EU 261 and UK 261
Polish Airlines Delay Compensation - Your Rights as a UK or US Passenger
If your LOT, Wizz Air, Ryanair or Poland-related flight was delayed or cancelled, your right to compensation depends on the route, operating carrier and departure airport - not on your nationality.
A ClaimWinger guide for English-speaking passengers flying to, from or through Poland.
Polish airlines and Poland routes: quick overview
Many English-speaking passengers fly to Poland regularly: Polish families living in the UK, business travellers between Warsaw and London, tourists using Krakow and Gdansk, and US passengers taking LOT long-haul routes to Warsaw. If something goes wrong, EU 261 or UK 261 may give you a fixed compensation claim of GBP 220-520 or EUR 250-600 per passenger.
These rights are not reserved for Polish citizens. A UK resident, US passenger, Canadian passenger or any other traveller can claim if the flight is covered by the regulation and the disruption qualifies.
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT is Poland's national carrier and an EU airline. It operates from Warsaw Chopin Airport and other Polish airports, with routes to the UK, the United States, Canada and major European hubs. Because LOT is an EU carrier, EU 261 can also matter on some flights arriving in the EU from outside Europe.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air is a major low-cost carrier on Poland-UK and Poland-Europe routes. The relevant regulation depends on the route and operating entity: UK departures are usually assessed under UK 261, while departures from Poland are normally assessed under EU 261.
Ryanair
Ryanair operates many routes between Poland, the UK and Ireland, including Krakow, Warsaw Modlin, Wroclaw, Katowice and Gdansk. Ryanair is not a Polish airline, but Poland routes are often covered because the flight departs from an EU or UK airport.
Enter Air and Polish charter flights
Enter Air and other charter operations can also fall under EU 261 or UK 261. The fact that a flight was part of a holiday package does not automatically remove passenger rights. The route, disruption and operating carrier still need to be checked.
Which regulation applies: UK 261 or EU 261?
The practical starting point is the departure airport. A flight departing from the UK is usually covered by UK 261. A flight departing from Poland or another EU country is usually covered by EU 261. Flights arriving in the EU or UK from outside those territories can also be covered when operated by an EU or UK airline.
| Route | Operator | Likely regulation | Compensation currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| London to Warsaw | LOT | UK 261 | GBP |
| Warsaw to London | LOT | EU 261 | EUR |
| Manchester to Krakow | Ryanair | UK 261 | GBP |
| Krakow to Manchester | Ryanair | EU 261 | EUR |
| Edinburgh to Gdansk | Ryanair | UK 261 | GBP |
| Warsaw to New York | LOT | EU 261 | EUR |
| New York to Warsaw | LOT | EU airline arriving in the EU - EU 261 | EUR |
Why this matters
Compensation amounts for common Polish routes
Compensation is based mainly on distance and arrival delay at the final destination. The ticket price does not control the amount. A passenger on a low-cost ticket can have the same compensation right as a passenger on a more expensive fare, if the legal conditions are met.
Short-haul routes: up to 1,500 km
These routes usually fall into the lowest compensation band: EUR 250 under EU 261 or GBP 220 under UK 261.
| Route | Approximate distance | Typical compensation band |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw - Berlin | about 520 km | EUR 250 / GBP 220 if covered by UK 261 |
| Warsaw - Vienna | about 555 km | EUR 250 / GBP 220 |
| Krakow - Frankfurt | about 880 km | EUR 250 / GBP 220 |
| Gdansk - Copenhagen | about 350 km | EUR 250 / GBP 220 |
| Warsaw - Stockholm | about 810 km | EUR 250 / GBP 220 |
Medium-haul routes: 1,500-3,500 km
Some UK-Poland routes sit close to the 1,500 km threshold, so exact airport pairs matter. Do not assume all London-Poland routes are medium-haul.
| Route | Approximate distance | Typical compensation band |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw - London Heathrow | about 1,470 km | usually EUR 250 or GBP 220 |
| Krakow - London Stansted | about 1,455 km | usually EUR 250 or GBP 220 |
| Gdansk - Manchester | about 1,250 km | usually EUR 250 or GBP 220 |
| Edinburgh - Krakow | about 1,800 km | EUR 400 or GBP 350 |
| Warsaw - Madrid | about 2,300 km | EUR 400 or GBP 350 |
| Warsaw - Athens | about 1,600 km | EUR 400 or GBP 350 |
| Warsaw - Lisbon | about 2,850 km | EUR 400 or GBP 350 |
Long-haul LOT routes: over 3,500 km
Long-haul LOT routes from Warsaw to the United States and other non-EU destinations can reach EUR 600 per passenger when EU 261 applies.
| Route | Approximate distance | Typical compensation band |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw - New York JFK | about 6,850 km | EUR 600 |
| Warsaw - Chicago | about 7,250 km | EUR 600 |
| Warsaw - Los Angeles | about 9,650 km | EUR 600 |
| Warsaw - Miami | about 8,200 km | EUR 600 |
| Warsaw - Tokyo | about 8,580 km | EUR 600 |
Check your route before you claim
Use the calculator to estimate the route distance and compensation band before sending the case.
Common issues with Polish airlines and Poland routes
Technical delays with LOT
Passengers sometimes receive refusal messages saying the flight was delayed because of a technical or maintenance issue. In EU 261 case law, ordinary technical problems are usually treated as inherent in airline operations, not as extraordinary circumstances. A technical label alone is not enough.
