LOT Polish Airlines Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Compensation Guide (EU261 & UK261)
In short
LOT Polish Airlines is an EU carrier — which means Regulation EU261 covers every LOT flight, both departing from and arriving into the EU. A 3-hour delay on Warsaw–New York, or even on the return leg from JFK to Warsaw, is worth up to €600 per passenger. London routes fall under UK261 with up to £520. Here is exactly how much you are owed and how to claim it.
Check if your flight qualifies for compensation
Fill in the form below to find out if you can claim up to EUR 600 for a delayed or cancelled flight. No upfront cost - you pay only if you win.
Why EU261 covers every LOT flight — even from the US
EU261 normally has a catch: flights into the EU are only covered when operated by an EU airline. With American or United, a delayed JFK→Warsaw flight earns you nothing under EU261. But LOT is licensed in Poland — an EU member state — so the regulation applies in both directions on every LOT route:
| Route | Covered by EU261? |
|---|---|
| Warsaw → New York (LO26) | Yes — departs from the EU |
| New York → Warsaw (LO27) | Yes — LOT is an EU carrier |
| Chicago → Warsaw (LO4) | Yes — LOT is an EU carrier |
| London Heathrow → Warsaw | Yes — UK261 (departure from the UK) |
How much are you owed?
Compensation is a fixed amount based on flight distance, not your ticket price:
Distances are measured "great circle" (straight line between airports), and on connecting itineraries booked as one ticket the whole journey counts. If you are not sure which bracket your route falls into — or whether the 50% reduction for re-routing applies — the quickest way is the flight compensation calculator: enter your flight number and date, and it works out the distance, threshold and final amount for you.
Flying from the UK or the US?
UK passengers
Since Brexit, flights departing the UK fall under UK261 — the same three-tier system with amounts in pounds (up to £520 long-haul). LOT's London Heathrow and London City routes to Warsaw are fully covered.
US passengers
US law does not require compensation for delays — but because LOT is an EU carrier, EU261 protects you on both legs of a US–Poland round trip. Many US passengers never claim the €600 they are legally owed on the return flight. The rules, deadlines and edge cases are covered in this detailed guide to LOT Polish Airlines compensation for UK and US passengers.
How to claim from LOT — step by step
Document the disruption
Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation, screenshot the departure board or LOT's delay notification, and note the actual arrival time (FlightAware/FlightRadar24 help verify it).
File with LOT
Use LOT's online complaint form (lot.com → Customer service → Complaints). Include flight number, date, all passengers and your bank details. LOT typically responds within 30 days — replies can take longer in peak season.
Escalate if refused
If LOT refuses citing "extraordinary circumstances" or goes silent, you can complain to the Polish Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) — or hand the case to ClaimWinger, which challenges refusals and litigates if needed, charging a fee only on success.
Not sure what your LOT flight is worth?
Skip the distance math — check your exact amount in under a minute. Free verification, no obligation, and you only ever pay a fee if the claim succeeds.
FAQ – LOT Polish Airlines compensation
My JFK→Warsaw LOT flight was delayed 4 hours. Am I covered?
Yes. Although the flight departs outside the EU, LOT is an EU carrier, so EU261 applies — that route is worth €600 if the delay was within LOT's control.
I missed my connection in Warsaw because the first leg was late.
If both legs were on one booking, compensation is based on your final destination and the full journey distance — a short delayed feeder flight can still earn the long-haul €600.
LOT offered me a voucher. Should I take it?
You are entitled to cash. A voucher is only valid if you explicitly agree in writing — and it is usually worth less than the cash claim, with expiry dates attached.
How far back can I claim?
Claims against LOT are governed by Polish limitation rules — in practice up to 3 years from the flight date (ending on 31 December of the third year). Older flights may still be claimable.
What if LOT blames the weather?
Genuine extreme weather is an extraordinary circumstance — but airlines overuse the excuse. Technical faults, crew shortages and rotation delays are not extraordinary and do not exempt LOT from paying.
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Check again - are you entitled to compensation?
Free verification • Up to EUR 600 • Pay only on success