Tailored Policies for Every Flight

Canceling a flight can be hard and expensive if you don’t know how it works. This page helps to answer this worry. You’re on the right page if you’ve booked a flight with British Airways and need to cancel your ticket. You will learn how the British Airways cancellation policy works, when and how you can change your flight for free, what the cancellation fees are, and how to avoid paying them. 

British Airways Cancelled Flight Refund Eligibility 

According to British Airways’ cancellation policy, you can get a full refund of your fare if:

  • If you buy a ticket and need to cancel it, you can do so within 24 hours of purchase. However, this is only possible if your travel date is at least 7 days away.
  • Your flight with British Airways has been canceled.
  • British Airways has made significant changes to your flight schedule, but it may not be convenient for you. 
  • If your flight with British Airways is delayed by 5 hours or more. 
  • British Airways has changed the schedule of a flight, but unfortunately, it no longer includes a stop at your intended destination. 
  • British Airways made you miss a connecting flight that you had a reservation for.
  • British Airways may deny boarding to passengers involuntarily if there is overbooking. In such cases, you may be eligible for compensation.
  • In case of emergancy you can chnge your flight as per British Airways Flight Change Policy.

Refund Policy

Here are the main points of British Airways’ refund policy:

If British Airways cancels your flight, you may be eligible for an involuntary refund. The refund policy of British Airways for flights that are canceled by the airline is as follows: 

  • You will get a refund for the portion of your ticket that you didn’t use. The refund you receive will be equal to the amount you paid to British Airways for fees, charges, surcharges, taxes, and other expenses. 
  • If you have used part of your ticket, the refund amount will be the difference between the total fare you paid and the portion of the fare you used during your travel.

If you decide to cancel your flight, you may be eligible for a voluntary refund. If you decide to cancel your ticket with British Airways, here is their refund policy:

  • If you decide to cancel your flight ticket for reasons not mentioned earlier, you will get a refund for the ticket fare and additional charges like surcharges and fees. However, there will be a cancellation charge and possibly a service charge deducted from the refund amount.
  • If you have already used part of your ticket, the refund amount will be the total fare paid minus the portion of the fare you have already used, plus the cancellation fee and service charge that apply.

Here are the general conditions of the British Airways refund policy:

  • If your flight with British Airways is delayed by more than 3 hours and the reason for the delay is something that British Airways could have prevented, you might be eligible to receive compensation. This is assuming that the delay is not caused by any exceptional circumstances that were beyond the airline’s control.
  • You cannot cancel non-refundable tickets on your own. If you have non-refundable tickets, the refund you can get will only include the taxes or fees that are refundable. If you can show that you had to cancel your ticket because of something you couldn’t control, you might be able to get a travel voucher for future use. 
  • Refunds will be based on the fare rules and conditions that apply to your booking. 
  • If not specified, the person who paid for the ticket will receive a refund. 
  • You need to provide proof of payment for the ticket. 
  • To request a refund, you need to give back the ticket and any unused flight coupons. 
  • If you have made a booking for something other than a flight, like a hotel or a car rental, you will need to cancel each of them separately.
  • Want to use smooth check-in process, So you must be familer with British Airways Check-In Policy.

24-Hour Cancellation Policy

You can cancel your flight booking with British Airways within 24 hours of purchase and get a full refund if: 

  • You made your flight reservation directly with British Airways, and 
  • The date of your trip (when you made the reservation) is at least 1 week from now.

British Airways Cancellation Policy Due to Death or Health Issue

If a passenger or their immediate family member becomes severely ill, or if a close relative of the passenger passes away, British Airways has a cancellation policy in place.

  • Passengers need to show a medical certificate if they are sick or a death certificate if someone has passed away.
  • If you get sick, the ticket’s validity period will be extended.
  • If a relative passes away, the ticket’s validity period can be extended for up to 45 days.

British Airways Cancellation Fee and Charges

British Airways charge cancellation fees, also known as service charges. The fees are as follows:

Cancellation Method

Online

Phone

Airport

Cancellation Fee

Free

USD 25

USD 35

Non-refundable Tickets

USD 10

USD 25

USD 35

Compensation Policy for Delayed and Cancelled Flights

  • Flights less than 1500 km: €250
  • Flights between 1500 km and 3500 km: €400
  • Flights more than 3500 km: €600

Exceptions:

If you are given a different flight with the specified departure and arrival times, you will not receive any compensation. 

