We PAID EXTRA for Premium Economy... and This Happened 😅🚨 LOT Airlines Honest Review
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LOT Polish Airlines Premium Economy Review: My Honest Experience From Warsaw to LA
So I recently flew LOT Polish Airlines Premium Economy from Warsaw back to Los Angeles, and honestly? It was a completely different experience from our outbound flight on the Dreamliner. I'm talking broken seats, dirty cabin, chaotic boarding... the whole nine yards. If you're considering booking Premium Economy with LOT (especially on their older aircraft), you'll want to read this first.
The Broken Seat Situation That Ruined the Flight
From the moment we stepped onto the plane in Warsaw, things felt off. Tony's seat in Premium Economy (you know, the one we specifically paid extra for) wouldn't recline at all. He kept trying to adjust it, thinking maybe he was doing something wrong, but nope... it was just completely broken. For a 12-hour flight. Can you imagine sitting completely upright for 12 hours straight? I offered him my working window seat and he decided to just stick it out. Looking back, that was probably a mistake because watching him try to get comfortable for that entire flight was honestly heartbreaking.
Chaotic Boarding and Overwhelmed Flight Attendants
When we tried getting help from the flight attendants about the broken seat, they seemed totally overwhelmed. The whole boarding process was absolute chaos, with people arguing over seats and confusion everywhere. I've flown a lot (you can check out my other flight reviews here), and I've never seen anything quite like it. It was as if nobody knew what was going on, and the stress in the air was palpable. The flight attendants kept telling us to find any available seat in Premium Economy, but by the time they gave us permission to move, other passengers had already claimed all the empty spots with their bags and stuff.
The Aircraft Was Worn Down and Dirty
The plane itself was nothing like the beautiful Dreamliner we flew on our way to Warsaw. Everything felt worn down and honestly kind of dirty. I try not to be too picky about these things because I know aircraft get a lot of use, but when I found old gum stuck on my seatbelt... that was just too much. I mean, come on, this is Premium Economy we're talking about. The cabin felt really outdated compared to the sleek Dreamliner experience we had on our outbound flight, and it was pretty clear this aircraft needed some serious maintenance and cleaning.
The One Thing LOT Gets Right: The Food
Now I have to say, the food was absolutely incredible. It's definitely something LOT consistently gets right, no matter which plane you're on. We had this amazing chicken dish with Silesian dumplings, asparagus, and a warm beet salad for our first meal. The presentation was beautiful and everything tasted even better than it looked. Later in the flight they served these delicious pierogies with fruit salad that were just perfect. I've flown with lots of airlines and LOT's food service is genuinely some of the best I've experienced on long-haul flights. It was definitely a bright spot in an otherwise challenging journey.
What LOT Offered as Compensation
After we landed, I reached out to LOT about Tony's broken seat situation. They responded pretty quickly and offered a 30% discount on a return ticket in Premium or Economy class on any of their routes. While I appreciate them acknowledging the issue and responding at all, I'm honestly not sure if it really makes up for Tony spending 12 uncomfortable hours in a broken seat. Especially considering how much extra we paid for Premium Economy in the first place. I'm curious what you guys think... is 30% off a future flight fair compensation for this kind of situation?
The Stark Contrast With Our Outbound Flight
The whole situation was made even more frustrating because of the stark contrast with our outbound flight to Warsaw. The Dreamliner experience had been so comfortable and pleasant, with attentive service and everything working perfectly. This return flight felt like a completely different airline. The cabin was dirty, the seats had issues, and the overall atmosphere was just chaotic and stressful. I understand that airlines have different aircraft in their fleet, but the difference in quality was really shocking. It's like paying for the same service twice and getting completely different experiences.
Would I Book LOT Premium Economy Again?
Here's my honest take: LOT has some strong points (that food service is seriously impressive), and our outbound flight proved they can deliver a great experience when everything goes right. Maybe they were just having a really off day on this return flight. But the inconsistency is the real problem here. When you're paying premium prices, you expect a certain level of quality and service every single time, not just when you happen to get assigned to their newer aircraft. For now, I'll definitely think twice before booking Premium Economy with them again, at least until I hear they've updated their older aircrafts.
What This Experience Taught Me About Airline Travel
This whole experience really taught me that consistency matters so much when it comes to airline service. You can have the best food in the sky, but if the basic things like working seats and clean cabins aren't guaranteed, it's hard to justify the premium price tag. I always try to keep things real in my reviews, and while this wasn't the experience we were hoping for, I think it's important to share both the good and the bad. That's what helps all of us make better travel decisions, right? If you want to see more of my honest travel reviews and experiences, don't forget to check out my travel tips playlist.
This review reflects my personal experience flying LOT Polish Airlines Premium Economy. Your experience may vary depending on aircraft type, route, crew, and other factors. I was not compensated by LOT Polish Airlines for this review, and all opinions expressed are my own based on flights I paid for myself.
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