Check In LOT Polish: Online Steps, Times and Airport Rules

LOT Polish Airlines check-in opens online 36 hours before departure and closes 120 minutes prior. Both online and airport check-in are free. Seat selection is free within 24 hours of departure, baggage drop closes 2–3 hours before flight time, and nine routes require in-person document verification regardless of online check-in status.

Few things derail a trip faster than arriving at the airport only to discover you’ve missed a cutoff you didn’t know existed. Polish LOT Airlines check-in follows a fairly generous window, but it’s layered with route-specific exceptions that catch travelers off guard  especially those flying through Central Asia, the Middle East, or a handful of smaller European airports.

When does LOT Polish Airlines check-in open?

LOT Polish Airlines check-in opens online 36 hours before your scheduled departure time and closes 120 minutes before takeoff. Airport check-in counters have separate, route-dependent closing times, ranging from 30 minutes for domestic Polish flights to 70 minutes for long-haul international departures.

This 36-hour window applies across nearly all LOT routes, whether you’re flying domestically within Poland or on a long-haul service from the US. The exceptions are the handful of airports (covered below) where check-in must happen on a local partner website instead of lot.com.

Quick time calculation

If your flight departs at 6:00 PM on a Friday, online check-in opens at 6:00 AM on Thursday and closes at 4:00 PM on Friday  exactly 120 minutes before departure. Missing that window means heading straight to the airport counter instead.

How do I access LOT’s online check-in platform?

You can check in online through the LOT Polish Airlines website (lot.com/check-in) or the LOT mobile app, available on iOS and Android. Both platforms require the same two pieces of information: your six-character booking reference (PNR) or 13-character electronic ticket number, plus your surname.

To get started, navigate to the check-in page and choose your search method:

• Booking number (PNR): A 6-character alphanumeric code found on your confirmation email
• Electronic ticket number: A 13-digit number, also found on your booking confirmation
• Surname: Required alongside either identifier above

The LOT Polish Airlines app offers one advantage the website doesn’t: once you’ve checked in, you can save your boarding pass directly to Apple Wallet, complete with live flight status updates and gate-change notifications.

Step-by-step: How does the LOT Polish Airlines check-in process work?

The Polish Airline LOT check-in process involves four steps: logging in with your booking details, selecting a seat, choosing how to receive your boarding pass, and confirming passenger and baggage information. The entire process typically takes under five minutes for passengers without special requirements.

Step 1: Log in with your booking details

Enter your PNR or ticket number along with your surname on the check-in page.

Step 2: Select your seat

If you’re checking in within 24 hours of departure, seat selection is free on all fare types. Booking a specific seat earlier than that may incur a fee depending on your fare class  Saver fares typically charge for advance seat selection, while Standard and Flex fares often include it.

Step 3: Choose your boarding pass format

LOT offers several delivery options:

Step 4: Confirm passenger and baggage details

Review your name, passport details (where applicable), and baggage allowance before finalizing. This is also the point where you can add extra checked baggage at a lower rate than airport pricing.

Which airports require check-in on a local website instead of lot.com?

Six airports require online check-in through the local airport’s own website rather than LOT’s platform: Dubrovnik, Podgorica, Skopje, Split, Tirana, and Zadar. Passengers departing from these airports cannot complete LOT Polish Airlines check-in on lot.com and must use the designated regional check-in portal instead.

This is one of the most commonly missed details in general travel guides. If you’re departing from one of these six cities, head to the local airport’s check-in page directly  attempting to check in via lot.com will not work for these routes.

Which routes require document verification at the airport?

Nine routes require in-person document verification regardless of online check-in: Almaty, Astana, Baku, Beirut, Yerevan, Cairo, Marrakesh, Tashkent, and Tel Aviv. Passengers on these routes can select a seat online but must still visit the airport counter, where they’ll receive a boarding pass with a QR code after verification.

Why this matters for your airport arrival time

Even though you’ve completed online check-in and chosen your seat, flying from one of these nine cities means budgeting extra time at the airport for the counter visit. This isn’t optional  it’s a regulatory requirement tied to destination entry rules, and skipping it isn’t possible.

Comparison: Standard online check-in vs. document-verification routes

Online check-in vs. airport check-in: which should you choose?

