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If your LOT Polish Airlines flight is delayed or cancelled, your rights are protected by passenger rights Regulations UK261 and EU261. This means that depending on what happened, you could get between £220 and £520 (€250-€600) in compensation, plus care at the airport, and either a refund or a rebooking.
Here’s everything you need to know as a UK or European passenger flying with LOT.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If you arrive at your destination 3 hours or more late, you can claim up to £520 (€600) in compensation
- You’re entitled to food, refreshments, free communication, and hotel lodging for long delays at the airport.
- If your flight is cancelled, you're entitled to a refund or a rebooking
- If LOT cancels your flight within 14 days of departure, you may be eligible for a refund plus additional monetary compensation.
Your Air Passenger Rights with LOT
Understanding your rights under European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) regulations is essential when seeking compensation for flight disruptions with airlines like LOT Polish Airlines.
EU Air Passenger Rights
Your passenger rights are covered under EU Regulation 261/2004 if you're flying with an EU-based airline, such as LOT.
This regulation covers you for flight disruptions, including flight delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and missed connections. If you experience a disruption, you may be entitled to compensation based on the circumstances and duration of the delay you face as a consequence.
Passenger Rights in the UK
For flights within the UK or routes that involve a UK airport, you're covered by the UK261 regulation. This regulation closely mirrors the EU261 and offers similar protections to passengers when travelling on UK-based airlines. If you face any of the disruptions listed above you may be eligible for compensation under the UK261 regulation instead of EU261.
When Your LOT Flight is Delayed
When flying with LOT Polish Airlines to, from or within the EU or the UK, you’re entitled to compensation if:
- Your flight is delayed, and
- You arrive 3 or more hours late at your final destination, and
- LOT was responsible for the disruption.
This includes extraordinary circumstances like:
- Preventable technical faults
- Crew shortages
- Operational mismanagement
- Late incoming flights caused by LOT.
What are you entitled to for delays that last 5 hours or more?
If your LOT flight is delayed 5 hours or more, you get to decide whether to continue travelling or walk away. This means you can choose:
- A full refund for any part of the trip you haven’t used, or
- An alternate flight to your destination
If you take the alternate flight and still arrive 3+ hours late, you may be entitled to compensation too. This is because refunds and compensation are two separate rights, and you can receive both if the disruption qualifies.
How Much Compensation Can You Get from LOT?
As long as you meet the criteria we mentioned above, you can claim between £220 and £520 depending on the distance of your flight:
- £220 (€250) for flights under 1,500 km
- £350 (€400) for flights between 1,500–3,500 km
- £520 (€600) for flights over 3,500 km
If your flight is long-haul (over 3,500 km) and you arrive between 3 and 4 hours late, LOT may try to reduce the payment to £260. If you arrive over 4 hours late, you get the full £520.
Here is a list of some common flights, maximum EU compensation amounts, and the applicable regulation:
Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Approximate Flight Distance | EU261 or UK261? | Maximum Payout |
Warsaw Chopin | 1,360km | EU261 |
| |
London Heathrow | Warsaw Chopin | 1,470km | UK261 |
|
Warsaw Chopin | 2,760km | EU261 |
| |
Warsaw Chopin | 6,850km | EU261 |
|
€250Will LOT Provide Care & Assistance at the Airport?
Yes. Whenever a delay or cancellation forces you to wait at the airport for at least two hours, LOT must provide care and assistance.
This includes:
- Food and drink
- Free communication (two calls, emails or messages)
- Hotel accommodation if the delay runs overnight
- Transport between the airport and the hotel
These rights apply even if the delay is outside LOT’s control. If LOT fails to provide care, keep your receipts, so you can claim reimbursement later.
Most passengers, affected by flight delays and cancellations, don’t realise that they can reclaim the cost of basic essentials. Money spent on food, drinks, and hotel are all eligible for reimbursement from the airline, even if your flight doesn’t qualify for UK261 compensation. - Anton Radchenko, Esq., CEO of AirAdvisor
How long do you have to wait before you get care and assistance from LOT?
It depends on the distance of your flight. You will have to wait at the airport for:
- 2 hours for short-haul flights (under 1,500 km)
- 3 hours for medium-haul flights (1,500–3,500 km)
- 4 hours for long-haul flights (over 3,500 km)
Can You Get Compensation on a LOT Codeshare Flight?
