LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy vs Business Class

What is the Difference Between LOT Premium Economy and LOT Business Class?

LOT Polish Airlines has recently become one of my “go-to” airlines due to the ability to bid on upgrades inexpensively. I have flown LOT three times in the last two years. All three instances have included a long-haul flight from Chicago O’Hare to Warsaw Chopin. I have been lucky enough to be in both LOT premium economy and LOT business class on their 787 Dreamliner. This article will compare, contrast, and review LOT premium economy and LOT business class.

Upgrading can sometimes be confusing because LOT Polish offers upgrades to both LOT premium economy and LOT business classes. It is important to know the difference between LOT premium economy and LOT business classes, as each offers a different type of seat and different in-flight amenities.

Please note that this information only applies to long haul flights on LOT’s 787 Dreamliner.

Flights within Europe, Northern Africa, and other medium/short haul destinations offer a different type of business class where the middle seat in a standard 3 by 3 row is blocked.

LOT Polish Airlines 787 with LOT Business and LOT Premium Economy Cabins
LOT Polish Airlines 787 with LOT Business and LOT Premium Economy Cabins

LOT Polish Premium Economy vs Business Class Video

I created a video highlighting the information provided in this article. Watch the video below to learn more about the difference between LOT Polish Airline’s Premium Economy and Business Class.

LOT Polish Airlines Review - LOT Premium Economy vs LOT Business Class - Boeing 787 Dreamliner - Table of Contents

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LOT Premium Economy Upgrades vs LOT Business Class Upgrades

To upgrade on LOT Polish Airlines, customers have to put in their credit card information and place a bid. The minimum bid depends on the route. On the Chicago O’Hare to Warsaw Chopin route, I upgraded to LOT premium economy for around $300. LOT business class is quite a bit more expensive, with the upgrade costing at least $500.

The two times I flew in LOT premium economy, I had business class bids of just under $500 declined. The one time my bid was approved for LOT business class, I bid $505, and the business class cabin was fairly empty.

LOT Premium Economy Check In Procedures vs LOT Business Class Check In Procedures

The check in procedures are exactly the same for LOT business class and LOT premium economy. Both cabins have access to the Star Alliance Gold check in line.

LOT Polish Airlines Premium Check-In
LOT Polish Airlines Premium Check-In

During my various LOT Polish Airlines check-ins at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, I found that I never needed to wait more than ten minutes to get my boarding pass.

LOT Polish Airlines Premium Check-In - Chicago O'Hare International Airport
LOT Polish Airlines Premium Check-In - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

LOT Premium Economy Boarding Process vs LOT Business Class Boarding Process

My one gripe about LOT Polish Airlines is their disorganized boarding process. No matter what airport my LOT flight has been at, it always seemed to be a free-for-all when it comes to boarding. For those with a LOT business class ticket, they have the option of visiting the LOT Premium Lounge. Otherwise, all LOT Polish Airlines cabin types wait to board their flight in the same boarding area.

Waiting at the Gate - LOT Polish Airlines - Terminal 5 - Chicago O'Hare
Waiting at the Gate - LOT Polish Airlines - Terminal 5 - Chicago O'Hare

LOT business class customers are the first to board a LOT Polish Airlines flight. LOT premium economy passengers on a LOT Polish flight board second, and finally, the economy class passengers board by zone. The problem is that LOT Polish doesn’t seem to enforce these boarding groups. Every time I’ve boarded a LOT Polish Airlines flight, I’ve had to push to the front to get into the priority boarding lane.

Boarding - LOT Polish Airlines - Chicago O'Hare to Warsaw Chopin
Boarding - LOT Polish Airlines - Chicago O'Hare to Warsaw Chopin

LOT Premium Economy Seats vs LOT Business Class Seats

The seats are the biggest difference between LOT premium economy and LOT business classes. LOT premium economy seats are similar to that of a first-class domestic seat on a US carrier. The LOT business class seats have the ability for the passenger to turn it into a lie-flat bed.

LOT Premium Economy Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Premium Economy Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Business Class Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Business Class Seats - Boeing 787

The LOT premium economy seats are extremely comfortable and roomy. I would compare them to the typical first-class seat on a domestic US flight. The seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration, so only one person in each row has to be in the middle.

LOT Polish Premium Economy Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Polish Premium Economy Seats - Boeing 787

The LOT premium economy seats have plenty of legroom. My only issue with these seats was that I found it hard to sleep for more than an hour at a time due to the limited recline.

