Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines?

pip, I'm confused at your story. Why in Toronto did your "Polish driver drop you off" at the counter instead of outside the airport. I've never been to an airport where that would happen. You go inside, you line up to the counter of your airline just like everyone else in line with everyone else, get your paperwork in order, then go through security, then to the gate to board. Yes, there is a line at the counter to get your paperwork in order. No matter what airline you fly. Or what airport you fly from.

So what exactly makes you choose LOT over other airlines, time and time again for 14 years now? Kind of hard to tell from your story.

My main complaint about LOT is the price. Simple as that, just doesn't make sense for me

sorry- not clear. I didn't live in Toronto. There used to be a Polish driver from my city to the airport, for Poles living in my city to get to Toronto. It used to drop people off at the terminal and the counter was right next to the airport entrance- this was in the old Pearson airport before all the renovations took place. It is not the same anymore.

I don't fly Lot transcontinental anymore. I only fly Lot within Europe because there is not a lot of choice otherwise and it has never been as bad as flying transcontinental. I will fly Air Canada, British airways, Luftansa or KLM- I will never fly any American airlines- I never have.

No, 'youknowwho' (and btw, we do know). I suspect you've never waited at the Wizzair gate at Gdansk for a flight to Warsaw or you wouldn't come out with such nonsense.


Thousands of others have. When I fly, one leg of my journey is usually from Poland, the other legs between different places. The difference is obvious.


And coaches too.

pip, OK, I understand now at least part of what you are saying. But, irregardless, you were complaining because there was a line at the counter. This happens in every airport of the world for every airline and destination with every nationality. It's called a line. Or, some people like to call it a queu. That's what you are supposed to do. Line up at the counter of your flight to do your paperwork, then you go through security, then go to your gate. So, I'm not not understanding what mess you are complaining about.

Pip, it's rather weird that you're complaining that there was a queque, it's rather... normal? On every airport in the world.
In my experience, LOT is ok, food isn't very tasty but stewards are nice, airplanes are rather comfortable if airplane can me comfortable.

no I am not complaining about a line up- I have flown enough times that I know what the process is. What I am complaining about is the complete and utter cluster fu*k that is the line up whenever I have taken a transcontinental Lot flight. However, this is much to be expected considering the majority are Poland B. If you have ever taken any of these flights you will know exactly what I am talking about. I don't need to defend my opinion because anybody who has ever taken the Lot flight from Warsaw to Toronto knows exactly what I am talking about.

They are getting slowly better but far from great.

One thing that does **** me off about Lot is that they never seem to depart or arrive at proper bays. Always on the bus across the tarmac which is cold and tiring either early morning or late evening. I did 10 LOT flights last month and only 2 were in proper landing walkways.

Apparently that is due to the expansion work at Warsaw airport.

Well, that and LOT being too cheap to use the more expensive slots which do exist.

pip, I've never flown that particular connection, so I don't know. But I would assume you are meaning the line is a total wreck and not organized or something. I could understand being frustrated in such a case.

I think this is unlikely the case these days. They have reduced their baggage allowance recently. I remember once cramming 22kg into a case, plus hand baggage which was probably about 8kg, and I got away with it. No chance now - you can only take 6kg as hand baggage now and, iirc, 14kg checked. Time to buy a super-light new case I think ;)


It will be the latter. The new terminal's been open for years, yet the situation is no better than in was in the "old terminal" days - on flights from the UK, anyway.

Perhaps they have too many oversized passengers on their transatlantic flights, so they save the airbridges for them - as only Brits and real Poles can fit on the buses :D

I'll be flying with them four times next week, so I'll act as PF's roving reporter and will report back, lol

In 80's it was polpular to say:
"Fly or not, but never LOT"

Contd...
Ewa sticks her hand out,Pulls it back right in and yells"Nope we are in Poland..someone just grabbed my hand and stole my dimond ring"

Yeah, but that was 23+ years ago. Things have changed since then. You know, like ETOPS 180 and stuff. And no more "LOT Cafe" meals, just a bloody cold baguette. And they don't give us hand wipes any more, either. I blame the EUSSR. lol

I'm thinking of starting a web site called i-hate-lot.com.

I just found out (from my sister, not LOT, heaven forbid) that one of the flights on which I was booked to fly in July was suddenly canceled, so I called them. Unlike every other civilized airline, LOT does not maintain a toll-free number, but instead forces you to call a number in New York (unless you have tons of international mobile minutes and want to call Warsaw). The flight in question was a 215pm flight from Gdańsk to Warsaw, which apparently is no more. My sister, who was deemed worthy of notification by LOT, got her schedule changed to fly out at 830am that day. She is traveling with two small children, and so it is very important for me to be on the same flight as her in order to assist her.

