LOT Polish Airlines compensation: how to claim
LOT Polish Airlines is registered in Poland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Poland (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Warsaw (WAW), Kraków (KRK)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 1 year (Poland)
LOT Polish Airlines is registered in Poland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because LOT Polish Airlines is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How LOT Polish Airlines handles claims
Poland applies a notably short limitation period to air carriage claims — around one year in practice. A LOT claim expires much faster than a UK or Spanish one, so act on it quickly.
Warsaw is a connecting hub to North America and Asia, so a fair share of claims are missed connections in the €600 band.
The Polish enforcement body, the ULC, handles a high volume of passenger complaints and is a realistic escalation route.
Responses are often slow and in a standard format. The 14-day deadline in your letter is what gives the escalation a date to point at.
What a delay on LOT Polish Airlines is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw (WAW) → Kraków (KRK) | 246 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Warsaw (WAW) → Paris (CDG) | 1,343 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Warsaw (WAW) → Barcelona (BCN) | 1,870 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Warsaw (WAW) → Rome (FCO) | 1,327 km | EU261 | €250 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from LOT Polish Airlines, by what happened
- LOT Polish Airlines: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- LOT Polish Airlines: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- LOT Polish Airlines: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- LOT Polish Airlines: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your LOT Polish Airlines flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to LOT Polish Airlines yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
LOT Polish Airlines: common questions
How much compensation can I get from LOT Polish Airlines?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. LOT Polish Airlines is registered in Poland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does LOT Polish Airlines have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against LOT Polish Airlines?
In Poland, where LOT Polish Airlines is based, the limit is 1 year, counted from the date of the flight. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to LOT Polish Airlines?
LOT Polish Airlines takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A., Customer Relations, ul. Komitetu Obrony Robotników 43, 02-146 Warszawa, Poland. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old LOT Polish Airlines flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.