LOT Missed Connection Compensation

LOT missed connection compensation.

How much can you claim? What happens if you miss your flight?

The good news is that regardless of your nationality, ticket price, or travel insurance coverage, you may be eligible to receive compensation. This is because LOT is required by law to follow certain European Union regulations. If it is determined that compensation is necessary, LOT is obliged to provide it. You can choose to file a claim on your own or seek the assistance of a flight compensation company.

1. EU Missed Flight Connection Compensation

If you miss your connecting flight with LOT, you may be entitled to compensation.

The laws governing these situations are straightforward.

1.1 Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay: Compensation 

If you missed your connecting flight due to a delay, you may be eligible for compensation under EU regulations. LOT is a European airline, so these regulations apply to all their flights. If the airline is responsible for the delay, you could receive up to €600.

However, it’s essential to note that legally there is no specific compensation for missed connections on LOT flights – it falls under flight delay compensation.

To qualify for LOT flight compensation:

• You must arrive at your destination 3+ hours later than scheduled;
• Delay must be due to the fault of LOT;
• Flight must be to/from Europe.

The same rules apply to connecting flights. In this case, your destination is your final destination (not any of the layover airports).

Here’s an example. You have a connecting flight with LOT from Seoul to Warsaw via Budapest. Your final destination is Warsaw. Budapest Airport is only a layover airport. If you have made it to Warsaw 3 or more hours later due to the fault of LOT, you will be entitled to compensation for missed connection flight for the whole “Seoul – Warsaw” trip.

If you believe you are eligible for compensation,  file a compensation claim!

1.2 Missing a Connecting Flight Due to Cancellation

The rules are similar as with flight delays.

If your LOT flight is delayed or cancelled due to the airline’s fault, and you arrive at your final destination three or more hours later than planned, you may be eligible for compensation from LOT. The amount of compensation, which can be €250, €400, or €600, depends on the distance of your flight.

You can get missed connection flight compensation if:

• Your previous flight is cancelled (or delayed) due to the fault of the airline;
• You reach your destination 3+ hours later than scheduled;
• The flight is to/from Europe.

LOT missed connection compensation is only applicable to connecting flights, and not for self-transfer flights.

In case you’ve booked separate flights with different airlines, if one flight gets cancelled, the airline is only liable for that particular flight, and not the other.

Want to claim compensation? Make sure you file a compensation claim!

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

2. Extraordinary Circumstances

In aviation, extraordinary circumstances are events or situations beyond the airline’s control, including bad weather, pandemics, natural disasters, and security risks. Compensation is not provided if you missed your connecting flight due to any of these occurrences.

It is highly recommended to verify any information received from the airline if there is any uncertainty. It’s always best to double-check all information given by the airline regarding refunds and compensation as they may not always be truthful to their customers.

Another option to ensure accurate information is to seek the services of a flight compensation company to review your case. For instance, technical issues with the aircraft are generally the airline’s responsibility and not considered extraordinary circumstances. If the airline claims otherwise, it is likely incorrect.

Situations that do not qualify as extraordinary circumstances:

• Most technical failures with the aircraft
• Most of LOT staff strikes
• LOT staffing shortages

3. Right to Care From LOT

Passengers affected by flight disruptions may have a right to care.

If a flight is cancelled, delayed, or if boarding is denied, passengers have the right to receive assistance. This also includes missed connections resulting from delays or cancellations.

According to EU Regulation 261/2004, if a passenger must wait at the airport for a delayed or replacement flight, LOT must provide certain services free of charge.

• After a wait time of three hours, LOT must offer free meals and drinks that are reasonable in relation to the waiting time, as well as two free phone calls, emails or faxes.
• If an overnight delay occurs, LOT must also provide free hotel accommodation and transfer services.

4. How to Claim LOT Flight Compensation?

There are two methods of claiming EU flight compensation.

Firstly, you can directly contact customer support center on the website of LOT and request compensation for your disrupted flight. Keep in mind that this method may take several months and might require negotiations with the airline. It’s recommended to have evidence of your delayed arrival time to support your case.

Alternatively, you can opt for legal representation, which offers a more straightforward solution. With this option, legal professionals will handle all aspects of your claim. Our partners offer such representation, and you can find more information below.

Read more: Your LOT Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?

