LOT Polish Airlines Flights: Routes, Booking, Fees and Travel Details

LOT Polish Airlines flies from Warsaw Chopin to 102+ destinations, with fares starting around $339 one-way. Baggage, seat selection, and lounge fees aren’t fixed LOT prices these dynamically based on your route, fare class, and booking timing. 

What Is LOT Polish Airlines and Why Does It Matter for Travelers?

LOT Polish Airlines is Poland’s national flag carrier, founded in 1928 and operational since January 1, 1929. It operates a fleet of 96 aircraft to 102 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, with its primary hub at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and a secondary hub in Krakow.

As a Star Alliance member, LOT connects travelers to nearly 1,200 destinations worldwide through codeshare and alliance partnerships. For U.S. and Canadian travelers, LOT functions primarily as a one-stop gateway to Central and Eastern Europefly into Warsaw, then connect onward to dozens of regional cities that larger carriers simply don’t serve directly.

LOT’s Fleet: What Aircraft Will You Fly On?

LOT’s fleet mix determines your in-flight experience depending on route length:

LOT also launched a new San Francisco–Warsaw route on May 6, 2026 (flights LO37/LO38), expanding its West Coast U.S. presence.

What Are the Most Popular LOT Polish Flights and Routes?

LOT’s busiest domestic routes connect Warsaw to Wroclaw and Krakow, each with 100+ monthly flights. Internationally, Warsaw–Prague and Warsaw–Vilnius also exceed 130 monthly flights. Transatlantic routes link Warsaw to New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), and Los Angeles (LAX).

Domestic and Regional Routes

• Warsaw (WAW) to Wroclaw (WRO): 100+ flights monthly, operated mainly with Embraer E170/E190 aircraft
• Warsaw (WAW) to Krakow (KRK): 100+ flights monthly
• Warsaw (WAW) to Prague (PRG): High-frequency European connection
• Warsaw (WAW) to Vilnius (VNO): 100+ monthly flights, a key Baltic connection

Transatlantic and International Flight LOT Polish Airlines Routes

LOT’s long-haul network from Warsaw Chopin includes:

• Warsaw to New York (JFK): Operated with Boeing 777-200, flight LOT26 departs Warsaw around 6:11 PM CET, arriving JFK approximately 9:02 PM EDT
• Warsaw to Chicago (ORD): Boeing 787-8, departure around 5:46 PM CET
• Warsaw to Los Angeles (LAX): Boeing 787-8, departure around 11:20 AM CET
• Warsaw to Seoul (ICN): Via Wroclaw with Boeing 787-9

One-way fares on LOT Polish flights start from $339, though pricing fluctuates with season, route, and booking timing. For two travelers, a $339 fare translates to roughly $678 before baggage, seats, or other add-ons always confirm the live total in LOT’s booking engine before paying.

Which JFK Terminal Does LOT Polish Airlines Use?

According to Wikipedia, LOT Polish Airlines has operated from JFK Terminal 1 since October 2012. However, this detail couldn’t be independently verified on LOT’s official site, so travelers should confirm their specific terminal via their booking confirmation or boarding pass before heading to the airport.

How Do I Find Cheap Polish LOT Flights?

To find cheap LOT Polish flights, use fare comparison tools, stay flexible with travel dates, book several weeks ahead for European routes and months ahead for transatlantic flights, and sign up for LOT’s newsletter for promotional fares and mileage bonuses.

Booking Tips That Actually Work

• Use flexible date search tools on comparison platforms to spot the cheapest days to fly
• Book early for transatlantic routes long-haul award and discount seats sell out faster than regional ones
• Watch for seasonal sales LOT periodically runs promotions like the BAG50 baggage discount (50% off extra baggage, which ran August–September 2025)
• Sign up for LOT’s newsletter for a 50-mile Miles & More bonus, plus access to fare alerts
• Download the LOT app first login earns 500 bonus miles

Best Times to Book LOT Polish Airlines Flights

Pricing on LOT Polish Airlines flights tends to follow typical airline seasonality: fares to European leisure destinations dip in shoulder seasons (spring and fall), while transatlantic routes to Warsaw see premium pricing around major Polish holidays and summer travel months. Booking 2-3 months ahead for European routes and 4-6 months ahead for transatlantic flights generally secures better fares.

What Baggage Does LOT Polish Airlines Include by Fare Class?

