LOT missed connecting flight compensation.

According to EU laws, if your flight has been delayed or cancelled due to an airline’s error and you consequently miss a connecting flight, then you may be eligible for compensation from the airline. This article will cover all of the details related to this process – how it works, what steps need to be taken in order to get compensation – plus some advice on ways that you can protect yourself against delays and missed flights in the future.

European regulations apply to all LOT flights to and from Europe.

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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UK / EU Flight Compensation

We have several articles on these topics.

Here is a full guide on UK / EU flight compensation regulation. There we talk about all situations, when you can get compensation from the airline and when you have a right to care. We also have separate guides on what to do if you miss connection due to delay, strike, or cancellation of one of your flights.

Here, in this article, we will focus more on the compensation – UK / EU Missed connecting flight compensation.

1. LOT Missed Connecting Flight Compensation

LOT Polish Airlines is the flag carrier of Poland.

If your flight with LOT is delayed or canceled, you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. If you miss your LOT connecting flight due to delay or cancellation, you are eligible for the same compensation. Let’s call it “missed connecting flight compensation,” but that doesn’t change the fact that it is in essence just regular delay/cancellation compensation.

To summarize: if you arrive at your destination later than scheduled due to problems with LOT, you might be entitled to compensation from them. As long as your delay is at least 3 hours.

To get compensation, your flight must:

• Be at least 3 hours late. Delay time is calculated at the moment of arrival to your destination.
• Be an airline-protected connecting flight. These rules don’t apply to self-transfer flights. Such flights are the passenger’s responsibility.

1.1 European and non-European airlines

The country of origin of your airline matters.

When you fly with an airline registered in the EU, EEA or UK, such as LOT, your rights will be protected whether you’re arriving in Europe or departing from it. You are guaranteed peace of mind on all of LOT’s flights.

But if the flight is with a non-European carrier like Turkish Airlines or Singapore Airlines – the Flight Compensation Regulation 2004 No 261/2004 only applies when their flight is departing from Europe and not other countries.

	EU/UK to EU/UK	EU/UK to Other countries	Other countries to EU/UK
EU airlines	+	+	+
UK airlines	+	+	+
Other airlines	+	+	–

1.2 Self-Transfer Flights

With self transfer, it’s not as easy and stress-free.

For example, one of your flights is with LOT and the other – with Ryanair, Wizz Air, Pegasus, or any other airline. This would be considered a self transfer. You booked these flights separately – it’s not a protected connecting flight.

If you have a self-transfer flight, you are less protected than with a connecting flight. For instance, if your flight delay falls short of three hours, but still causes you to miss your next plane, neither compensation nor a free ticket will be provided. It’s important that you consider this potential risk before deciding on a self transfer flight.

• Unfortunately, you will not be able to get a free flight to your destination as this is considered a self-transfer. Airlines are not responsible for these type of connections – the airline has not created the connection; it was done by you.
• Unless your flight’s arrival is delayed by at least three hours, you will not be eligible for any compensation. Even if the delay consequently causes you to miss your connection. This is because these flights are considered separate – it’s not a connecting flight.

2. How Much Can You Claim for Missed Connecting Flight?

Mostly it’s 250, 400 or 600 euro per person.

The amounts are regulated by flight compensation regulations.

The longer the flight, the more you can get.

• 250 EUR – if the flight distance is less than 1500 km;
• 400 EUR – if the flight distance is between 1500 and 3500 km;
• 600 EUR – if the flight distance is more than 3500 km.

3. How to File a Claim for Missed Connection Compensation?

There are two options:

1. You can file a claim with compensation company.
2. Or, you can do it all on your own.

If you choose the latter (option number 2):

• First and foremost, you must determine if your flight is eligible for compensation. To do this, you have to check if your flight is covered by a European Union regulation known as Regulation (EC) 261/2004. Learn more here.
• Contact the airline and make a formal complaint. You can use the contact form provided on LOT’s website.
• Provide basic information about your delayed or canceled flight, or missed connection, as well as proof of your purchased ticket.
• Make sure you mention the time and length of the delay, as well as any information provided by the airline about the cause of the disruption.
• Once the request is submitted, LOT will review all the documentation and make a decision on how much compensation is due to the customer.
• If approved, the customer will receive a payment within a few weeks of the claim being approved.
• If the airline does not provide you with a satisfactory outcome, then it is possible to take your case to a third party such National Enforcement Bodies (NEB). In extreme cases, it may be necessary to take legal action against the airline in order to receive compensation.
• To avoid the hassle and stress, work with a flight compensation claim company – it’s your best bet (Option 1).

The amount of compensation that a customer is eligible for depends on the distance traveled. In general, passengers are entitled to up to 600 Euros in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

4. Right to Care from LOT Polish Airlines

On all LOT flights you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

• Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
• Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary;
• Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
• Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails. So that you can get in touch with your loved ones to inform them about the delay.

It applies to all domestic and international flights with LOT. Again, it’s because LOT is a European airline. With non-European airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.

5. Tips on Flight Delays and Missed Connections

By following these tips, travelers can help prevent flight delays and missed connecting flights and have a smoother, more stress-free journey.

• The first step is to avoid short layovers whenever possible. Short layovers put you at risk of missing the next flight due to long lines for security or boarding passes, not having enough time to get from one gate to another if they are far apart, or simply running out of time when the departing flight is delayed. In addition, short layovers make it more likely that your luggage will not be able to connect on time with you because there may not be enough time for it to change planes. For these reasons, it’s best to avoid short layovers whenever possible.
• Always check the status of your flight in advance. Airlines will usually update their websites with information about a flight’s status and passengers can also sign up for notifications regarding flight changes. You won’t be able to avoid a delay, but you will feel more in control when arriving to the airport informed.
• Use flight trackers (such as FlightStats) to stay informed. They provide flight tracking data and airline performance ratings so that you can make informed decisions about your travel plans.
• Purchase travel insurance to help cover the costs associated with flight changes or cancelations and also look into alternative travel options such as train or bus travel. Especially if you have a self transfer.
• Know your air passenger rights! It’s an important aspect of air travel that all passengers should familiarize themselves with. Knowing your rights as an airline passenger can help you ensure a smoother and more comfortable experience while traveling. Airline passenger rights not only provide protection against unfair policies, they also give you access to compensation in cases when the airline fails to meet its obligations

What is your experience with LOT? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with LOT? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive missed connection compensation from LOT?

Featured photo by Oskar Kadaksoo on Unsplash