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Contact Information

Mailing Address:

British Airways
Customer Relations (S506)
PO Box 1126
Uxbridge
UB8 9XS
United Kingdom

Phone:

0344 493 0787 (calls charged at local rate)

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British Airways Complaints: Contact Numbers, Forms and Tips for a Better Outcome

British Airways Complaints: Contact Numbers, Forms and Tips for a Better Outcome

Joanna Teljeur
Written By Joanna Teljeur
Last Updated: October 09, 2024

In 2023, the Civil Aviation Authority reported that British Airways opened 6806 passenger complaints for that one year alone. We don’t know exactly what each complaint was about, but issues can arise from flight interruptions to food quality and anything in between.

If you’re looking for the best way to contact BA or how to file a complaint, you’re definitely in the right place. In the sections to come, we’ll give you ways to contact the airline as well as helpful tips to make the most of your complaint. 

Before You Call British Airways

After the pandemic, BA earned the unfortunate reputation of being extremely difficult to reach by phone, but CEO Sean Boyle said in a 2022 interview with Travel Weekly,

quotes

We are mid-way through replacing our phone systems to create a better customer experience and are also already recruiting more people to ensure your calls are answered, social media messages are responded to and problems are solved in the moment, wherever possible.

By now, calling the airline should be a much smoother experience, particularly when you have sudden flight disruptions. No matter why you’re calling, it’s important to know a few things that will improve the quality of your call.

  1. Have your flight details ready as BA representatives will require your booking reference number and other flight information to open your details in their system. 
  2. Charges may apply to your call, depending on your specific mobile carrier and where you’re calling from.
  3. Remember, you are probably one of countless passengers in the same situation, so be patient and polite when speaking with customer service agents.

a British Airways airplane at Heathrow airport terminal

BA Chat & Mobile App

Because of high call volumes, you might want to see if you can resolve your problem on British Airways’ live chat. It’s available in English every day from 06:00 until 22:00 UK time, and is useful for finding basic, fast answers or direction on how to best solve the issue at hand.

Another great way to resolve flight specific problems is on the BA mobile app. This comes in handy especially when you’ve had sudden cancellations, denied boarding, or a missed connection, and you need a rebooking ASAP. 

But when you must speak to a representative, you can find phone numbers for different situations below.

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British Airways Contact Numbers for Customer Service

New or existing bookings

North America

1-800 247-9297 (Every day (EST) 7:00am-11:00pm)

UK

+44 (0) 344 493 0787  (All days, 7am-8pm)

+49 (0) 421 2215 7897 (Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00)

Baggage help

1-800-828-8144

Executive Club Member Services

North America

1 800 452 1201

UK

 +44 (0) 344 493 0747

Special Assistance

North America

1 800 828 8140

UK 

+49 (0) 421 2215 7897 option 1 (Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00 CET)

Group travel

0421 224 79847

Monday - Friday: 10:00-12:00 CET (except public holidays)

Only for urgent queries on bookings with travel dates, payment or ticketing deadlines within the next 72 hours.

British Airways Social Media Channels

With active Facebook and Twitter accounts, BA is usually very easy to reach on these platforms. Contacting a customer service agent via direct message on social media, can sometimes provide solutions not available elsewhere.

Many travel experts have reported getting help with rebooked flights by sending a DM to BA during busy travel times. When phone lines are tied up for as long as an hour, this contact method is definitely worth a shot. Just use caution before sharing any personal information. Social media airline scams are a growing concern.

British Airways Contacts for Complaints

If something bothered you or disrupted your flight experience, it’s worth reporting to the airline. But some situations do garner more negative feedback than others. Some of the most common complaints include:

  • Poor customer service
  • Booking errors
  • Bumped flights
  • Accessibility issues
  • Disappointing in-flight amenities
  • Safety concerns
  • Poor in-flight service

The most frequent complaints received by airlines, including BA, center upon cancelled and delayed flights. So, before you write to the airline, you should understand your rights as a passenger. We have an in-depth guide for you here: British Airways Compensation

Find out how much you’re owed todayClaim with AirAdvisor and get up to £520.Check Your Flight

British Airways Contact Forms

Instead of email contacts for feedback, claims, and complaints, BA uses a set of customer service contact forms dedicated to each concern. While email addresses might seem easier and more reliable for contacting customer services, the forms that the airline provides can actually help get your issue resolved more quickly. Plus, you can still write comments and upload any supporting information you may have for a more thorough claim.

