1.6%. You are therefore more likely to face a cancellation than with the average carrier, so it pays to know your rights well.

How much is compensation for a cancelled BA flight?

For flights departing the UK, UK261 applies: 220 GBP (up to 1,500 km), 350 GBP (1,500-3,500 km) or 520 GBP (over 3,500 km). For flights departing the EU, EU261 applies: 250, 400 or 600 EUR. The airline may also choose to pay in euros.

Can I get both a refund and compensation?

Yes. They are separate rights: the refund returns your ticket price, compensation is a fixed amount for the disruption. In many cases you are entitled to both.

How quickly must British Airways refund me?

The ticket refund must be processed within 7 days of your request. You are entitled to cash: you can refuse the voucher.

British Airways cancelled flight refund: your rights and UK261

British Airways is the UK’s flag carrier, but on reliability the numbers tell a story worth keeping in mind: its cancellation rate is about 2.4%, against an industry average of around 1.6%. In other words, with BA you are more likely than average to run into a cancelled flight. That is exactly why it is worth knowing precisely what you can claim.

The distinction that changes everything: UK261 or EU261

British Airways is a UK carrier, and since Brexit the applicable rule depends on where the flight departs:

Flight departing the UK -> UK261 applies, mirroring EU261 but with amounts in pounds: 220 GBP (up to 1,500 km), 350 GBP (1,500-3,500 km), 520 GBP (over 3,500 km). The airline may also choose to pay in euros.
Flight departing the EU (e.g. Rome-London) -> EU261 applies: 250 / 400 / 600 EUR by distance.

In both cases compensation is due only if the cancellation was notified less than 14 days in advance and was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

A refund and compensation are not the same

The refund returns your ticket price, if the flight is cancelled and you do not accept an alternative.
Compensation (UK261 or EU261) is a fixed amount for the disruption, independent of what you paid.

You can be entitled to both in the same case.

How to claim from British Airways

Go to “Manage My Booking” on the BA website, or use the dedicated EU261/UK261 claim form.
For the refund, state that you decline the rebooking and request a cash refund within 7 days.
For compensation, file a separate claim with the flight number, date, route and amount due.
Keep the cancellation email, boarding pass and receipts for any expenses (meals, accommodation, transport).

What FlightGuard does

Given the above-average cancellation rate, checking ahead pays off. With FlightGuard you can assess the risk of your BA flight based on weather, carrier punctuality, ATC delays and other factors. The data sources are listed at /en/sources/.

In short

With British Airways cancellations are more frequent than average, so keep your rights handy: a ticket refund plus UK261 compensation (220/350/520 GBP) for UK departures or EU261 (250/400/600 EUR) for EU departures. Always claim both.