LOT Polish Airlines cancellation compensation
Compensation 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). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which LOT Polish Airlines flights are covered
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.
Worked examples on LOT Polish Airlines routes
| 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 |
What LOT Polish Airlines is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to LOT Polish Airlines
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.
Time limit: LOT Polish Airlines is based in Poland, where claims run for 1 year from the date of the flight. How that works
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your LOT Polish Airlines cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with LOT Polish Airlines’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. 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 cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from LOT Polish Airlines for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of LOT Polish Airlines’s routes.
LOT Polish Airlines cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does LOT Polish Airlines give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a LOT Polish Airlines cancellation claim?
Where LOT Polish Airlines is based, the limit is 1 year. You can usually also claim in the country your flight departed from or arrived in, which may give you longer.
Other LOT Polish Airlines claims
- 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.