The links below will take you to the appropriate form on the BA site.

British Airways Contact Forms

BA Mailing Address

Even in today’s digital world, there are still times when sending parcels by post is the best mode of communication. Usually, this contact method is used for mailing hard copies of official or legal documents. If you have things to send to British Airways, you can use the address below.

British Airways Plc 
Customer Relations
PO Box 1126
Uxbridge
UB8 9XS
United Kingdom

British Airways Complaint Response Time

British Airways aims to acknowledge all complaints within 7 days of receipt and to provide a full response within 28 days.

a traveller with a back pack

How to Make a Complaint to British Airways

Below, you can explore a step-by-step guide to lodging an effective complaint with this major international airline:

  1. Clearly describe the issue you experienced, including the date and time of your flight, the flight number, and any relevant details.
  2. Include your booking reference or flight confirmation number, as well as any receipts or documents that support your claim.
  3. If you're seeking compensation for expenses incurred because of a flight disruption, include copies of associated receipts or invoices.
  4. Be clear about what you're seeking as a resolution to your complaint.
  5. Submit your complaint through the appropriate channels.
  6. Follow up on your complaint periodically to ensure it's being processed in a timely manner.
  7. Consider seeking the assistance of a third-party service like AirAdvisor, which can provide guidance and customised support throughout the complaint process for an optimal outcome.
  8. Be persistent and patient throughout the process, as reaching a resolution can sometimes take time.
  9. Or just head to our homepage and enter your flight information (departure and destination airport) then click on “Check Compensation.” Our agents will review everything and submit your complaint on your behalf.

Assuming your claim is successful, which it usually is when you partner with us, we’ll charge a small percentage. If your claim is denied, we don’t collect anything.Get started on your claim today!

FAQ / Common Questions: British Airways Complaints

Below, you can review some FAQs about British Airways flight complaints, along with their answers:

Is it worth complaining to British Airways?

If you believe the airline has violated your rights as a passenger, it may be worth submitting a complaint.

How much does British Airways charge for special assistance?

British Airways usually don't charge for special assistance, like wheelchair assistance. However, additional fees may apply to certain services or equipment, such as mobility aids or oxygen supply. It's best to check with British Airways' customer service team for information on special assistance fees.

Can you sue British Airways?

You can in some cases, but it's advisable to seek professional advice from a reputable service provider like AirAdvisor to ensure you have the necessary expertise and support throughout the process.

How reliable is British Airways?

British Airways has a reputation for being a reliable airline, with a strong safety record and a commitment to providing quality service to its passengers.

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Complaints

Kieran Docherty

No reason given

Jan 20, 2025
Please see prior attachments for our communications with BA, and a note about our additional costs. Please see the communication with BA directing us to keep receipts from our hotel as we were on a package holiday and confirming we could stay in that same hotel. Please note the short notice informing us of the change in flight. Rather than fly back overnight, we had to fly back over the day on a long haul flight and therefore both missed a days work. We also paid for BA WiFi on flight that didn't work for the duration of the flight. We can provide a receipt if needed.
Annica Levin

Technical problems

Jan 18, 2025
Tried to fill out a claim on British Airways website, but it faild to work We sat at the gate from 6pm on the 22nd of Dec to 1:30 am on the 23rd of Dec, getting the info that the plane was delayed with 30 min at the time. At 1:30am they canceled the flight and rebooked us on a flight on the 23rd at 3:06 pm. That flight was then delayed for about 1.5 hours. This caused a lot of emotional distress for my 9 y/o son who has severe autism. This made us miss the connecting flight at LHR. We arrived at the final destination (ARN) almost 24 h later than we were suppost to. This made us miss the Christmas Celebrations with our family on Sweden. Original date and time to land was dec 23rd at 11:45pm and we now landed on Dec 24th 7:25pm
Barbara A Stobo

Weather conditions

Jan 18, 2025
Already received compensation on all my extra expenses from British Airways but didn’t give me compensation for a flight that was delayed from 19.05 on the 28th and didn’t take off till 21.15 on 29th. Arrived at 22.15. The airline just offered us a return flight the next day, no hotel accommodation or anything. We had to leave our Airb&b that day and make other arrangements, they didn’t let us know until 10.45 the morning of the flight. We had to be out of our apartment by 12. It was a mad rush to get an alternate booking for the night. Our son had to pay for this accommodation and we had to reimburse him. We checked and other planes were flying into and out of Prague airport going to Heathrow. Totally disgusted with the way we were treated. When I received the money to cover the cost i didn’t receive any communication from them about it at all though they said they sent an email, never received. Will never travel with them again.
Sofia Vassoler

