After every long-haul flight, writing a review has become a bit of a tradition for me. It had been about ten years since I last flew with a European airline, and honestly, I had never even heard of LOT, the Polish national airline, before this trip.
LOT Polish Airlines is Poland’s flag carrier and part of the same Star Alliance network as ANA. That, for me, is not just a quality guarantee—it also meant I could collect miles with my usual program.
As usual, I chose this airline for the price—it was the best value available (just slightly more than Air China), and the schedule worked well for me. I had a night departure from Tokyo and arrived in Milan in the morning. The return flight left Milan in the late afternoon and arrived in Tokyo in the evening, giving me time to get home, shower, and jump straight into bed to fight off jet lag.
I flew in Economy Class and, as always, cross-checked Sky Scanner and Google Flights before booking through a third-party website. This time I used Go To Gate, which sent me my booking code right away so I could manage the reservation directly on LOT’s website.
In-flight experience with LOT Polish Airlines
My first impression wasn’t great: the seats felt narrow and quite thin, noticeably less spacious than those on other Asian airlines like China Eastern. The seatback pocket was also very small—even fitting my water bottle was a challenge. On the plus side, I appreciated the adjustable headrests (with bendable wings, which I love!) and the footrest, which I found pretty useful, especially if you tuck your bag underneath to create a foot lift.
Entertainment-wise, no issues with the screen, headphones, or USB port. There was a wide selection of movies,but no onboard Wi-Fi, not even for a fee.
Surprisingly, the food was very good. On the long-haul leg, we got two meals on the long haul and a delicious snack on the short one.
That said, the cabin crew was not particularly attentive or discreet. I was woken up several times by loud conversations in the aisle and even got bumped into a few times—despite staying entirely within my seat space. Many passengers stretched their legs into the aisle, but even still, the lack of spatial awareness was frustrating.
Honestly, it had been a long time since I’d been on a flight with so many restless passengers—constantly getting up and, worse, pushing against the seats as they walked by! It’s so annoying… please don’t lean on other people’s seats when walking down the aisle, and even less so, don’t grab the seat in front of you when you’re trying to stand up!
Nonetheless, the bathrooms remained clean for the whole flight, stocked with toilet paper and seat covers, and equipped with hand cream and air freshener.
Crew, food and amenities
While not the most courteous crew I’ve encountered (far from the level of Cathay Pacific, for example), they were efficient. Our return flight had only a 55-minute layover in Warsaw, and our Milan departure was already 30 minutes late. From the beginning, they informed us they were coordinating with the Warsaw ground staff, and they kept us updated about our connection throughout the flight.
As we landed, they announced that all connecting flights would wait. Once off the plane, we were directed through immigration and escorted by staff holding signs for our flight. We made it onboard just in time—the last to board!
Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meals. Special meals for dietary or religious needs are available if booked in advance. We didn’t have any specific needs and opted for the regular meal. The first meal was served about two hours after takeoff with two choices, and a second meal before landing with no option (unless you pre-booked a special meal). I really enjoyed the salmon slice and prosciutto, as well as the fruit. The dessert, however, was a letdown.
On the short Warsaw-Milan flight, they served drink and a delightful little Polish snack, available in both sweet and savory versions—both equally delicious.
In addition to the two main meals, there is a paid “Sky Bar” and at the back of the plane, a free area with snacks and drinks, although I didn’t check it out as I was trying to sleep. They did bring me water whenever I asked, though.
There were no amenity kits provided—just a blanket, pillow, and headphones. However, it seems you can request masks, slippers, and toothbrush kits, though some items might incur a charge.
Check-in & Baggage Policy
Online check-in opens 36 hours before departure, and you can select your seat for free among available options.
The base fare includes two checked bags (23kg each), tagged for direct international transfer, plus a carry-on (up to 8kg) and one personal item to stow under the seat in front of you.
Upon arriving in Narita, we discovered one of our bags had lost its side handle. The airport desk told us they wouldn’t provide reimbursement and suggested contacting our insurance, if applicable. I insisted on getting a damage report, and once home, I checked and found that LOT actually does accept claims. I filed a complaint, and two weeks later, they replied asking me to take the suitcase for repairs and send the invoice for reimbursement. If it couldn’t be repaired, they offered to issue a voucher for the bag’s value.
I would rate my experience with LOT Polish Airlines at around 6.5 to 7 out of 10. Comfort and crew courtesy are major factors for me, and both were fairly average here. Unless I find a really great deal, I don’t think I’d choose LOT again—but I wouldn’t rule them out entirely either.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve flown with LOT before and what your experience was like!
Read also about other airlines:
-Flying with China Eastern (2018 & 2024)
-Flying with Etihad (2021)
-Flying with Chatay Pacific (2016)
Did you find this article useful? Buy me a coffee 🙂
