LOT New York-Warsaw compensation: JFK, Newark and final arrival

Short answer: a LOT-operated flight between New York and Warsaw can fall under EU261 in both directions and normally sits in the EUR 600 long-haul band. The booking must identify whether the flight uses John F. Kennedy (JFK) or Newark Liberty (EWR). A change between those airports can affect transport costs, timing, DOT refund rights and the evidence needed for a compensation claim.

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Enter your route, date and type of disruption. We will check whether your case qualifies for a claim under EU 261/2004 or UK261.

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What happened to your flight?

Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.

Choose the situation that applies to your flight:

LOT currently markets nonstop New York-Warsaw travel from JFK and EWR. Other direct Poland routes and schedules can be seasonal. Use the airport codes and operator printed on the ticket for the disrupted date rather than assuming that every "New York" itinerary is identical.

Start with the exact airport and operator

Ticket situationWhat it changes
JFK-WAW operated by LOTinbound EU261 can apply because LOT is an EU carrier
EWR-WAW operated by LOTsame EU261 direction rule, but Newark evidence and ground transport differ
WAW-JFK or WAW-EWR operated by LOTcovered as an EU departure
LO marketing code, partner operates transatlantic sectoroperator may change inbound EU261 coverage and respondent
LOT moves departure from JFK to EWRpreserve notice, new timing and reasonable transfer costs
New York-Warsaw-Europe on one ticketfinal destination can control delay and distance

The airline shown on the aircraft and "operated by" line matters more than the ticket stock. A codeshare partner does not become LOT merely because the itinerary displays an LO number.

EUR 600 and the long-haul delay test

JFK-WAW and EWR-WAW exceed 3,500 km and connect a non-EU airport with the EU. EUR 600 is therefore the headline EU261 amount where all conditions are met.

For delay-based fixed compensation, the endpoint generally needs to be reached three hours or more after schedule. The legal arrival time is not runway touchdown; Court of Justice case law ties it to the first aircraft door opening that allows passengers to leave. Preserve airline and airport evidence for a borderline case.

If LOT reroutes the passenger and the final long-haul arrival is no more than four hours after the original schedule, Article 7(2) can permit a 50 percent reduction to EUR 300. The reduction must be linked to rerouting and the statutory arrival window.

Example: LOT operates JFK-WAW. A crew-planning issue causes arrival six hours late. The route and delay support EUR 600 per eligible passenger if LOT cannot establish an extraordinary-circumstances defence.

Example: LOT cancels EWR-WAW at short notice and reroutes a passenger to arrive at WAW three hours 20 minutes late. The underlying cancellation may qualify, but the lawful 50 percent reduction must be tested against the actual replacement itinerary.

For the general calculation, read LOT EUR 600 compensation.

Cancellation notice and replacement travel

Fixed cancellation compensation is separate from the right to travel or receive money back. Notice at least 14 days before departure normally removes the fixed payment. With shorter notice, check the replacement departure and arrival windows, the cause and LOT's proof.

The passenger normally chooses among reimbursement, earliest rerouting and later-date travel, subject to conditions. Do not accept a refund if you still expect LOT to provide replacement transportation. A voucher is voluntary and should be evaluated for expiry, transferability and settlement wording.

On a busy transatlantic market, reasonable alternatives may use a different LOT service, a Star Alliance partner or a European connection. Alliance membership itself does not guarantee inventory, but screenshots of bookable seats can support a request for an earlier route. See the LOT Star Alliance rerouting guide.

JFK versus EWR: airport changes matter

JFK and EWR serve the same metropolitan region but are separate airports with different access routes. If LOT reroutes a passenger to an alternative airport serving the same city or region, EU261 Article 8(3) places the transfer cost from the alternative airport to the booked airport, or another nearby agreed destination, on the operating carrier.

Record the exact agreement. A taxi across the region may be reasonable when public transport is unavailable, but the passenger should ask LOT first and retain the airline's response, itinerary and itemised receipt.

US DOT also treats a change to a different origin or destination airport as a significant itinerary change. If the trip is to, from or within the United States and the passenger rejects the changed journey, an automatic refund can be due. DOT refund rights do not create a second ticket after the passenger accepts the change and travels.