So after three calls and almost an hour on the phone, I succeeded in putting myself on a WAIT LIST for the 8.30am flight, but not before hearing the following, altering versions of reality:

1. All the flights are booked, we will refund you the GDN-WAW portion
2. There is a seat on the 1230pm flight
3. There are several seats on the 1230pm flight (though we can’t tell how many)
4. There is a seat on the 830am flight.

All the while I was treated to extended computerized renditions of Eine Kleine Nacht Musik (which for some reason made me think of Hitler triumphantly driving into Vienna) and some other piece of classical music I can’t name. Eventually, the musical entertainment became an infinite loop and I had to hang up and call back.

And I still have to call back TOMORROW to find out if the wait list operation for the 8.30am flight succeeded!

My sister tells me that LOT has a monopoly on transatlantic flights to/from Poland. If true, this certainly explains... well, a LOT.

LOT Polish Airlines received the modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner

'LOT Polish Airlines is the first European airline to receive the modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner is a true breakthrough. The modern construction - with new engines, light composite materials, aerodynamic elements, reduced noise and much more pleasant onboard atmosphere, will allow for a significant improvement of the flight comfort for passengers and will provide airlines with an airplane truly ready for the 21st century.'

Nice. How quickly the conversation degrades to using ethnic slurs. Reminds me of a situation where I'm looking at a bunch of angry people waiting at a terminal, not sure why this happens.

Solution: don't fly Lot, you have a choice, fly first class, another choice. Swiss, very nice, but not cheap. Can't afford it, don't complain and get on the bus with the rest of us peasants.

In my opinion, PLL LOT exist mainly due to the fact that most Poles don't speak English or are afraid to miss something, so they feel more at ease knowing that there will be someone with them they can ask for help. Another reason is that a lot of Poles don't realize there are other options available. Many of them have never flown or do so seldom and don't seek out information or don't have internet access to find other options.

I haven't flown LOT for 10 years, but was forced when my Mother was very ill and I had to get to Poland ASAP. Yes, delays were enormous and I nearly missed my connecting flight to Wroclaw. This trip has reassured me why I haven't flown with them for 10 years.

Most airlines periodically modernize their aircraft when they go for D-Checks and such. They put in brand new upholstery, individual entertainment systems, new paint scheme, etc. Unfortunately, not the case on LOT.

Flight attendants and gate agents do not want to be there, you can feel it. They lie to you and have a very condescending attitude towards their customers. Of course there are exceptions, but in general that is the feeling.

Pilots are some of the least professional. Yes, I am a pilot and I know the difference. Watch some Youtube videos and compare cockpit manners between different airlines and their crews. It feels like there is a lot happening there by chance and feel as opposed to checklists and knowledge. The concept of sterile cockpit below 10,000 feet has not yet been implemented there or they simply opt not to adhere to it. Landings are some of the hardest ones I've experienced. A fellow pilot has informed that only pilots who are family or close friends of the captains will ever be able to fly for LOT, which of course doesn't permit for best to be selected.

This is on a side note, however, when I go through security in Poland (any city really), I feel like I am treated as a terrorist. Poland is one of few countries left whose military is responsible for airport security. Many wear camouflage uniforms, why? We're not on a battlefield!

LOT livery has a lot to desire. It's outdated and it looks completely communistic. It's sad that a country which pride itself on its anti-communist history has maintained that livery. Eurolot on the other hand is an example of a modernized livery... not sure if they are a subcontractor or part of LOT. In any case, LOT should take notice.

I am a Pole and must say that for the last decade, I have been very vocal about this and I hope the LOT administrators take notice. I want them to succeed, but they need to realize they hit rock bottom. They a need to start from scratch. I don't like to hear these sob stories that we need to give them a chance because for years they had to difficult. Poles wanted democracy and one of the attributes is the free market and competition. If major changes don't take place soon, most young people in Poland will chose other airlines.

In the meantime, I will continue to fly United/Lufthansa via Germany as I've never had any issue nor complaints.

PoleInVegas, I don't even know whre to start to respond that's how wrong you are. Poles don't speak English? Poles don't have acess to internet and don't know what the options are??? Get the hell out of you hole! Internet in Poland cost around 5-10 Usd/p month, and I assure you that 99 % of Poles have access to it and know how to use it. Most intercontinental flights are via European hub, so in fact even if you don't speak English (as some of the senior travelers) you actually don't need to, as there usually will be someone in the interchange airport that will accompany you to your gate to catch connecting flight. Most of flights now are code share, i'm surprised that pilot does not know that. Aircrafts HAVE TO meat ar least European standards to be able to fly, again - a pilot does know that? Poland is a border of Shengen zone, that explain presence of army I guess? Anyway, these are Shengen, not Polish security rules. Jeeeez, I'm a very moderatw person, but you got my adrenaline going!

