LOT claim form and EU 261
LOT Claim Form: How to Claim Compensation from LOT
If your LOT Polish Airlines flight was delayed, cancelled, overbooked or made you miss a connection, the claim form should not be a vague question. A strong LOT compensation claim names EU 261, the exact amount and the evidence LOT must answer.
A practical guide for passengers preparing a LOT compensation claim, challenging a refusal or deciding whether to let ClaimWinger handle the case.
Start a claim
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If this guide matches your situation, you can start with the form here. We collect the route, date, disruption type and documents needed for an initial claim review.
- Initial EU 261 or UK 261 eligibility review
- No upfront fee for accepted cases
- You can return to the guide after adding your details
What happened to your flight?
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
Quick answer: use the right LOT form and state the claim clearly
LOT provides post-journey claim channels for passenger complaints after flight disruption. Use them for a compensation claim when LOT operated the disrupted flight and your case is about delay, cancellation, denied boarding or a missed connection. Do not write only "am I eligible?" State the facts, cite EU 261 and request the exact EUR amount.
The form is not a substitute for the legal test. A strong submission should show the route, flight number, final-arrival delay, cancellation notice, replacement journey and reason why LOT remains responsible. If the issue is refund, voucher or baggage only, use the relevant separate channel instead of mixing everything into one unclear compensation request.
| Case type | Best claim route | What to prove |
|---|---|---|
| LOT flight arrived 3+ hours late | Use a compensation claim | Measure final arrival at the destination, not only departure delay. |
| LOT cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure | Claim compensation and handle refund/rerouting separately | Notice date, replacement-flight timing and cause matter. |
| LOT denied boarding because of overbooking | Use a denied boarding compensation claim | Keep boarding proof and ask for written confirmation of the refusal. |
| Missed a connection on one LOT booking | Claim based on final-arrival delay | Attach the full itinerary and rerouting timeline. |
| LOT says technical, operational or strike reasons | Do not accept vague wording automatically | Ask for the exact event and reasonable measures. |
| Refund, voucher or baggage issue only | Use the right separate channel | Refunds and baggage claims are not the same as fixed EU 261 compensation. |
| Codeshare or partner-operated flight | Claim from the operating carrier | Check which airline physically operated the disrupted flight. |
Treat the form like a legal demand
Which LOT cases fit an EU 261 compensation claim?
The strongest LOT claim form cases usually involve arrival 3 hours or more late, short-notice cancellation, involuntary denied boarding or a missed connection on one booking. LOT is an EU airline, so EU 261 can also matter on some flights arriving in the EU from outside Europe when LOT operated the flight.
For details by claim type, use the dedicated guides: LOT flight delay compensation, LOT cancelled flight compensation, LOT overbooking compensation and LOT missed connection compensation.
| Distance band | EU 261 amount | LOT example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | EUR 250 | Short LOT European routes such as Warsaw - Berlin or Warsaw - Vienna. |
| 1,500-3,500 km | EUR 400 | Many medium European and regional routes. |
| Over 3,500 km | EUR 600 | LOT long-haul routes such as Warsaw - New York, Chicago, Toronto or Seoul. |
| Long-haul rerouting with 3-4 hour arrival delay | Possible 50% reduction | Some rerouting outcomes allow the airline to reduce the EUR 600 amount. |
What to write in a LOT compensation claim
Keep the message factual. LOT should immediately see who is claiming, which flight was disrupted and why the requested amount follows from EU 261. If several passengers are on the booking, list each passenger and make clear whether one person is submitting for the group.
- Passenger and booking details. Name, email, PNR, e-ticket number, flight number, date and route.
- Disruption facts. Delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection, including final arrival time.
- Legal basis. State that the claim is made under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
- Amount requested. EUR 250, EUR 400 or EUR 600 per passenger, plus any separate care costs.
- Refusal request. If LOT refuses, ask for the exact event, evidence and reasonable measures.