Example: LOT changes a cancelled JFK departure to EWR the next day. A passenger who accepts can still assess EU261 cancellation compensation, delay and reasonable transfer costs. A passenger who rejects the materially changed trip can assess the DOT refund route instead.

The LOT EU261 versus US DOT guide separates fixed compensation from the ticket-price refund.

Warsaw connections and final destination

If New York-Warsaw and the onward LOT flight appear on one reservation, use the final destination for the delay test. A two-hour late arrival at WAW can create a much larger delay if the passenger misses the protected connection.

Example: EWR-WAW-RZE is one booking. EWR-WAW arrives two hours late, the Rzeszow connection is missed, and the passenger reaches RZE nine hours late. Rzeszow is the final destination for the delay analysis, and the total journey can remain in the long-haul band.

Example: JFK-WAW was purchased separately from WAW-VNO. Missing the Lithuanian flight does not automatically make Vilnius the final destination of the LOT ticket. Preserve both bookings and check insurance, package or self-transfer protection.

The LOT missed-connection guide explains this distinction.

Codeshare feeders in the United States

A passenger may begin in Boston, Washington, Atlanta or another city on a partner flight, then connect at JFK or EWR to LOT. Save each boarding pass and identify which sector caused the failure.

If a US partner feeder is delayed, the fact that LOT issued or marketed the ticket does not automatically make LOT the operating carrier of that event. If the LOT transatlantic sector itself is delayed or cancelled, LOT is the clearer respondent. One-ticket final-destination rules and the route scope still require a sector-by-sector legal analysis.

Do not let an agent remove the original itinerary from the record after rebooking. Download the e-ticket receipt and take screenshots before accepting changes.

Care during an overnight New York disruption

EU261 care can apply to a covered LOT-operated flight while passengers reasonably wait. It includes meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait, communication, hotel accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary, and airport-hotel transport.

The duty is separate from EUR 600 and can continue even when weather or air traffic control constitutes an extraordinary circumstance. If LOT or its ground handler provides nothing, ask first, buy a reasonable substitute and keep itemised proof.

Expenses should match the problem. A practical airport hotel, normal meal and required transfer are easier to recover than luxury accommodation, alcohol or unrelated purchases. Explain why each cost was necessary and whether the airline desk or communication channel failed.

New York claim file

Collect:

  1. the original PNR and e-ticket showing JFK or EWR;
  2. the operating-carrier line for every sector;
  3. cancellation or delay notices with timestamps;
  4. original and replacement itineraries;
  5. final aircraft-door opening or reliable arrival evidence;
  6. airport-change instructions and transfer correspondence;
  7. alternative-flight screenshots captured during disruption;
  8. itemised meals, hotel and ground-transport receipts;
  9. the LOT claim confirmation and any refusal.

Present fixed compensation, ticket refund and expenses as separate numbered requests. If LOT cites a vague cause, ask for the event affecting the exact flight, when it occurred, its causal link and the reasonable measures taken.

The adopted July 2026 EU reform is not yet applicable on 11 August 2026. Its future complaint process should not be treated as current law or confused with DOT refund timing.

FAQ

Are both JFK-Warsaw and Newark-Warsaw covered by EU261?

Yes, when LOT operates the flight and the remaining conditions are met. LOT is an EU carrier, so inbound flights to the EU can be covered.

Is the compensation EUR 600 from New York?

EUR 600 is the headline long-haul amount because both routes exceed 3,500 km. Delay, notice, cause, operator and rerouting still need checking.

Does LOT have to pay transport if it changes JFK to EWR?

EU261 can require the transfer cost between an alternative airport serving the same city or region and the booked airport, or another nearby agreed point. Ask LOT and keep receipts.

What if a United feeder makes me miss the LOT flight?

Preserve the one-ticket itinerary and identify the operator of the failed feeder. LOT is not automatically responsible merely because an LO code or LOT ticket appears.

Can I take a DOT refund and still travel on the replacement flight?

Normally no. The DOT automatic refund is for a passenger who rejects alternative travel or credit. EU261 compensation can still be assessed after accepted rerouting.

Official sources