By the way - I do not like LOT. Extremely patronising attitude and crap service, that I agree. But your reasoning is very very far from the truth. The thing is that is a national airline, and as such it will exist, because it's subsidised. Same as in other countries with crappy airlines...

Hahahaha. I think you gave the game away with that one paragraph - if you were a pilot, you'd know that they are held to exactly the same standards as the rest of European pilots.


Sorry, troll, but the military hasn't been in charge of airport security for countless years, if ever. You're referring to the civilian (not even paramilitary) Straz Graniczna.


You are Polonia, not a Pole. And therefore, you're just like the rest of them - condescending and arrogant.

Youve never known Poles to be pushy at airports? You have cues in Poznan yes and Polish people cue in them?

Here, yeah... I saw much worse on internal UK flights, especially Easyjet back in the day.

Poles are remarkably funny for queuing up early in airports though, the last flight I took had a massive line about an hour before departure. I sat around, drank coffee and did nothing until almost everyone had gone past the gate, got on the flight last and took my seats in the (paid-for, but I didn't pay) exit rows :)

You always have been a bit biased though Delph, good that youre sticking to your guns i suppose.

Honestly, while you see the behaviour you talk about in other places (trains, especially trains), I've never had any bother in airports.

Now - if you talk about the behaviour of Polish people on board planes...

me neither since I just book the seat and saunter past the cruel-eyed Poles to the front of the queue ... with my own happy-eyed Pole who says that Priorytet is the most important part of the booking ... and he is right, totally right.

Love is ... agreeing it is worth the 10 quid to walk past everyone else ; )

so your love is based on feeling better than other people? and paying money for this? you are sick.

sa11y
It appears that you purposely or accidently misread my post. I said "most" people don't speak English. That is true. It would appear to me that you are young and feel everybody around you speaks English. You are undoubtedly from a city, most likely a large city, where study of English is not only available, but is expected. Remember, not everybody has access to that. Folks from small towns have other things to worry about than learning English. You may or may not know that for decades it was Russian, not English, German or French that was a required second language, so most people above age 35 in Poland can easily communicate in Russian, but not so much in English. Some of course do, because they wanted and chose to continue the education afterwards in order to better themselves. As far as younger people, they have options. English is only one of those options. So, in conclusion, most don't speak English proficiently or at a level comfortable for them and will chose options where their first language is widely available.

Internet - I didn't say it's not available, of course it is. And it's become even more affordable for more with every passing month, that's great. Nevertheless, many still call the airline or the agent as opposed to seeking out an online agent who can potentially save them a lot of money on other airlines. I've done this for my friend from within the States and it works just fine. It took me days to reassure them that everything is going to be fine and the itinerary is just as good as the paper ticket they are familiar with. Their nerves only went down after actually getting here.

Of course there are people that are willing to help. Though I hope you would pretend not to speak or understand any language and see their reaction, then let me know how it went. If you are good looking, try it with a female only :)

Code-sharing doesn't have much to do with how pilots are trained, but even if it was, I urge you to compare the level of professionalism between different airlines. You can easily find cockpit recordings on many airlines. You don't have to be in an industry to understand that. Read up on a term - 'sterile cockpit.' It's not about being able to just fly, it's about as safe of a pilot as possible. For example, should capt. Wrona fly over the atlantic with a malfunctioning hydraulic system? Listen to both sides of the story.

Yes, the border patrol or the army doesn't have much to do with the actual airline, but they should do a better job of making a flying customer feel more welcome. As others do within the Shengen borders.

Don't blow a blood vessel getting your adrenaline pumped or name-call. When civilized people have a discussion, they will likely disagree on some things. A civilized discussion is healthy, but you will many people that have a different opinion from yours.

Hahahaha. You really are trolling hard now!

Most people above age 35 in Poland cannot speak Russian. They might be able to communicate with Russian speakers, but that's about it.


I think you really are living in cloud cuckoo land. LOT gets business because they fly convenient routes at convenient times, not because the customers don't actually know any better.

Do try harder next time when trolling.

delphiandomine
Yes, most pilots are held to similar standards on check rides and thus they can obtain certificates. To are failing to mention that not all airlines have same operating policies and that you cannot control pilots how they behave in the airplane when no one is watching. So your assertion is incorrect.

First of all, you are a pure definition of a troll. Someone who name-calls and is uninformed and makes fun of someone is a troll. If you are correct by saying the military hasn't been in charge for many years, then my mistake. That is not to say that current personnel wearing their paramilitary gear is not trying to make the appearance of superiority and intimidation as military would.

I am a Pole and those in Polonia who haven't surrendered their polish citizenship are also Poles. But of course you wouldn't know that. Because if you did that would make you condescending and arrogant.