Problems at airport

Jan 17, 2025
I planned this trip from Ireland to Brazil to visit my family after almost 3 years. I was traveling with my daughter to Guarulhos and from there I had a Latam flight to Curitiba. The flight to London was delayed. The pilot said there was a shortage of bus drivers to transport passengers to the planes at Heathrow airport. Although the plane to São Paulo was still there, British Airways had already cancelled the flight and rescheduled a new one for the next day. I went to security and they informed me that my daughter and I could no longer board because there were no more seats available on the plane and our flight had already been rescheduled. On the flight that we could not board, it was my boyfriend Thomas Lebacq who was going to accompany us on the trip. We were supposed to travel together and we had a hotel booked in Curitiba that I could not go to, because I only arrived the next day. I had to rescheduled the Latam flight as I landed late, instead of arriving at 6am in Guarulhos on the 10th, we arrived at almost 11pm and my flight to Curitiba was at 9:25am that day. British Airways made a delay letter so we could reschedule the Latam flight, booked a hotel for another night at the airport and gave us food vouchers that we didn't use, as my daughter was exhausted almost midnight arriving at the hotel and with a flight the next morning, so we went bed without eating. I only managed to get to Curitiba on the 11th, because there were no more flights that night and I lost my hotel reservation in Curitiba on the 10th. On the 11th, we already had a reservation at a hotel in Balneário Camboriú, more than 200 km away. We had to arrive after almost 48 hours of travel and go straight to the road so as not to lose another hotel reservation. As if that were not enough, in Dublin, British Airways forced us to check in our carry-on bags and we spent the whole time without even changing our clothes and my daughter had blood stained her clothes from a nosebleed. These were very difficult days and, accompanied by my 6-year-old daughter who was looking forward to the trip to celebrate her birthday with our family for the first time in her life, we missed a day of being with them and after many unforeseen events. It was a chaotic trip. In short, our flight was cancelled on the day of my planned departure due to no extraordinary circumstances as reported by the pilot. The alternative route offered meant that I left more than 12 hours after the scheduled departure time and arrived at my final destination more than 15 hours after the scheduled arrival time, due to no extraordinary circumstances. I hope the amount of €1200 that is owed to us is paid. Thank you for your help and I await your response as soon as possible.
Tony Vik

Luggage problem - delayed at arrival

Jan 16, 2025
Rating - 1Rating - 2Rating - 3Rating - 4Rating - 5

2.8

Luggage problem - delayed at arrival, no service, Luggage problem - delayed at arrival, no service, Luggage problem - delayed at arrival, no service,
Preferred solution: Apology / Voucher
Ka Keung Chan

case no: 04668408

Jan 16, 2025
Documents Ka Keung
confidental
Dear Sir, I write regarding my recent flight with British AIirways, my booking reference: PVSGFZ. The outward flight was fine, but on the return flight to the UK, on the 13th December 2024, there were several anomalies that I feel I need to bring to your attention. When I checked-in online, seat was allocated to 13J, in fact when I boarded to the flight, my seat was re-allocated to 13B, I was told that the media screen did not work on the 13J. Everything went as was expected until I started laying the flatbed for a rest, I then found that the foot side of the foldable footrest part would not deploy! The footrest part was broken and kept collapsing and this made the flatbed impossible to use as intended, please refer to the attachment with pictures. I reported this problem to the flight attendant and they tried to fix it but they found that there were parts which had snapped! As a result, I was not able to sleep during whole journey to London. Another issue was that I had booked the diabetic meals in advance on-line, however the breakfast came with majority of it contained boiled potatoes and sausage, as a diabetic patient, I have to watch my diet carefully and not take any food that contains carbohydrates and processed meat. The breakfast presented to me did not seem to be suitable for diabetic patient and I did not want to take the risk, and I ate only the vegetable portion. I would ask you to investigate the above and I hope you will address these issues to prevent this discomfort being inflicted on future passengers during their flight. I await your considered response to this matter. Regards, Ka Keung CHAN

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