LOT’s checked baggage allowance depends on your fare type, not just cabin class. Economy Saver fares include zero checked bags, while Economy Standard and Flex include one bag up to 23 kg. Business Class passengers on long-haul routes get up to three bags at 32 kg each.

According to LOT’s baggage policy (lot.com, 2026), allowances vary significantly by route and fare:

Calculated example: A Business Class traveler flying Warsaw to JFK with the full 3-bag allowance can check up to 96 kg total (3 x 32 kg) more than four times the 23 kg allowed for a single Economy Standard bag.

Carry-On Baggage Rules

Carry-on limits apply uniformly across most routes:

• Maximum dimensions: 55 x 40 x 23 cm (118 cm total)
• Personal item: Free, max 2 kg, 40 x 35 x 12 cm, stowed under the seat
• Weight (Europe/short-haul): Economy 1 x 8 kg; Business 2 x 9 kg
• Weight (long-haul to/from USA): Business 1 x 12 kg; Premium Economy 1 x 10 kg; Economy 1 x 8 kg

If overhead bins fill up, LOT may gate-check your carry-on at no charge.

How Much Does Extra Baggage Cost on LOT Polish Airlines?

LOT does not publish a fixed price list for extra, overweight, or oversized baggage. Per LOT’s Annex 2 Conditions of Extra Services (dated October 22, 2026), fees are calculated dynamically based on your route, fare class, days remaining until departure, and how many passengers are on the booking. The exact amount displays before you complete payment.

This is a critical point many competitor articles skip entirely: there is no single dollar amount for “extra bag fees” on LOT. Instead:

• Extra baggage can be purchased online, via the app, or through the Contact Center
• Buying in advance is cheaper LOT states airport prices are always the highest
• Extra bags for long-haul flights must be purchased at least 3 hours before departure; 2 hours for domestic/short-haul
• Special equipment (bicycles, golf gear, skis, musical instruments) has its own one-way pricing, charged per set, with a maximum weight of 32 kg

Bicycle-specific rule: Maximum 32 kg and 130 x 30 x 70 cm with the front wheel removed and the bike boxed or wrapped. Purchase cutoff is 12 hours before departure.

What’s the Baggage Liability Limit If My Bag Is Lost?

LOT’s liability for lost or damaged baggage is limited to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger, in line with international aviation conventions. Travelers carrying higher-value items can file an Excess Value Declaration and pay an additional fee at the airport to extend coverage up to double that limit.

LOT explicitly advises against packing cash, jewelry, electronics, medications, or important documents in checked baggage.

How Does Seat Selection Work on LOT Polish Flights?

Paid seat selection on LOT Polish Airlines flights is available up to 36 hours before departure. After that window closes, seat selection becomes free for all passengers, subject to availability. Premium Economy, Business Class, and Miles & More Senator/HON Circle members always get free seat selection.

Seat categories include:

• Preferred: Front of cabin, no extra legroom
• Extra Legroom: Front row and emergency exit rows
• Standard Zone, Window, Center, Aisle: Standard categories on long and medium-haul

Important edge case: Buying a seat doesn’t guarantee a specific seat number only the category. Exit row seats also carry restrictions: passengers under 18, those traveling with infants, passengers with reduced mobility, and anyone who doesn’t speak Polish or English cannot be seated there. If purchased in breach of these rules, LOT does not issue a refund.

Like baggage fees, specific seat prices aren’t published as a fixed tariff they display at the point of purchase and vary by flight demand and timing.

What Is the LOT Polish Airlines Miles & More Program?

Miles & More is LOT’s loyalty program, established in 1993 and shared across Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa, Austrian, and SWISS. Members earn points based on cabin class and route length, with status tiers unlocking free baggage, lounge access, and seat selection.

Points Earned Per Flight (2026 Thresholds)

Status Tier Requirements

• Frequent Traveller: 650 Points and 325 Qualifying Points per calendar year
• Senator: 2,000 Points and 1,000 Qualifying Points per calendar year
• HON Circle: 6,000 HON Circle Points earned in Business Class (LOT or partner airlines)

Note: these are LOT’s current official 2026 thresholds, which differ from older figures still circulating on some reference sites always check lot.com directly for the latest numbers.