Choose online check-in if you want free seat selection, a faster airport experience, and you’re not flying from one of the fifteen exception airports listed above. Choose airport check-in if your route requires document verification, you’re traveling from India, or you need to resolve a booking issue in person.

What are the airport check-in closing times by route type?

Airport check-in closing times vary by route: 30 minutes before departure for domestic Poland flights, 40 minutes for short-haul Schengen routes, 50 minutes for short-haul non-Schengen, 60 minutes for Middle East departures, and 70 minutes for long-haul international flights. Lisbon is a unique exception, closing 45 minutes before departure.

Missing these windows means your boarding pass won’t be issued, and checked bags can’t be accepted  so build in buffer time, especially if you’re checking a bag on a long-haul route where the counter closes a full 70 minutes out.

When does baggage drop-off close?

Baggage drop-off at Polish airports (excluding Warsaw) and other medium-haul destinations closes at least 2 hours before departure. For flights departing from the USA, Canada, and other long-haul origins, bag drop closes at least 3 hours before departure.

At Warsaw Chopin Airport specifically, LOT offers self-service kiosks for bag drop on direct (non-connecting) flights: scan your boarding pass, print your bag tag, and drop it at the LOT Bag Drop point. If your bag exceeds the weight allowance, the kiosk won’t print a tag, and you’ll be redirected to a staffed counter to pay the excess fee.

What’s different about codeshare flight check-in?

Codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, identified by flight numbers LO 4000–5999, follow the operating carrier’s check-in rules rather than LOT’s. Flights numbered LO001–3999 are operated directly by LOT Polish Airlines and follow the standard 36-hour check-in window.

If your itinerary includes a codeshare segment, check the operating airline’s website for their specific check-in opening and closing times  they may differ substantially from LOT’s own policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LOT Polish Airlines check-in free?
Yes. Online check-in, airport counter check-in, and document verification at the gate are all free of charge, according to LOT Polish Airlines (lot.com, 2026). Only seat upgrades, Extra Legroom seats, and excess baggage carry additional fees.

How early can I check in for a LOT Polish Airlines flight?
Check-in opens exactly 36 hours before your scheduled departure time, regardless of whether you’re flying domestically within Poland or internationally, except at the six airports requiring local-website check-in.

What happens if I miss the 120-minute online check-in cutoff?
You’ll need to check in at the airport counter instead. Counter closing times vary by route, ranging from 30 minutes for domestic flights to 70 minutes for long-haul departures, so arrive with sufficient buffer.

Do I need a printed boarding pass for LOT flights?
Generally no  mobile and digital boarding passes are accepted. The exception is flights departing from India, where a printed boarding pass is required due to local security and immigration procedures.

Can I select my seat for free during check-in?
Yes, seat selection is free on all fare types when done within 24 hours of departure. Selecting a seat earlier than that may incur a fee depending on your fare class, particularly on Saver fares.

Which airports can’t use LOT’s website for check-in?
Six airports require check-in via the local airport’s own website: Dubrovnik, Podgorica, Skopje, Split, Tirana, and Zadar. LOT’s standard online check-in platform doesn’t apply to these departures.

Why do some routes require airport document verification even after online check-in?
Nine routes  Almaty, Astana, Baku, Beirut, Yerevan, Cairo, Marrakesh, Tashkent, and Tel Aviv  require in-person document checks due to destination entry regulations. Passengers select a seat online but receive their QR-code boarding pass at the counter.

How much does extra or overweight baggage cost with LOT?
LOT doesn’t publish a fixed price list since fees vary by route and fare. Third-party estimates suggest airport charges can range from roughly $55 to $380, with larger intercontinental excess items reaching €321–474  always confirm your exact fee in Manage My Booking.

What’s the difference between checking in online versus at the airport?
Online check-in is free, opens 36 hours out, and offers free seat selection plus instant boarding passes. Airport check-in is also free but has shorter, route-dependent closing windows and is mandatory for document-verification routes.

How does baggage drop-off timing differ by destination?
Bag drop closes at least 2 hours before departure for Polish and medium-haul flights, and at least 3 hours before departure for long-haul flights from the USA, Canada, and similar distant origins.