Short template wording
Evidence to attach to the LOT claim form
You do not always need every document, but the claim becomes much harder to dismiss when the core timeline is documented. Preserve original LOT messages because they often show whether the airline first blamed technical, operational, crew, weather, ATC or strike reasons.
| Evidence | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Booking confirmation and e-ticket | Shows route, PNR, ticket number and passenger names. |
| Boarding pass or check-in proof | Shows you were ready to travel and had a confirmed reservation. |
| LOT delay, cancellation or rerouting messages | Preserves the timeline and official wording. |
| Final arrival evidence | Needed for delay and missed-connection claims. |
| Replacement-flight details | Important for cancellation and rerouting reductions. |
| Receipts for meals, hotel or transport | Care expenses can be claimed separately from fixed compensation. |
| LOT refusal email | Gives the exact reason to challenge if the claim is rejected. |
| Passenger authorisations for a group claim | Useful when one person claims for other adult passengers. |
If you do not have a boarding pass, do not stop. Use booking confirmation, ticket number, check-in confirmation, LOT app screenshots or email history. For connections, attach the full itinerary and replacement-flight details so the final destination is clear.
Common LOT claim form mistakes
Many avoidable refusals start with an unclear submission. A claim that mixes refund, baggage, voucher and fixed compensation into one emotional message is easier to reject or redirect. Separate the legal tracks and make the compensation request precise.
| Mistake | Better approach |
|---|---|
| Asking only "am I eligible?" | State the claim amount and legal basis instead of inviting a generic answer. |
| Mixing refund and compensation | Ticket refund and EUR 250-600 compensation should be separate claim points. |
| Forgetting the final destination | Connections are assessed by final-arrival delay on one booking. |
| Accepting a voucher without reading it | Some voucher or goodwill wording can complicate later claims. |
| Ignoring the operating carrier | EU 261 claims normally go to the airline that operated the disrupted flight. |
| Accepting vague extraordinary-circumstances wording | Ask for the exact event, evidence and mitigation steps. |
Refund and compensation often travel together, but they are different. If you need money back for a cancelled ticket, use the LOT refund claim guide. If the suitcase was delayed or damaged, use LOT baggage compensation.
How to challenge a LOT refusal
If LOT refuses because of extraordinary circumstances, read the wording carefully. A valid refusal should do more than name a broad category. It should identify the exact event, show how it affected your flight and show what reasonable measures LOT took to avoid or reduce the disruption.
Vague technical, operational, rotation, safety, weather, ATC or strike wording may be worth challenging. Use the relevant guide if the refusal names a specific cause: technical fault or strike disruption.
- Quote the refusal. Use LOT's exact words, not your summary.
- Ask for the precise event. What happened, when, where and to which aircraft or crew?
- Ask for mitigation. Spare aircraft, rerouting, crew planning and recovery measures can matter.
- Restate the claim amount. Keep the EUR amount and final-arrival timeline visible.
- Escalate if needed. If the answer remains generic, the case may be suitable for ClaimWinger review or national enforcement routes.
Let ClaimWinger handle the LOT claim
You can file a LOT claim yourself, but the hard part often begins after the first refusal. ClaimWinger can review the route, timing, operating carrier, evidence and airline explanation, then challenge weak refusals where the claim appears enforceable.
Want us to check the LOT claim?
Send the flight details and LOT correspondence. ClaimWinger can assess eligibility and handle the compensation claim if the case is strong enough.
FAQ: LOT claim form and compensation
1. Can I claim compensation directly from LOT?
Yes. If LOT operated the disrupted flight, you can submit a written EU 261 claim to LOT with the route, flight number, disruption details, amount and evidence.
2. Which LOT form should I use for compensation?
For disruption after travel, LOT provides a claim-after-departure form. Refund requests and baggage complaints use separate LOT channels, so choose the form that matches the problem.
3. What should I write in a LOT compensation claim?
Give the passenger names, PNR, ticket number, flight number, date, route, final-arrival delay or cancellation details, legal basis under EU 261 and the exact EUR amount requested.
4. Can I use the LOT claim form without a boarding pass?
Possibly. A boarding pass is useful, but booking confirmation, ticket number, check-in proof, LOT messages or app screenshots can also support the case.
5. What if LOT refuses because of extraordinary circumstances?
Ask LOT to identify the exact event, how it affected your flight and what reasonable measures were taken. Generic technical, operational, weather or strike wording may be challengeable.
6. Is a LOT refund claim the same as a compensation claim?
No. A refund returns the ticket price. EU 261 compensation is a separate fixed amount of EUR 250, EUR 400 or EUR 600 when the disruption qualifies.
7. Can ClaimWinger file the LOT claim for me?
Yes. ClaimWinger can review eligibility, organise evidence, challenge LOT refusals and handle correspondence where the case appears enforceable.
Legal sources: LOT claim form after departure, LOT passenger rights in case of flight irregularities, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, and Your Europe air passenger rights.