Can you get LOT long haul flight delay compensation?
Long-haul flight delays can be especially frustrating. When you’re traveling thousands of kilometers, even a short delay can mean missed connections, overnight stays, and major disruptions to your plans. The good news is that passengers on long-haul flights have strong rights under EU regulations.
Understanding how flight delay compensation for long haul flights works can help you know when you’re entitled to compensation, how much you can claim, and what steps to take if your LOT flight arrives late.
Check your compensation online.
What Counts as a Long-Haul Flight with LOT?
For LOT long haul flight delay compensation purposes, a long-haul flight is defined as a journey with a distance of more than 3,500 kilometers. Under the EU261 regulation, these flights fall into the highest compensation category due to their length and the impact delays can have on passengers.
LOT Polish Airlines operates numerous long-haul routes from its hub in Warsaw. These include flights to North America (such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Miami) and Asia (including destinations like Tokyo, Seoul, Delhi and Beijing).
So, what is a long haul flight? If your LOT flight covers more than 3,500 km, it qualifies as a long-haul flight. In terms of flight time, this usually means journeys lasting around 5 hours or more, depending on aircraft type, wind conditions, and routing.
Check your compensation online.
When Are You Entitled to LOT Long Haul Flight Delay Compensation?
You may be entitled to LOT long haul flight delay compensation if your long-haul flight arrives at its final destination 3 hours or more later than scheduled.
Your final destination is considered your last stop on the booking, including any connecting flights — not just the first delayed flight.
In addition, the delay must be caused by reasons within LOT’s control, such as technical problems, crew shortages, LOT strikes or operational issues. Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances — like severe weather or air traffic control restrictions — generally do not qualify.
The flight must also fall under the EU261 Regulation rules:
- Flights departing from an EU country (any airline), or
- Flights arriving in the EU operated by an EU airline, such as LOT.
If these conditions are met, long-haul passengers may be eligible for EU flight compensation.
Read more:
How Much is LOT Long Haul Flight Delay Compensation?
LOT long haul flight delay compensation is €600 per passenger.
The same applies to flight cancellation compensation and denied boarding compensation for LOT long haul flights.
This amount is the same for everyone — ticket price, fare type, and travel class do not affect the compensation. Whether you were flying Economy, Premium Economy or Business Class, the compensation remains €600.
Examples of eligible long-haul delay scenarios include:
- A LOT flight from Warsaw to New York arriving more than 3 hours late due to a technical issue
- A delayed (3+ hours) Warsaw to Tokyo flight caused by crew availability problems
- A missed long-haul connection that results in an arrival at the final destination more than three hours late. For connecting journeys, the relevant destination is the final stop on your itinerary.
In all of these cases, passengers may be entitled to €600 in flight delay compensation, provided the delay was within the airline’s control.
If your long haul flight is cancelled at the last minute or overbooked, you may be entitled to flight compensation, too.
Reduced LOT Flight Delay Compensation for Long-Haul Flights: When You Can Get €300 Instead of €600
For long-haul flights (3,500+ km), flight delay compensation can be reduced from €600 to €300 if you arrive at your final destination between 3 and 4 hours late.
If the delay is 4 hours or more, the full €600 applies.
How to Claim LOT Long Haul Flight Delay Compensation?
You have two main options for claiming LOT long haul flight delay compensation:
- Submit a claim directly to LOT. Use the airline’s online claim form or contact customer service. Provide your booking reference, flight details, the cancellation notice, and any supporting documents such as expenses or delay confirmations.
- Use a flight compensation service. Flight compensation companies handle the entire process on your behalf, usually on a “no win, no fee” basis.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more: Your LOT Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?
Right to Care During LOT Long-Haul Delays and Cancellations
When a long-haul LOT flight is delayed, passengers are entitled to the right to care under EU261 regulations, regardless of the cause of the delay. This right applies even when compensation is not owed.
During long waits at the airport (3+ hours), LOT must provide meals and refreshments appropriate to the length of the delay, as well as access to communication, such as phone calls, emails, or messaging services. These services must be offered free of charge.
If the delay requires an overnight stay, LOT is also responsible for arranging and paying for hotel accommodation, along with transportation between the airport and the hotel. This is especially important for long-haul flights, where delays often extend late into the night or continue into the following day.
If LOT fails to provide meals, accommodation, or transport when required, you may arrange these yourself. In that case, keep all receipts, as you can request reimbursement from the airline later.
Can You Get Right to Care and Compensation?
Yes — in many cases, you can receive both the right to care and EU flight compensation.
The right to care applies whenever your LOT flight is significantly delayed, cancelled, or you’re denied boarding, regardless of the reason for the disruption. Even if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions, LOT must still provide meals, refreshments, communication, and hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required.
Compensation, however, depends on additional criteria. To qualify for EU261 compensation, the delay must be caused by factors within LOT’s control, such as technical or operational issues.
If both conditions are met, long-haul passengers may receive €600 in compensation, in addition to the care provided during the delay.
Yes, you may be entitled to LOT long haul flight delay compensation. If your flight is delayed due to the airline’s fault, and the delay is 3+ hours long.
Featured photo by Garrison Gao from Pexels