If you have a codeshare flight, it means LOT sold you the ticket, but another airline operated the flight. Under UK/EU law you always claim compensation from the operating airline, not the one that sold the ticket.
What if Your Flight is Cancelled?
If LOT cancels your flight, you are always entitled to a refund or a rebooking as well as care at the airport if you have to wait for your next flight to depart.
If your flight is cancelled within 2 weeks of your scheduled departure date, you may be eligible for financial compensation between €250 to €600 per passenger, depending on the specific circumstances.
As with delays, cancelled flight compensation is only payable by the airline if the cancellation occurred due to controllable reasons, such as technical or operational issues.
What if LOT downgrades your seat?
If you choose to be rebooked after your flight is cancelled, you should have the same conditions as you originally purchased. If LOT downgrades you and places you in a lower cabin class, they must refund 30%–75% of that flight segment based on distance.
Check today’s delayed and cancelled LOT flights (updated every 30 minutes) →
How LOT Handles Refunds
LOT Polish Airlines' refund policy states that they will provide refunds to passengers who had flights cancelled and couldn’t get on another available flight.
The refund may come in the form of credit, cash, or even a voucher, but we recommend that you always say no to vouchers. They can expire and may lose their value, so it’s best to simply ask for your money back.
You should get your refund 7 days from the date of your request.
Can you get a refund and compensation?
Yes. If LOT cancels your flight at short notice and is responsible for the disruption, you can receive both.
If You Miss a Connecting Flight
If you don’t make it onto your connecting flight because of a delayed LOT Polish Airlines flight, you’ll be put on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge. You might also be entitled to compensation between €250 to €600 based on the distance of the missed connecting flight and the impact on your overall journey.
We have an entire page dedicated to missed connections, so check it out for more info.
LOT Delays, Cancellations and Refunds: Quick Comparison
Disruption Type | What you’re entitled to: | Compensation? |
Delay | Care, hotel if overnight, refund at 5+ hours | Yes if 3+ hours late and LOT responsible |
Cancellation | Refund or rebooking (same class), rebooking on another airline if needed | Yes if cancelled under 14 days and LOT responsible |
Refunds | Full refund for cancellations or 5+ hour delays | Refund + compensation payable if airline responsible |
If You’re Denied Boarding with LOT
If you arrived at the gate on time but LOT refused to let you board because they overbooked the flight, you’re entitled to:
- Compensation (£220–£520)
- A refund or a rebooking
- Care and assistance
Learn more about your right for denied boarding.
Steps to Take When Your LOT Flight is Cancelled or Delayed
To streamline your compensation claim process for flight disruptions with LOT Polish Airlines, consider the following measures:
- The first step is to get in contact with a LOT representative to find out what caused the disruption of your flight. Remember to write down what they say because it will help with your claim.
- Keep your essential documents including boarding passes, tickets, and any receipts for transactions related to the disruption. You’ll need this documentation as evidence to strengthen your compensation claim with LOT. Also, keep any communication with the airline to fortify your claim.
- If you do not get meals and other forms of care from the airline, and you have to pay for these things yourself, keep all your receipts for reimbursement.
- Check to see if your flight qualifies for compensation by using a compensation calculator.
How to Submit a LOT Compensation Claim
Flight delay and cancellation compensation is not automatic, so to get what you’re owed, you’ll have to file a claim with the airline.
- Go to the official LOT Polish Airlines website. They’ll have a section with the necessary forms for you to complete online.
- Collect all the documents related to your disrupted flight, like your boarding pass, receipts, and any other supporting evidence you have to prove your flight was disrupted.
- When you’re completing the form, add as much information as possible to support your case, what happened, and why you’re owed compensation.
How Much Time Do You Have to Make a Claim?
The deadlines for compensation claims depend on where you were departing.
If you were:
- Departing from England or Wales: 6 years
- Departing from Scotland: 5 years
- Claims filed in Poland: 1 year
What happens if your claim is ignored or rejected?
If your claim is ignored, follow up with LOT every few days. But first, wait a week or so to get a response about your claim submission. Most airlines take at least a week to respond to claims, and it can take several weeks for a decision to be reached.
