QUALIFY IT
Why this one is different
Article 4 has no extraordinary-circumstances defence. None. The airline owes regardless of why the flight was oversold or the aircraft swapped.
Compensation is payable immediately at the airport, not after a claims process, and it sits on top of the Article 8 choice — refund or re-routing — and Article 9 care while your client waits.
THE MONEY
What is it worth?
£220
Under 1,500 km
£350
1,500–3,500 km
£520
Over 3,500 km
Per passenger — payable immediately under Article 4(3).
Full band, no delay-based reduction: £220 under 1,500 km, £350 to 3,500 km, £520 beyond. Re-routing that limits the arrival delay can halve it in narrow cases — insist on the full amount first.
THE PUSHBACK
The one distinction that matters
Volunteers who accept the airline’s offer take the agreed benefits instead of Article 7 compensation. If your client was asked and said yes, that is voluntary. If they were told, it is involuntary and the money is owed.
Get the answer in writing the same day. Memories blur, and BA’s record will simply say "rebooked".
THE EDGE
What’s specific to British Airways
Heathrow short-haul aircraft swaps to smaller equipment are the usual BA cause — and an equipment swap is squarely airline-controlled.
File through Customer Relations and keep the reference; BA has no claims email that reaches a handler.
CEDR binds BA after eight weeks, and denied-boarding cases are among the cleanest arbitration wins because the defence list is empty.
Reading this as the passenger, not the agent? The plain-English version for your own trip: bumped from a flight — your rights. If BA has already refused the claim: British Airways refused compensation? What to do next.
THE PLAY
How do you file it?
Record whether your client volunteered or was refused, in writing, the same day.
Claim Article 4(3) compensation, Article 8 re-routing or refund, and Article 9 care costs together.
File through the form; escalate to CEDR at eight weeks.
FLYING IT YOURSELF?
Check what British Airways owes you — free, two minutes. $39 only if the airline pays.
Check my flight →TRAVEL AGENTS · Forward the booking and this claim is prepared for you. Start watching client flights →
AGENTS ASK
Questions agents ask
Does a smaller aircraft count as extraordinary circumstances?
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No. Equipment changes are within the airline’s control and Article 4 has no such defence in any case.
They took a later flight voluntarily — can they still claim?
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If they accepted the airline’s offer they take the agreed benefits instead. If they were simply moved, it is involuntary.
What if check-in was late?
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Timely check-in is a condition of the claim. Keep the boarding pass or check-in confirmation.
Can they get both compensation and a re-route?
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Yes — they are separate rights and both are owed.
Client was downgraded rather than bumped?
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That is Article 10 reimbursement, not Article 4 compensation.
The law this guide is written against: EC261 full text (EUR-Lex) · UK261 full text (legislation.gov.uk)
General information for travel professionals, not legal advice. Compensation depends on the facts of each disruption and the airline’s evidence. MyAirAdvocate prepares claims; it does not represent passengers and takes no percentage of any compensation.