What to Do if Your LOT Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your LOT flight is cancelled?

Flight disruptions happen every day, and no traveler is completely immune. Flights can be delayed or cancelled for many reasons — from technical issues and extreme weather to staff shortages and strikes. While you can’t prevent these situations, chances are you’ll experience one at some point, even if you don’t fly often.

So, what to do if your flight is cancelled? And are you entitled to flight compensation?

Check your compensation online.

What to Do if Your LOT Flight Is Cancelled? (You Are at the Airport)

What to do if your LOT flight is cancelled, and you are at the airport?

Step 1: Confirm the LOT Flight Cancellation

You have found out that your flight is cancelled – either via a phone app or e-mail notification, or by seeing a flight departures board.

As soon as you’re informed that your LOT flight has been cancelled, ask airline staff to confirm the cancellation and explain what happens next. You are entitled to either a rebooked flight to your final destination or a full refund. In most last-minute cancellation cases, passengers choose to accept a new flight.

Be sure to take screenshots of notifications or photos of the departure board showing the cancellation. This type of confirmation is important, especially if you later decide to file a compensation claim.

Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any messages received from the airline.

Step 2: Choose Between a Refund or Rebooking

When LOT cancels your flight, you have the right to choose one of the following options:

• A full refund of the unused ticket, covering all applicable taxes, fees, and paid add-ons, or
• Rebooking on an alternative LOT flight to your final destination at no extra cost, or
• Rebooking at a later date that suits your travel plans, subject to seat availability.

If there’s no suitable LOT flight available soon, you can ask to be rebooked on a partner or alternative airline.

You are not required to accept LOT travel vouchers instead of a refund. Refund must be made to your bank account.

Keep in mind that you can’t accept both a refund and a new flight.

Step 3: Request Right to Care at the Airport

If you’re stuck waiting due to the cancellation, LOT must provide care and assistance free of charge. This includes:

• Meals and drinks appropriate to the waiting time
• Access to communication (phone calls, emails, or messages)
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary
• Transport between the airport and the hotel

If these are not offered automatically, ask for them. If you have to pay out of pocket, keep all receipts — you can claim reimbursement later.

Read more: Right to Care

Step 4: Keep All Documents and Evidence

Chances are you may be entitled to EU flight compensation, which is why it’s important to keep all documents and information related to the disruption.

Keep:

• Your boarding pass and booking confirmation
• Cancellation notices or emails from LOT
• Receipts for meals, transport, or accommodation
• Details of your rebooked flight and actual arrival time

This evidence will strengthen your claim and help avoid delays.

Step 5: Check If You’re Entitled to Compensation

This step can be done after your journey is completed.

In addition to a refund or rebooking, you may also be entitled to flight cancellation compensation under the EU261 Regulation.

You may qualify if:

• LOT cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure, and
• The cancellation was caused by reasons within the airline’s control (such as technical problems, LOT strikes or staffing issues).

You are generally not entitled to compensation if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions.

How much is flight compensation?

Compensation amounts are fixed and based on flight distance.

These amounts apply to all passengers, regardless of ticket price or travel class. Business class passengers get the same compensation as economy class passengers. Kids and babies get the same compensation as adults.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

Step 6: Submit a Compensation Claim

You may be entitled to compensation for your cancelled LOT flight. This step can be done after your journey is completed.

You can submit a cancellation compensation claim directly through LOT’s customer service or online claims form. Make sure to include all relevant documents and clearly state that the flight was cancelled and when you were informed.

If LOT rejects your claim without a valid reason or fails to respond, you can escalate the case to the National Enforcement Body, use an ADR service, or seek help from a flight compensation company that can handle the process on your behalf.

If you don’t want the hassle of claiming flight compensation yourself, you can work with a flight compensation company right from the start.

When is flight compensation not owed?

LOT is not required to pay compensation if:

• You were informed of the cancellation more than 14 days in advance
• The cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances
• You accepted a rerouting/new flight that allowed you to arrive close to your original arrival time

However, even in these situations, you are still entitled to a refund or rebooking and the right to care.

What to Do if Your LOT Flight Is Cancelled? (You Are at Home or at a Hotel)

What to do if your LOT flight is cancelled, and you are at home or a hotel?

The procedure is very similar to what you would follow if the cancellation occurred at the airport.

First, check the cancellation notice carefully. This may come via email, SMS, or the LOT mobile app. Take screenshots of the notification and save any emails, as these can be useful later if you need to file a compensation claim.

The cancellation notice may include all the necessary information about rebooking options and refunds.

Or you can log in to your booking on LOT’s website or app to review your options. In most cases, LOT will offer either a new flight to your final destination or a full refund of the unused ticket, including taxes and fees. If the proposed new flight doesn’t work for you, you can contact LOT customer service to discuss alternative dates or routing options. You may ask for a flight with another airline as well.

If you’re already at a hotel because of the cancellation, LOT is responsible for your right to care. This may include covering additional hotel nights, meals, and transportation, depending on the situation. If the airline does not arrange these services directly, keep all receipts so you can request reimbursement later.

Finally, once your travel plans are sorted, check whether you’re entitled to EU261 compensation. If LOT cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure and the reason was within the airline’s control, you may be eligible for cancelled flight compensation in addition to a refund or rebooking. You can submit a claim after the flight.

Knowing what to do if your LOT flight is cancelled can help you avoid stress and secure the refund or rebooking, and flight cancellation compensation you’re entitled to.