Last updated: 31 October 2026.
How much money you get back depends on your fare and on who cancelled. Refunds go to the card used for the booking, and bookings from a travel agent are handled by the agent.
24 hoursfree cancellation after booking (travel at least one week away)
5 hoursdelay after which you can ask for a refund
30 daysto claim a refund for paid seats after your last flight
3 hoursdelay at destination that may bring compensation
If you cancel
- A booking you made straight with British Airways can be cancelled for a full refund without penalty within 24 hours of booking, as long as travel is a week or more away.
- Otherwise the refund follows the fare rules. For an unused ticket it is the fare, carrier charges and taxes paid, minus a cancellation fee and a fair service fee. For a part-used ticket it is the difference between what you paid and the fare for the part flown, less the same charges.
- Some discounted fares are partly or completely non-refundable, so consider travel insurance.
- The airline can refuse a refund asked for after the ticket expires. A lost ticket is refunded after its validity ends, on proof of loss and an administration fee. The refund is paid in the currency you paid in.
If the airline cancels or delays
- Cancelled flight: rebook free on the next British Airways flight, ask for other airlines, or ask for your money back. A hotel is offered when the next flight is only on the day after.
- A refund is due if the airline cancels, delays a flight by 5 hours or more, makes a time change you cannot accept, fails to stop at your destination, or makes you miss a connection. You receive the fare, carrier charges and taxes if unused.
- Over 2 hours late: refreshment vouchers, or reasonable expenses reimbursed (not alcohol). Over 3 hours at your destination: compensation may be due if the cause was within the airline's control. Past 5 hours: you can drop the trip and claim a refund; flights covered by US Department of Transportation rules get a cash refund.
- Reasonable costs for a hotel, transport, alternative travel, food and drink, and two calls may be reimbursed. Consequential losses such as car hire are not.
- Connections on one booking with a layover of up to 24 hours, hit by a disruption of 5 hours or longer: if you prefer not to go on, you are flown home and the unflown parts are repaid.
- Compensation (where it applies): EUR 250 or GBP 220 up to 1,500 km; EUR 400 or GBP 350 between 1,500 and 3,500 km; EUR 600 or GBP 520 beyond.
- Downgraded cabin: partial refund of the fare for that sector, excluding taxes: 30% up to 1,500 km, 50% for 1,500 to 3,000 km and 75% for 3,500 km and over.
Seats and extras
- Paid seat refunds can be claimed within 30 days of your last flight if the airline changes your seat and you are unhappy, cancels your flight, you become ineligible for an exit row and tell the airline at least 48 hours ahead, or you bought a cabin upgrade and would rather not pay for a seat in that cabin.
- No seat refund if you cancel the flight, are upgraded, or choose to change flight and receive an equivalent seat. Moving to a cheaper seat gets no refund of the difference.
- Pre-paid extra baggage can be refunded if cancelled before check-in; claims cannot be accepted after the flight has left.
Questions travellers ask us
Can I cancel a booking for free?
Yes within 24 hours, if the flight is at least a week away.
When do I get a refund for a delay?
After a delay of 5 hours if you no longer wish to travel.
Where does the money go?
Back to the card used for the booking.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of British Airways. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
7 questions and answers
Yes, you shall be able to get it through Manage Booking section of the website.
You can take the help of airline customer support if you are not very confident of doing it yourself. OTherwise, you can do so online using Manage Booking section of the airline website: https://www.britishairways.com/travel/managebooking/public/en_gb
Airlines shall be able to refund it to you. You can speak to the customer support, writen them an email or even make use of Social Media such as the airline facebook and/or twitter account.
For that reason I missed my connecting flight. I had book all flights with British Airways to my final destination.
British Airways said it is not there responsibility to get me to the terminal on time its only there responsibility to get me to the airport on time so they are not responsible for my delay is this correct
The airline argument looks right.
How do we go about claiming a refund for the USD 64?
Regards
Keith Willson
Please get in touch with the British Airways local office for this matter.
You need to contact the airline customer service in your country for this matter.
You can even raise this in their social media account of Twitter @British_Airways. by using the Direct Message service.
If you would have cancelled the purchase of extra bag before checking in using the Manage My Booking section of BA website, you would have got the refunds. But, after checking in, the refunds are not going to be given by the airline.