London to Geneva flight compensation

Example

A passenger arriving 3+ hours late at Geneva on a covered flight could claim £220 per passenger.

If the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure without a close alternative, the same £220 applies.

Departing from London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow operates at close to full runway capacity, so weather and air-traffic flow restrictions turn into delays and "capacity" cancellations faster than at any other UK airport. A general reference to restrictions at Heathrow is not a defence: the airline has to show the restriction that applied to your flight.

Heathrow is British Airways' hub; on a single booking through Heathrow the delay is measured at the final destination and the distance band covers the whole journey.

Direction matters

London → Geneva

UK261 (UK passenger rights) · £220 · any airline

Geneva → London

Swiss passenger rights (Reg. 261/2004 via the EU–CH agreement) · €250 · any airline

The two directions are governed by different rules: the departure country decides which regime applies, and a flight from outside Europe is only covered when the operating airline is licensed in the EU/EEA, the UK or Switzerland.

Delay, cancellation or missed connection on this direction

Delayed

£220 per passenger is due when at least one door opens at Geneva Airport three hours or more after the scheduled arrival; the departure delay at London Heathrow Airport does not count. From 2 hours of delay the airline owes meals and communication whatever the cause, and from 5 hours you may abandon the trip for a refund.

Cancelled

The same £220 per passenger is due when the airline told you less than 14 days before departure and did not re-route you within the legal windows (at most 2 hours early and under 4 hours late with 7–14 days’ notice; 1 hour and 2 hours under 7 days). A refund or re-routing, and care while you wait, are due in every case.

Missed connection

If Geneva Airport is not your final destination and both flights were on one booking, the delay is measured where the journey ends and the amount on the distance from London Heathrow Airport to that final airport (Folkerts, C-11/11) — even when the onward flight is outside Europe. On separate tickets each flight stands alone, and a missed onward flight is not the first airline’s liability.

Escalation for this direction

Enforcement body: UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (United Kingdom)

Dispute-resolution scheme: AviationADR · binding

Court claims: 6 years (Limitation Act 1980, s. 5 (England and Wales; six years). Scotland: five years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.). Court claims are brought before the County court — Money Claim Online (small claims track).