4.1 How Long Does It Take?

Typically, it takes a minimum of a couple of months to receive compensation from an airline. However, if your case is referred to a national enforcement body or court, the process may extend up to six months or more, in addition to the standard duration of 2-3 months.

Several factors can affect the time taken to receive compensation. Your claim will be processed promptly if the airline agrees to pay compensation. Conversely, if the airline disputes your claim, a lengthy legal process may be required to receive compensation. Additionally, the complexity of your case can also influence the duration of the compensation process since not all claims are alike.

5. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

Here is how you can calculate the amount of LOT flight compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the distance is 3500 kilometres or more and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later, you are entitled to compensation of €300, not €600. If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of €600.

5.1 LOT Vouchers or Cash?

If you are offered a LOT voucher as LOT missed connection compensation or refund, you have the option to decline it and request a cash compensation/refund or bank transfer instead. Keep in mind that airlines are obligated to provide compensation and refund for cancellation in the form of cash or bank transfer, not vouchers.

This is mandated by European law.

6. Connecting Flights

6.1 What Is a Connecting Flight?

A connecting flight is when a passenger takes two or more flights in sequence, requiring them to change planes at some point during their journey instead of taking a direct flight from point A to point B. This adds point C to the itinerary, where passengers will fly from A to C before flying from C to B, with additional stops possibly included. The time spent at the airport during the layover is commonly referred to as a layover.

If the layover is longer than 24 hours, it becomes known as a stopover.

Connecting flights come in two types:

• Airline-protected transfers
• Self-transfer flights

6.2 Airline-Protected Transfer

To determine if you have an airline-protected transfer, consider the following:

• You have booked a connecting flight either directly through the airline or via a third-party service such as Kiwi, Expedia, or eDreams.
• Your itinerary comprises two or more flights, and you possess a single booking reference number for the entire trip. Note that this reference number should be from the airline’s booking system rather than the travel agent’s booking reference number.
• When you access the airline’s website to manage your booking, you can view the entire itinerary using this one reference number.

6.3 Self Transfer

To determine if you have a self transfer, consider the following:

• If the flights were booked separately and each has its own reservation number, it is considered a self transfer.
• If you paid for each flight separately, it is also a self transfer.

Differentiating between a self transfer and an airline-protected connecting flight can be challenging. However, one way to distinguish between them is by checking the tickets. If each flight has a unique reservation or booking reference number, it is more likely a self transfer. Also, online travel agencies like Kiwi or Expedia indicate if the flight is a self-transfer.

7. Missed Connection

Missed connections happen when a passenger is unable to board their connecting flight, which can occur due to a delay or last-minute cancellation of their previous flight, or if the passenger is simply late for their flight.

When the layover time is short, as little as 45 to 90 minutes, it can be difficult to make the next flight. It’s worth noting that airlines often provide protection to passengers who miss their connecting flights. In fact, experiencing a delay could even be advantageous, as passengers may be entitled to flight compensation of up to 600 euros per person.

Cancelled or delayed flight caused you to miss your flight?

7.1 Airline-Protected Transfer

Choosing an airline-protected transfer is a secure and straightforward choice.

In the event of a missed connecting flight due to a flight delay or cancellation, the airline will provide protection, including arranging a new flight and potentially offering compensation. Passengers can contact LOT representatives at the airport to address any issues.

Regarding refunds and compensation, it’s not possible to obtain a refund for a missed flight. However, if the flight is covered under the EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers may be eligible for missed flight compensation for their entire journey, which is equivalent to flight delay compensation or flight cancellation compensation.

Don’t forget to file a claim for compensation!

Connecting flight example: Seoul to Warsaw with a layover in Budapest. Your final destination is Warsaw, and Budapest Airport is only a layover airport. This connecting flight is booked from LOT, and all flight legs are under one booking reference number.

7.2 Self Transfer

Self transfer refers to the booking of multiple flights separately.

In case of missing a connecting flight during a self-transfer journey, neither airline is responsible for the entire journey or any missed flights. However, if any of the individual flights are delayed by 3+ hours, canceled, or you are denied boarding, you may be entitled to compensation for that particular flight. It’s important to note that the airline is not accountable for the second flight. If you miss it, you will need to book a new flight yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

LOT Delayed Flight > Missed Connection

Flight Cancellations

Other Situations

Do you have any questions about LOT missed connection compensation policies? Ask in the comments.

Featured photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels