LOT Polish Airlines Delayed or Cancelled? Claim EU261 Compensation Up to €600
LOT Polish Airlines (IATA: LO) is Poland's national carrier and a full EU airline, operating from its Warsaw Chopin (WAW) hub to destinations across Europe, North America, and Asia. As an EU-registered carrier, LOT is fully subject to EU Regulation 261/2004 — meaning delays, cancellations, and denied boarding entitle you to fixed cash compensation on all routes worldwide.
🚨 Poland: 1-year deadline — act immediately
Poland applies one of Europe's shortest limitation periods for EU261 claims — just 1 year from the date of the disrupted flight. A LOT flight delayed in July 2025 expires in July 2026. If you had a LOT disruption in the past year, do not wait — file your claim today.
Departing from non-Polish EU airports: different SOL may apply
If your LOT flight departed from a non-Polish EU airport — for example London (LHR), Paris (CDG), or Frankfurt (FRA) — that country's statute of limitations applies: UK 6 years, France 5 years, Germany 3 years. Check your departure airport to confirm your claim window.
Am I eligible?
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | Example LOT routes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | Warsaw–Kraków, Warsaw–Vilnius, Warsaw–Vienna | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | Warsaw–London, Warsaw–Paris, Warsaw–Tel Aviv | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (4h+ delay) | Warsaw–New York (JFK/EWR), Warsaw–Chicago, Warsaw–Toronto, Warsaw–Tokyo | €600 |
LOT's Warsaw hub — transatlantic and Asia routes
LOT operates regular services from Warsaw (WAW) to New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Toronto, and Tokyo (NRT). All of these routes exceed 3,500 km, so a 4+ hour arrival delay triggers the maximum €600 per person. Warsaw to New York is approximately 7,000 km — squarely in the €600 tier.
How to claim LOT EU261 compensation
- 1
File directly with LOT — do it now
Submit your EU261 claim via LOT's online customer service form. Include your booking reference (PNR), flight number, and documentation of the disruption (boarding pass or email confirmation). Given Poland's 1-year SOL, filing quickly is essential. LOT must respond within 30 days.
LOT complaint form → - 2
Escalate to ULC (Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego)
The Polish Civil Aviation Authority (ULC — Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego) is the national enforcement body for EU261 claims against LOT. If LOT rejects your claim or does not respond within 30 days, file a complaint with ULC. The process is free and conducted in Polish or English.
ULC passenger rights → - 3
Use a no-win no-fee service — especially for older claims near expiry
If your LOT claim is approaching the 1-year deadline, AirHelp can expedite the process. They handle all correspondence with LOT and ULC — you only pay ~25% if they win. Nothing if unsuccessful.
Check via AirHelp →
LOT denial tactics to watch for
- →Citing the 1-year SOL after the deadline has passed — file within 1 year from departure date if claiming under Polish law
- →"Extraordinary circumstances" for technical faults — aircraft maintenance issues are not extraordinary; LOT uses this defence routinely and courts regularly reject it
- →Connecting flights via Warsaw — if your first LOT leg caused a missed connection and your total delay exceeds 3 hours, the entire journey is compensable under EU261
- →Offering LOT Miles & More points instead of cash — you are entitled to cash compensation under EU261, not airline loyalty points
- →Wet-lease operations — some LOT-marketed routes are operated by regional partners (EuroLOT, formerly); always check the operating carrier on your boarding pass
📍 1-year deadline — flight dates to act on now
Today is July 2026. Under Polish law, any LOT flight disrupted before July 2025 has already expired for Polish-departure claims. If your LOT disruption was between July 2025 and today, file immediately. For LOT flights departing from UK or other EU airports, your window is longer — check your departure country's SOL above.
Scan your inbox for LOT claims before they expire
SubRadar scans your Gmail or Outlook for LOT booking emails and surfaces any disrupted flights within Poland's 1-year window — so you know exactly what you can still claim.
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