Delayed flights are an annoyance for every passenger, especially when you have a fixed schedule to adhere to. With the cybersecurity software outage leading to canceled flights on numerous airlines, LOT Polish included, people can’t help but wonder what to do next. While delays are ultimately occasional with LOT Polish Airlines and rarely last more than 10 minutes, there are still chances for them to last more than that.
If you were one of the passengers unfortunate enough to reach the airport only to stare at a DELAYED or CANCELED sign on the board, don’t fret. If you get to your destination with a delay longer than 3 hours, you become eligible for a LOT Polish Airlines compensation claim.
Why Do Flights Get Delayed or Canceled?
Flights can get delayed for various reasons, the most common being unfavorable weather conditions. Things such as thunderstorms, snow, or fog can make departure difficult and lead to flight disruptions. Mechanical or technical issues can also prevent the flight from taking off or taking an emergency safety landing at an airport they originally were not supposed to.
For the most part, LOT Polish Airlines flights need to prepare for these circumstances to prevent them from happening. For instance, technical problems can often be avoided with regular maintenance, whereas weather challenges can be resolved using the right tool. Understanding why your flight has been canceled is very important to your case, as it can determine whether or not you are eligible for compensation.
Do All Delayed or Canceled Flights Get Compensated?
According to passenger rights EC 261/2004, all flights in the EU or by a European airline must adhere to the compensation regulations. If the delay was caused by a mishap on the airline’s part and led to the passengers reaching their destination with at least a 3-hour delay, they are eligible for LOT Airlines delay compensation. Moreover, if you are stuck waiting more than 2 hours at the airport, the law also says you are to receive food and drinks.
The only potential exceptions here are situations that are outside the airline’s control. For instance, taking off could put the passengers in danger if there is a security threat, extreme weather conditions such as very thick fog, or a strike in air traffic control personnel. These situations are referred to as “extreme circumstances,” and the airline is often not liable for delays caused by such problems.
One thing to keep in mind is that airlines are sneaky and might try to push the “extreme circumstances” excuse even if it wasn’t exactly the case. This is why you should still go for LOT Airlines claim compensation, and you might uncover that the “emergency” issue could have indeed been prevented.
How to File a LOT Polish Airlines Compensation Claim
If it’s your first time having a significant flight disruption with LOT Polish Airlines, then filing for compensation could seem like an intimidating task for you. In fact, the process is simple, especially if you choose the professional route and collaborate with a flight compensation company. Here are the steps that you’ll have to go through:
- Understand Your Rights
As someone who bought a ticket to fly from one destination to another, you are a “consumer of services.” This means you are entitled to a certain quality of services, with your rights outlined in EU Regulation EC 261/2004. If LOT Polish Airlines fails to deliver to your final destination within a timely manner and is late for more than 3 hours, you are entitled to up to 600 EUR in compensation. The final amount is determined by whether you are flying domestically or internationally.
- Gather Your Flight Documents
Your flight documents are essential to prove that you were supposed to be on the flight that got delayed or canceled. Make sure that you keep your boarding pass, your ticket, and potential receipts that you might have received from disruption-caused expenses. If you do not have your boarding pass anymore, worry not; all you need is the booking reference number. You can find that in the email containing your ticket. You may also need to upload proof of identity, so make sure you add your passport there as well.
- Gather as Much Proof as Possible
You have the documents, and now you need to gather all the necessary proof to show that the flight disruption actually happened. Nowadays, you can find all that data online, so check out the flight page if you weren’t there. However, if you are at the airport, then you might want to take pictures of the board or get written statements from the airline staff. Nowadays, you can even get away with a video recording of their flight delay explanation, but written documents are more official and viewed much better.
- Upload the Documents
Lastly, to start your case and get compensated for the LOT Polish Airlines cancelled flight, you need to upload the documents. Companies such as StopDelay can help you get your money on your behalf, not taking any fees and commissions unless you win. Keep in mind that you need to provide the documents within a specific deadline, usually within 3 years. Each country has its own statute of limitations, so you need to do your research to find out which is yours. For the most part, the earlier you provide the documents, the better.
The Bottom Line
Claiming for LOT Polish Airlines delays and cancellation compensation is not as difficult as you think. You simply need to be timely when you file the claim and offer all the supporting documents to prove your eligibility. Should the cause of the delay be the airline’s fault and you were made to wait a long time at the airport, there’s no reason why you should not be able to get compensated.