The airline may still have a defence in unusual cases, for example a hidden manufacturing defect or damage caused by an external event. But the airline must explain the facts. A generic "technical reasons" denial is worth challenging.
Operational problems on low-cost routes
Poland-UK low-cost routes can be affected by aircraft rotation, crew scheduling and late inbound aircraft. Some of these problems are operational risks for the airline and may not excuse compensation. The key question is what caused the original disruption and whether it was outside the airline's control.
Weather and air traffic control
Severe weather, airport restrictions and air traffic control decisions can be extraordinary circumstances. But the airline still needs to connect the event with your specific flight. "Bad weather somewhere in Europe" is not a complete explanation by itself.
Voucher or credit instead of money
If the airline offers a voucher or account credit after a cancellation, remember that cash rights and voucher rights are different. A voucher can be acceptable if you choose it, but it should not replace money without informed consent. See our voucher refund guide for the cash-demand procedure.
Denied because of technical, weather or operational reasons?
Send us the airline response. We will check whether the reason looks legally strong or just convenient.
Special scenarios for Polish diaspora and international passengers
Polish diaspora in the UK
Christmas, Easter and summer routes between the UK and Poland are often high-pressure periods. If your family trip was disrupted, keep booking confirmations and airline messages. For UK departures you may have a long limitation period, but for return legs from Poland you should act much faster.
Connecting flights through Warsaw or European hubs
If your itinerary is on one booking, compensation is usually assessed against the delay at the final destination and the distance of the full journey. For example, a Manchester-Warsaw-Tokyo journey on one PNR is not the same legal situation as two separate tickets bought independently.
Separate bookings are riskier. If the first independent flight is late and you miss the second ticket, the second airline usually does not have to wait, reroute or compensate you for the missed connection.
US passengers flying LOT
US passengers can still be covered by EU 261 on LOT routes. A flight from Warsaw to the US departs from the EU. A flight from the US to Warsaw may also be covered because LOT is an EU airline arriving in the EU. For eligible long-haul disruption, the compensation band can reach EUR 600 per passenger.
How to claim compensation step by step
- Check coverage. Confirm whether the flight departed from the UK, Poland or another EU airport, or whether an EU or UK airline operated the arrival flight.
- Check the disruption. For delays, look at arrival time at the final destination. For cancellations, check how much notice the airline gave and what alternative transport was offered.
- Gather documents. Save the booking confirmation, PNR, boarding pass if you have it, airline emails or SMS messages, and receipts for hotel, meals or transport.
- Submit the claim. You can use the airline portal, send a written demand, or ask ClaimWinger to handle the communication and legal argument.
- Escalate if refused. Depending on the route, escalation can involve ADR, the UK CAA, a national aviation authority, consumer bodies or court proceedings.
Time limits: critical for Polish departures
The time limit is one of the biggest traps in Poland-route cases. A UK departure can often be pursued for much longer than a Poland departure. For Polish departures, the limitation period is short, so do not wait until the next holiday season to start the claim.
| Departure or jurisdiction | Typical limitation period |
|---|---|
| UK departure | 6 years in England and Wales |
| Poland departure | 1 year under Polish Civil Code Article 778 |
| Germany departure | usually 3 years |
| France departure | usually 5 years |
| Other EU departure | varies by national law |
Poland departure warning
Polish departure? Do not wait
The Polish time limit can be much shorter than passengers expect. Send the case now so the deadline can be checked.
How ClaimWinger helps Polish airline passengers
ClaimWinger is a Polish company working with international passengers. That matters in Poland-route claims: airline correspondence may be in Polish, Polish limitation rules can be strict, and cases involving LOT or Polish departures often require local procedural knowledge.
- English and Polish communication with passengers and airlines,
- EU 261 and UK 261 eligibility checks,
- Polish-route deadline analysis,
- formal claim letters and escalation where appropriate,
- no win, no fee pricing.
We charge a commission only after successful recovery. You can read the full pricing details or learn how the ClaimWinger process works.
Bilingual support for Poland-route claims
Submit your case in English. We can handle the Polish airline correspondence.
FAQ: Polish airlines delay compensation
1. Can I claim compensation as a non-Polish passenger flying LOT?
Yes. EU 261 and UK 261 rights depend on the flight route and operating carrier, not your nationality. A UK, US or any other passenger can claim compensation for an eligible LOT flight.
2. My Ryanair flight from Poland to the UK was cancelled. Which regulation applies?
EU 261 applies because the flight departed from an EU airport. The claim is usually assessed in euros, and the short Polish limitation period may apply, so you should act quickly.
3. LOT denied my claim because of technical issues. Can I challenge this?
Often yes. Ordinary aircraft technical issues are generally treated as part of airline operations, not extraordinary circumstances. The airline would need to prove a genuinely exceptional external cause.
4. How do I claim compensation if my booking is in Polish?
You do not need to speak Polish. ClaimWinger can communicate with the airline in Polish while keeping you updated in English.
5. What about Polish charter flights such as Enter Air?
Charter flights can be covered by EU 261 or UK 261 in the same way as scheduled flights, depending on the route, operating carrier and disruption details.
6. I am flying LOT from JFK to Warsaw. What regulation applies?
EU 261 can apply because LOT is an EU airline arriving in the EU. For eligible long-haul disruptions, compensation can reach EUR 600 per passenger.
7. Can ClaimWinger handle my claim from outside Poland?
Yes. ClaimWinger handles claims for passengers worldwide. The process is digital, and communication can be handled in English or another supported language.
Legal sources: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance, and Polish Civil Code limitation rules for transport claims.