LOT Polish Airlines compensation: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger
LOT Polish Airlines is Poland's flag carrier, linking the UK and the rest of Europe with Poland, Canada, the United States and Asia through its Warsaw Chopin hub. We have already helped more than 200 LOT passengers, many of them on long-haul routes such as Warsaw–Toronto and Warsaw–Tokyo. If you arrived 3 or more hours late, your flight was scrapped at short notice or you were bumped, LOT may owe you between €250 and €600 per person.
LOT is headquartered in Warsaw and licensed in the EU. Under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 that covers every LOT flight leaving an EU airport and every LOT flight into the EU from outside, such as Toronto–Warsaw, Chicago–Warsaw or Istanbul to Madrid via a connection. If you fly LOT out of the UK, UK261 rules apply too, and we tell you which works better.
Late arrival
LOT got you to your final destination 3 hours or more behind the time on your ticket.
3 hours and upFlight cancelled
You heard less than 14 days before departure and the alternative was too far from the original schedule.
Short noticeLeft behind
You were refused boarding because of overbooking, even though you had a confirmed seat and were on time.
Due at the gateThe exceptions
Events LOT could not have avoided, such as severe snow in Warsaw or an air traffic control strike. The airline has to prove them.
Extraordinary circumstancesWant a quick answer? Enter your LOT flight and we will reply within a couple of minutes.
How much LOT pays: real routes from our claims
The fare you paid is irrelevant. Only the straight-line distance between your first airport and the final destination on the booking counts.
| Distance | LOT flight examples | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | Bucharest–Warsaw | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | Istanbul–Madrid with a connection, Madrid–Warsaw | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | Warsaw–Toronto, Toronto–Warsaw, Warsaw–Tokyo, Chicago–Warsaw | €600 |
London–Warsaw sits almost exactly on the 1,500 km line, so we check the precise airport-to-airport distance before telling you whether it is €250 or €400. Two parents and two children with their own seats on a Warsaw–Toronto flight landing 6 hours late can claim €2,400 between them.
Delayed LOT flight: what to do next
Almost 6 in 10 of the LOT claims we handle start with a delay, often tied to a tight connection in Warsaw. The moment that matters is when the door opens at your destination. Here is what helps:
- Save every boarding pass, including the connecting flight from Warsaw.
- Keep LOT app notifications and emails stating the cause.
- Ask the transfer desk for written confirmation of the missed connection and your new flight.
- Hold on to receipts if you paid for food, transport or a hotel yourself.
- Sign nothing that waives your claim in return for miles or vouchers.
What LOT must give you at the airport
Whatever caused the delay, LOT has to provide food and drink, plus a hotel and transport if you are stuck overnight.
| Flight length | Right to care after |
|---|---|
| Short haul, up to 1,500 km | 2 hours |
| Medium haul, 1,500–3,500 km | 3 hours |
| Long haul, over 3,500 km | 4 hours |
| Delay of 5 hours or more | Ticket refund if you choose not to fly |
Missed connection at Warsaw Chopin
Most LOT journeys involve changing planes in Warsaw. On one ticket, say Bucharest–Warsaw–Toronto, what counts is your delay on arrival in Canada and the total distance, so €600. With two separate bookings, each is judged on its own. Full details on our page about compensation for a delayed LOT flight.
Cancelled LOT flight: ticket refund plus compensation
One LOT claim in four involves a cancellation. A refund and compensation are separate rights and can be combined.
Owed in every case: take your money back or travel on another flight.
Owed on top if LOT warned you less than 14 days before the flight.
| When you were told | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more ahead | Not owed |
| 7–13 days ahead | Owed, unless the replacement left at most 2 hours earlier and landed within 4 hours of the planned time |
| Less than 7 days ahead | Owed, unless the replacement left at most 1 hour earlier and landed within 2 hours of the planned time |
Schedule change. A big shift in departure time announced close to the flight can count as a cancellation for the EU Court of Justice. Read more about refunds for a cancelled LOT flight or check your flight.
LOT overbooking: refused boarding
Nearly one in five LOT claims we receive concerns denied boarding, often on busy flights to North America. With a confirmed booking and a timely arrival at the gate, compensation is immediate and comes on top of a new flight or a refund. It is not owed if you lacked a visa, a Canadian eTA or a valid passport. See our guide on LOT overbooking and denied boarding.
LOT strikes: compensation or not?
When LOT's own pilots or cabin crew walk out, the airline normally has to pay, because the EU Court of Justice regards such action as a business risk (case C-28/20). A strike by air traffic controllers or airport workers is another matter: you keep the right to care and rerouting, but not to compensation.
LOT turned down your claim? How to respond
LOT's rejection letters tend to repeat a handful of phrases. Here is what they are really worth.
Problems found during maintenance or normal use of the aircraft are the airline's responsibility.
EU Court of Justice, case C-549/07Winter weather is real, but it must have stopped your particular flight. We check the reports for your departure time.
LOT employees: generally payable. Controllers or airport ground staff: not payable.
EU Court of Justice, case C-28/20A knock-on delay from the previous rotation is not enough; LOT must show an extraordinary event at its root.
LOT flights run by other airlines and the long-haul network
LOT is a Star Alliance member, and some LO-numbered flights are flown by other carriers under wet-lease deals. Liability lies with the airline that operated the flight, shown on your booking as "operated by"; you just give us the flight number. Since 2025 all LOT long-haul flights depart from Poland, mainly Warsaw. For flights leaving Poland, the Polish Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) also handles passenger complaints.
Claiming from LOT: DIY or with DelayFlight24
LOT has a claim form in the customer service section of lot.com, which asks for your booking reference, ticket number and flight details.
Free, but you follow up LOT's replies yourself. If it refuses, you can contact the national enforcement body of the country where the flight departed (the CAA for UK departures) or go to court at your own cost.
Fill in the form and sign online. We handle everything, including court action with our own lawyers. You pay only when compensation arrives: 25% + VAT, so on €400 you keep €278.
LOT has already said no
A refusal is not final. We assess the reason given and, if it is weak, send LOT a formal letter before action.
Paperwork for your claim
- E-ticketWith booking reference and LO flight number.
- ID for every travellerPassport or ID card, children too.
- Evidence of the disruptionLOT emails and texts, receipts for expenses.
Deadline for a LOT claim
EU 261 sets no deadline: the rules of the country where you bring the claim apply (EU Court of Justice, case C-139/11). A flight from a few years back may still be recoverable: enter the date and we will check.
When LOT compensation reaches you
If LOT accepts, the money normally comes through within a few weeks. If a formal demand or court case is needed, it takes a few months. We keep you posted and pay your share as soon as we receive it.
Lost or damaged bags on LOT
Luggage is covered by the Montreal Convention. Report the problem at the baggage desk with a PIR before you leave the airport, especially if you connected in Warsaw. Send LOT a written claim within 7 days for damage and within 21 days of delivery for a delay.
LOT contact details and flight status
- Head office
- Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A., Warsaw, Poland
- Hub
- Warsaw Chopin Airport
- Claims
- Claim form in the customer service section of lot.com
- Loyalty scheme
- Miles & More
- Flight status
- LOT app or lot.com
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