If your claim is rejected, you can escalate your case to the CAA. But you can avoid all this if you let AIrAdvisor handle your case. We can file your claim from the beginning, or pick up where you left off.
LOT Compensation Cases in Real Life Situations
Here are two real examples showing how AirAdvisor helped passengers get the compensation they were owed.
Case #1: London Heathrow passenger stranded after LOT crew shortage
Route: London Heathrow → Warsaw Chopin
Issue: Flight cancellation
Compensation received:£220
Two LOT passengers on the same Heathrow to Warsaw flight reported that the flight was cancelled at short notice because LOT “did not have enough crew for the flight to operate.” Both passengers were left stuck at Heathrow with no clear guidance about rebooking options or care at the airport.
When they contacted AirAdvisor, we analysed the cancellation and confirmed that it was caused by a crew shortage, which is an airline-responsible issue under UK261/EU261. Because the cancellation took place with less than 14 days’ notice, both passengers were entitled to compensation.
We prepared the evidence for each case, submitted the claims and secured £220 per passenger, the correct payout for short-haul routes under 1,500 km.
Case #2: Heathrow passenger delayed more than 3 hours on LOT flight to Warsaw
Route: London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin
Issue: Long delay
Compensation received:£220
Patrycja’s LOT flight from Heathrow was delayed by more than 3 hours, leaving her stuck at the airport and unsure whether she would reach Warsaw that night.
AirAdvisor reviewed the details and confirmed that the delay exceeded the 3-hour threshold and LOT was responsible for the operational cause. Because this route was short-haul, Patrycja qualified for the £220 compensation band.
We filed the claim on her behalf and secured the full £220 payout.
Case #3: LOT Cancellation in Madrid Leads to €600 Compensation
Route: Madrid to Warsaw
Issue: Significant flight delay
Total recovered:€600
Wojciech was flying from Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport when his LOT flight was delayed long enough to push his arrival back by several hours. The delay caused major disruption to his onward plans, and he received no clear assistance from LOT at the airport.
Unsure of his rights, he turned to AirAdvisor to see whether EU261 applied.
Our team confirmed that:
- The flight departed from an EU airport, so EU rules fully protected him.
- The delay exceeded 3 hours, qualifying him for long-delay compensation.
- LOT had not provided the required care at the airport.
The Result: AirAdvisor secured €600 in compensation for the disruption.
Was your LOT flight delayed or cancelled? Start your claim with AIrAdvisor and let us get you the compensation you deserve.Check Your Flight
Common Questions and Answers
What are my rights if LOT rebooks me onto another airline after a cancellation?
If LOT cancels your flight and rebooks you on a different carrier, your EU261 rights stay the same as long as you are departing from the EU or UK or the carrier is based in the UK or EU. Compensation is still based on the original LOT disruption, and the rebooking does not affect your eligibility. If the alternative flight arrives 3 hours or more after your original schedule, you may still claim compensation from LOT.
Does EU261 apply if my LOT flight is operated by another airline in a codeshare?
Yes, codeshare flights are covered by EU261, as long as the operating airline is based in the UK or EU, or you are departing from an airport in these regions.
Am I entitled to compensation if LOT diverts my flight to another EU airport?
If LOT diverts your flight and the diversion causes you to reach your original destination 3 hours or more late (including any onward transport LOT provides), you may qualify for compensation. The final arrival time at the airport listed on your ticket is what EU261 uses to measure the delay.
What happens if LOT changes my departure airport or arrival airport?
If LOT moves your flight to a different airport, you can choose a full refund, a rebooking, or accept LOT-provided ground transport from the new airport to the one you originally scheduled. If the change leads to a late arrival or significant inconvenience, you may also be eligible for compensation, depending on timing and cause.
Can I claim compensation from LOT if a delay causes me to miss a non-LOT connecting flight?
Not under EU261. Protection only applies when the entire journey is booked under one reservation. If your connecting flight was booked separately, LOT isn't required to cover missed connection costs, even if their delay caused the issue. Travel insurance may help in these cases.
Author:
Amy Lancelotte
Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Strategist
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with over seven years of experience producing research-based articles for international audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
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