British Airways Missed Connection Compensation

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Why Are Connections Missed?

British Airways passengers can experience missed connections for many different reasons, some of which are the fault of the airline, others of which aren’t. If the fault lies with BA, you are absolutely entitled to claim compensation from them, to repay you for the inconvenience and financial loss you have incurred. After all, that’s only fair, isn’t it?

As mentioned, there are some reasons why you might miss your connecting flight that aren’t BA’s fault though, and these reasons include:

• Mistakes by travel agents. Sometimes travel agents will sell itineraries that don’t give adequate time. This is their mistake, so compensation should be claimed from them, not from British Airways.
• Passport issues. Loads of people get to the check-in desk, only to find that they’ve forgotten their passport or don’t have a valid one. This will cause huge delays as you rush home, and any subsequent delays can’t be blamed on BA.
• Missing check-in. Always double-check your check-in time, as it can be hours before your flight is due to depart. If you miss this, you won’t be on the plane, and you’ll unfortunately have to take the blame.
• Problems at security. It can sometimes take a while to get through security. If you are searched or held up in any way, the airline can’t help you – it’s a matter between you and the relevant authority.
• Weather. Poor weather can ground flights, and this can prevent connecting flights from being reached. Safety has to be the number one concern, so there’s nothing an airline can do when the wind is howling or the snow is falling.

While the above list can’t be blamed on airlines, there are some situations where their errors or policies cause you to miss a connecting flight. In these situations, you absolutely have the right to claim compensation from British Airways, and should begin the missed connection compensation procedure straight away. Some of the more commonly seen ways in which BA causes passengers to miss connecting flights include:

• Overbooking. This is the most common reason that the airlines cause travellers to miss their flights, and is explained in more detail below. It is essentially when the airline books too many people on a flight though, causing a few unlucky passengers to miss out.
• Aircraft problems. Aircraft problems happen, and they have to be accepted. These aircraft problems do fall under the remit of British Airways though, so their problems with aircraft should lead to you being compensated.
• Lost luggage. Lost luggage is the fault of the airline, and it can often lead to passengers waiting for ages before it is found. This causes a knock-on effect, with the passenger then running late for their connecting flight.
• System problems. There are many different types of problems that can occur with an airline’s system. Whatever their excuse though, it’s their system, so the fault lies with them. This broad category is one of the main reasons for missed connections.
• Late aircraft. Whether this is a reason to claim compensation really depends on the reason. If an aircraft arrives late from a previous flight though, it can cause a back-up in the whole system. To see whether your late aircraft can net you compensation, contact us today.

Of course, it is often the case that some reasons for a missed connection are not too black and white, leaving you confused about whether you can claim compensation or not. If you aren’t too sure, the best thing to do is fill in the form at the top of this page, and we’ll get back to you straightaway. It’s completely free, so you really don’t have anything to lose!

Explained: Why British Airways Overbooks

Overbooking is something that British Airways does on nearly all flights, and it is one of the most contentious issues in their entire airline world. They aren’t the only company that does this though, as it is common practice within all of the airlines. It is essentially the process whereby they sell too many seats for each flight, as they know that there will normally be people who don’t turn up, for one of many different reasons.

So, because people don’t turn up, they want to ensure that their plane remains full, so that they can maximise their profits. It has a large and very obvious problem though: there’s no guarantee that some people will not turn up. This can, on occasion, lead to a situation whereby there are too many people trying to check in. The result? Some unlucky passengers are “bumped” from the flight, and have to wait at the airport for another one, often for a number of hours.

If there are too many passengers for a plane, BA will first try to entice some people to delay their flight, often offering them various incentives. It is important to remember this though: if you volunteer to wait, you will not be eligible for compensation. You absolutely will be if you are forced to miss your flight though, unless BA can find another flight for you within three hours. Because of this “three-hour rule” it is important to stay close to the check-in desk for that amount of time, so that you don’t miss anything offered to you. If you do miss an offer, you will not be able to claim compensation.

The Law Surrounding Missed Connections

When it comes to compensation for missed connecting flights, the law is very much on your side. This is because EU Rule 261/2004 specifically states that compensation must be paid to those who have missed their connecting flight due to a mistake or action by an airline. It is also important to mention that this rule covers absolutely every BA flight, providing the flight is taking off or landing at an airport within the EU. This is because British Airways is registered in Europe. There are more caveats when flying with a non-EU airline though, such as Emirates or Qantas.

As you will probably guess though, legislation doesn’t always mean that the airline will abide by it. This is especially the case when individuals approach them about missed flight compensation, as the airline will often simply reject their claim without second thought, knowing that there will be no comeback. By using our service though, you can be guaranteed that the airline will take your claim seriously, as we use the law to the full extent. Our 98% success rate should show that we are incredibly successful when taking on the airlines, including British Airways.

Your Route to Compensation

Claiming compensation with us is incredibly easy, as well as hugely affordable. This is because we will do all the work on your behalf, leaving you free to avoid the stresses and strains of trying to get money from BA. What’s more, beginning the process is completely free, and we will only charge when you have the money from British Airways in your bank account. This is a much simpler process than the other two options you could choose…

The first of these is to go it alone and, as already mentioned, this will almost certainly lead to the airline flexing their muscles and trying to dismiss your case without consideration. You could then appeal, however this will lead to a huge amount of work for you, and do you really have the time to dedicate to this? You could end up getting your compensation, but the road will not have been a smooth one. This is why so many people just end up giving up halfway through the process, tired of the endless work they are having to do.

The other option is hiring a solicitor, although there are very few that specialise in this niche. As you probably already know, solicitors charge huge fees and this makes using one a risk. After all, what happens if your claim fails, meaning the airline doesn’t have to foot your bill? You’ll be left with a massive bill to pay, and no compensation either. We have the same level of expertise as a solicitor – if not more – and can get you your compensation for a fraction of the cost and risk.

What’s the Most Compensation That Can Be Received?

It’s not always easy to predict exactly how much an individual passenger will get when they receive compensation from British Airways. It is easy to state the maximum they’ll get though, as this is categorically stated with EU Rule 261/2004. So, for those who missed a flight due to be less than 1,500km, the most that can be received is £200; flights between 1,500km and 3,500km have a ceiling of £300; and flights of over 3,500km have a maximum compensation amount of around £500. It should be noted that, as this is an EU rule, all amounts are stated in Euros, so the amount you receive in pound sterling could rise or fall depending on exchange rates.

There is a way to get more money from the airline though, and it comes via the expenses you incurred while waiting for another flight (unless all expenses were covered at the time by British Airways). This is because EU Rule 261/2004 also forces the airline to pay for things such as food, refreshments and accommodation needed when delayed. If they didn’t at the time, make sure you keep your receipts, as they can then be sent to the airline later on. The amount you receive in this manner will not affect the overall amount received when you receive your compensation.

Start Your Compensation Process Today!

So, now you should know absolutely everything you need to know about claiming missed connection compensation from British Airways. All you need to do now is fill in your details at the top of this page, and then let us claim on your behalf. With a success rate of 98%, there’s a fantastic chance that you could end up with a nice sum of compensation when the process comes to an end!