Airline LOT Polish Airlines

Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT, or LOT Polish Airlines internationally, is the national airline of Poland. Its main hub is at Warsaw Chopin Airport. It also has a secondary hub at Kraków John Paul II Airport.

Founded in 1928, it is one of the oldest airlines in the world still in operation. LOT has been a member of the Star Alliance since 2003. With a fleet of 78 aircraft, it serves 131 destinations in 51 different countries.

In 2004, Poland joined the European Union along with nine other countries. That same year, the European regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 was adopted, directly affecting LOT Polish Airlines.

In 2012, it was voted the most punctual airline in Europe. However, like any airline, it is not immune to flight disruptions. Here are its obligations in such situations.

LOT Polish Airlines and European regulations

As a Polish airline, LOT Polish Airlines is fully subject to European regulations.

Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 establishes a common framework for civil aviation within the European Community area. It primarily sets out rights for travellers, which come with obligations for airlines, including LOT Polish Airlines.

Which flights are covered by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004?

LOT Polish Airlines is a European airline. Unless a flight involves a stopover in the European Union departing from and arriving in third countries, it is always subject to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.

This regulation applies:

to all flights departing from the European Community area (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland)
to flights arriving in the same community area, operated by an airline based there.

Except in special cases, if you fly with LOT Polish Airlines, European regulations apply. However, if your flight originates from a third country, two sets of regulations may apply simultaneously.

For example, on a London-Warsaw flight, both Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 and the UK261 regulation, its British equivalent, will apply.

What are your rights on a LOT Polish Airlines flight?

Under European regulations, you have certain rights when flying with LOT Polish Airlines, regardless of the fare you have chosen.

These rights translate into obligations for the airline.

Reaching your destination

When you purchase a flight ticket, you commit to two things: having valid documents and arriving on time for boarding.

If you meet these two conditions, LOT Polish Airlines is obliged to transport you.

In the event of a flight disruption, this obligation still stands. If your flight is cancelled or overbooked, LOT Polish Airlines must offer you an alternative flight or, failing that, refund your ticket. A refund is also possible for delays exceeding 5 hours. If the airline refunds you, it is released from its obligations towards you.

Assistance in case of difficulties

If your flight is disrupted, LOT Polish Airlines' obligations extend beyond just transporting you. It must also cover additional expenses (meals, accommodation, phone calls).

This remains within reasonable limits. The regulations provide for coverage of two calls, and meals and drinks are owed after a certain delay.

A fixed compensation (subject to conditions)

In the event of a delay, flight cancellation, or denied boarding due to overbooking, you can claim compensation.

This is subject to conditions. Moreover, it is not automatic; you must request it. If you are entitled, LOT Polish Airlines will be responsible for paying it. Its liability must be proven, and the damage real.

How much is the compensation in case of disruption?

Compensation applies to specific situations. The amount depends on the distance of your flight and the type of disruption.

In case of delay

If your LOT Polish Airlines flight is delayed, the amount of compensation will be based on the following scale:

€250 for flights less than 1,500 km with at least 2 hours of delay
€400 for non-EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km or EU flights over 1,500 km with at least 3 hours of delay
€600 for non-EU flights over 3,500 km with at least 4 hours of delay

If your flight's delay is less than the specified durations, no compensation is due.

In case of flight cancellation

If your flight is cancelled, the situation differs: you are rebooked on another flight, with all the organisational changes that entails. You are entitled to compensation, even with a reduced delay.

However, this compensation will also be reduced. It changes from:

€250 to €125 for flights less than 1,500 km with less than 2 hours of delay
€400 to €200 for non-EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km or EU flights over 1,500 km with less than 3 hours of delay
€600 to €300 for non-EU flights over 3,500 km with less than 4 hours of delay.

In case of overbooking

Overbooking occurs when your airline sells more tickets for a flight than there are seats available. If this happens to you, you may be denied boarding.

This practice is allowed, but the airline must offer you an alternative flight. Additionally, it must compensate you according to the same scale as a flight cancellation.

What are the exceptions?

Although LOT Polish Airlines is known for its punctuality, it is not immune to unforeseen events.

However, the airline will not always be held responsible. Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 outlines situations where it is exempt from compensating you:

if it notified you of the disruption at least 15 days in advance
if it offers you rerouting with the same departure and arrival times
in cases of extraordinary circumstances (strikes, bad weather, situations posing risks to crew or passengers)

The list of extraordinary circumstances is not exhaustive and remains open to discussion. For example, a strike may or may not be a valid reason, depending on who is striking.

If it involves air traffic controllers or baggage handlers, LOT Polish Airlines is not responsible and will not have to compensate you. However, if the strike involves its own staff, it will have to compensate you.

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Despite its reliability, LOT Polish Airlines is not immune to errors or unforeseen events. These can have consequences for you.

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