Originally Posted by
flarmip
EU/UK261 would cover you for a hotel in your departure city in the event of a flight being moved later (overnight), but it is not at all clear that it covers a hotel before you depart. You can try submitting a claim (after you fly), but I don't think you have much recourse if BA refuse to pay.
3 hours is only the threshold for getting delay/cancellation compensation (for a journey up to 3500km); the threshold for a hotel is you being delayed overnight. The threshold for the remaining 'right to care' entitlements (food/drink/roaming/transfers) is between 2 and 4 hours depending on the length of the journey.
I was referring to
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen.../index_en.htm:
"
A flight which has been brought forward by more than one hour is considered a cancelled flight. You have the same rights as in case of a flight cancellation."
So 1 hour earlier is also one of the thresholds, unless the UK equivalent does not have this?