Status Perks Worth Knowing

• Frequent Traveller: Free Standard-zone seat selection, Fast Track at Warsaw, one extra checked bag (up to 23 kg, Economy only)
• Senator/HON Circle: Free seat selection for the entire booking, lounge access, extra baggage piece including golf equipment or skis
• HON Circle exclusive: Complimentary airport limousine service in Warsaw

What Lounges and Airport Services Does LOT Offer?

LOT operates two lounges at Warsaw Chopin Polonez for Schengen flights and Mazurek for non-Schengen flights plus a Business Lounge at Chicago O’Hare. Paid lounge access is available for Economy short-haul and Premium Economy long-haul passengers, with entry no earlier than 4 hours before departure.

Additional airport services include:

• Fast Track security: Available at Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, and Wroclaw; free for passengers aged 70+ and children under 12 at Warsaw and Poznan
• Minimum lounge age: 18 at Warsaw, 21 at Chicago O’Hare; children under 2 enter free
• Bidding upgrades: LOT Bidding Upgrade and Extra Legroom Bidding available until 6 hours before departure

How Do I Check LOT Polish Airlines Flight Status?

You can check LOT Polish Airlines flight status directly on lot.com, through the LOT mobile app, or via third-party trackers like FlightAware, which displays real-time departure and arrival data using LOT’s ICAO callsign.

One detail worth knowing: FlightAware displays flights using the callsign “LOT” followed by a number (e.g., LOT26), while your ticket will show the IATA code “LO” (e.g., LO37). Both refer to the same flight just different coding systems used by air traffic control versus ticketing systems.

For live tracking, visit FlightAware’s LOT fleet page, or use the “Forgot the flight number?” tool if you only have your route and date.

What Is LOT Polish Airlines’ Check-In Process?

Check-in with LOT Polish Airlines is always free, whether done online, via the app, or at airport kiosks and desks. Online check-in typically opens 24-36 hours before departure using your booking reference and last name.

At the airport, you can use self-service kiosks or staffed check-in desks, where documents are verified before you proceed to security. International flights generally require arrival 2-3 hours before departure, per standard airline guidance.

How Do I Contact LOT Polish Airlines Customer Support?

LOT’s Contact Center operates 24/7 in Polish and English at +48 22 577 77 55, with additional lines for WhatsApp (+48 536 364 003) and Facebook Messenger. U.S. travelers can also reach LOT at +1-800-223-0593.

LOT also provides online forms for reservation changes, refunds, lost baggage claims, delayed or cancelled flight compensation, denied boarding issues, special assistance requests, and best price guarantee claims all accessible through the lot.com help center.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many bags can I check for free on an Economy Saver fare?
Zero. LOT’s Economy Saver fare class includes no complimentary checked baggage on short-haul or long-haul routes; travelers must purchase baggage separately if needed.

Does LOT Polish Airlines charge for seat selection?
Yes, until 36 hours before departure, after which seat selection becomes free for all passengers based on availability. Premium Economy, Business, and Senator/HON Circle members always get free selection.

What’s the maximum weight for a single checked bag on LOT?
The absolute maximum is 32 kg per piece; bags between 23 kg and 32 kg incur an excess baggage fee shown at the point of purchase.

Can I bring a bicycle on a LOT Polish Airlines flight?
Yes, with the front wheel removed and the bike boxed, wrapped, or in a bike case, up to 32 kg and 130 x 30 x 70 cm, purchased at least 12 hours before departure.

How many Miles & More points does a transatlantic Business Class flight earn?
200 points per intercontinental Business Class flight segment, the highest earning rate in LOT’s points structure.

Is LOT Polish Airlines check-in ever charged?
No. Check-in is always free, whether completed online, via the app, or at the airport.

What happens if my flight gets oversold and I’m denied boarding?
LOT provides an online form specifically for denied boarding compensation claims, accessible through its help center.

Can I get a refund on a paid seat if my flight schedule changes?
If LOT cancels the flight or changes the aircraft type, you may qualify for reuse of the paid extra within 24 months, provided you notify the Contact Center before departure.

Does LOT offer free checked bags for Miles & More status members on Saver fares?
Partially. Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle members can check one bag free in Economy Saver, an exception to the standard zero-bag Saver policy.

Which JFK terminal should I plan for when flying LOT Polish Airlines?
Reports indicate Terminal 1 since October 2012, but this should be confirmed via your booking confirmation or boarding pass, since terminal assignments can change.