  • If British Airways tells you about the cancellation between 7 to 13 days before your trip, and your new flight leaves up to 2 hours earlier than the original time and arrives at your destination no later than 4 hours after the original arrival time, then
  • If British Airways tells you about the cancellation less than 7 days before your trip, and your new flight leaves up to 1 hour before your original departure time and arrives at your destination no more than 2 hours after your original arrival time.
  • 2 hours for flights within 1500km 
  • 3 hours for flights exceeding 1500km within the EU 
  • 3 hours for other flights between 1500–3500km 
  • 4 hours for flights not covered above

What Do You Receive as Compensation for Delayed or Canceled Flights?

If your British Airways flight was canceled or delayed and you had to pay extra because of it, BA will pay for the following: 

  • Hotel lodging (if necessary).
  • Cost of getting from the airport to the hotel, if necessary.
  • There were meals and drinks.
  • Two phone calls and online fees.

How to Submit a Claim for Expenses?

Follow the process and submit details: 

  • Please provide the names of the passengers who are requesting reimbursement. 
  • Please provide the flight details for any flights that have been canceled or delayed. 
  • Please provide your expense details and include receipts, either scanned or original, to support your claim.
  • You can submit scanned receipts online or send hard copies by mail. 
  • Please provide your bank information so that we can process the payment. 

Just a reminder, you won’t receive any compensation if: 

  • You or your travel agent received notice about the cancelled flight at least 14 days before your planned travel date. 
  • Your flight will be delayed for a period of time that is less than 3 hours.
  • If you choose to travel from a different starting point or change your destination, you can claim expenses for things like car rental and parking.
  • Your flight was impacted by unexpected events that were out of BA’s control, such as:
    • Bad weather, Employee Strikes, Airport closure, Air traffic control, and Bird hits

Refund Policy

If British Airways cancels your flight, they have to give you a refund for the entire cost of your ticket or find another flight for you as soon as possible. If the new flight doesn’t work for you, you have the option to choose a refund instead. If you made your flight reservation directly with British Airways, you have the option to cancel your flight online. To request a refund, you have two options. 

You can apply online through the customer service portal, or you can contact British Airways directly to apply offline. The amount you receive as a refund will not include the service fee you have already paid.

Just a reminder, you can get a refund for your canceled flight no matter the reason. If your flight gets canceled for reasons like bad weather, employee strikes, airport closure, or airspace restrictions, you can still get a refund. 

While you’re waiting at the airport, you can get extra help like food and drinks, a hotel room if you need to stay overnight, and a ride to and from the hotel. 

According to British Airways’ refund policy for cancellations, you might not receive a refund if:

  • You cannot get a refund for your ticket.
  • You are requesting a refund for a ticket after the time period in which it is valid.
  • You showed your ticket to either BA or a government official to show that you will leave the country. If you can’t prove to BA that you have permission to stay, you will leave the country using a different airline or mode of transportation. 

Here is the Cancellation Process for British Airways Flights

To cancel your British Airways flight, you have three options: calling them, doing it online, or contacting the travel agent who sold you the ticket. You can only cancel tickets bought directly from British Airways (on their website, at a ticket counter, or through their call center) using their online cancellation service. 

Online Method:

  • Visit the website BritishAirways.com. 
  • To access your booking, simply click on the “Manage My Booking” option located below the booking box.
  • Please provide your booking reference and last name.
  • Please click on the button that states “Find booking.” 
  • Choose your flight and cancel it by following the instructions.

Instead of canceling your flight reservation, you have the option to request a travel voucher and use it to fly at a later date. 

FAQs

What qualifies for a full refund with British Airways?

Canceled flights, significant schedule changes, 5-hour delays, and cancellations within 24 hours of purchase (7 days before travel).

How does the refund policy work for canceled and voluntary cancellations?

Canceled by BA: Refund for the unused portion of the ticket. Voluntary cancellation: Refund for fare and charges with cancellation fee deducted.

What are the compensation amounts for delayed or canceled flights?

Flights less than 1500 km: €250, 1500–3500 km: €400, more than 3500 km: €600.

How to request a refund from British Airways?

Online through the customer service portal or contact BA directly.

What assistance is provided during delays or cancellations?

Hotel lodging, transportation, meals, drinks, and phone calls if necessary.

Related Policies