LOT Premium Economy Legroom - Boeing 787
LOT Premium Economy Legroom - Boeing 787

The LOT business class cabin is configured in a 2-2-2 configuration. Compared to the premium economy cabin, the LOT business class cabin is much roomier.

LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787

Despite being 6 foot 5 inches tall, I could fully stretch out my legs in the LOT business class seats.

LOT Business Class Legroom - Boeing 787
LOT Business Class Legroom - Boeing 787

The LOT business class seats have electronic controls that allow the passenger to recline or turn their seat into a fully flat bed.

Seat Controls - LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787
Seat Controls - LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787
Side View - LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787
Side View - LOT Polish Business Class Seats - Boeing 787

The tray table in the LOT Polish business class seats is also much larger and solid than the premium economy tray table. There is also quite a bit of storage space around the LOT business class seats.

Tray Table - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class
Tray Table - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class

In my opinion, what makes LOT business class truly worth the extra money is the lie-flat bed. During my flight, I was able to sleep for over four hours without waking up. 

As stated earlier, I am 6 foot 5 inches tall. I was unable to fully stretch my legs and had to sleep with them in a slightly bent position.

LOT Business Class Lie Flat Seats - Boeing 787
LOT Business Class Lie Flat Seats - Boeing 787

LOT Premium Economy Meal Service vs LOT Business Class Meal Service

The other big difference between LOT premium economy and LOT business class is the food. The meal service is much fancier in the LOT business class cabin.

LOT Polish Airlines Premium Economy Meal
LOT Polish Airlines Premium Economy Meal

Pictured above and below are two different premium economy meals. The food was excellent and some of the better airline food I’ve eaten. Still, it did not compare to what was served in the LOT Polish Airlines business class cabin.

Another Premium Economy Meal - LOT Polish Airlines
Another Premium Economy Meal - LOT Polish Airlines

In addition to a large meal, LOT premium economy passengers also receive various snacks and breakfast prior to landing. In both cabins, the flight attendants provided wonderful service.

Diet Coke and Mixed Nuts - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Diet Coke and Mixed Nuts - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Breakfast - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Breakfast - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy

LOT Polish Airlines business class is best described as a unique culinary experience. That experience began with an amuse bouche, which was a cream cheese rose petal, which was like nothing that I’d ever eaten before.

The LOT Business Class Amuse Bouche was a Cream Cheese Rose Petal
The LOT Business Class Amuse Bouche was a Cream Cheese Rose Petal

Just after boarding, passengers in the LOT business class cabin receive a menu with various options for the multiple-course meal.

LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class Menu
LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class Menu

The meals in LOT Polish business class are served on fine china. Pictured below was my main course, which was beef cheeks in a demiglace sauce.

LOT Business Class Dinner
LOT Business Class Dinner

In addition to a gourmet main course, LOT business class customers receive delicious side dishes and desserts.

LOT Polish - Dinner Side Dishes - Business Class
LOT Polish - Dinner Side Dishes - Business Class
LOT Business Class Desserts
LOT Business Class Desserts

Another big difference between LOT premium economy and business classes is the second meal. LOT business class passengers receive a second hot meal, while LOT premium economy passengers typically receive a cold meal.

LOT Business Class Lunch
LOT Business Class Lunch

LOT Premium Economy Entertainment Screens vs LOT Business Class Entertainment Screens

There are not many differences between the seat-back entertainment in LOT Polish Airlines’ premium economy and business class cabins. The only big difference is the size of the screen. LOT business class passengers have a much larger screen.

Both LOT business class and LOT premium economy passengers have good entertainment options for watching their favorite movies and tv shows.

Seat Back Entertainment - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Seat Back Entertainment - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Seat Back Entertainment - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class

LOT Premium Economy Amenities vs LOT Business Class Amenities

LOT Polish Airlines premium economy passengers receive an amenity kit and a pillow and blanket upon boarding.

Blanket and Amenity Kit - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy
Blanket and Amenity Kit - LOT Polish Airlines - Premium Economy

Business class passengers on LOT Polish Airlines receive a similar amenity kit and premium bedding for their lie-flat seats.

Amenity Kit - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class
Amenity Kit - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class
Pillow and Blanket - LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class

Disembarking - LOT Premium Economy vs LOT Business Class

Upon landing, LOT business class passengers are the first to disembark. LOT premium economy passengers get to disembark second, and then LOT economy passengers. The big difference is if the passengers are exiting the plane via stairs instead of a jet bridge. If this is the case, LOT business class passengers have their own private shuttle bus, while LOT premium economy passengers have to take the bus with the LOT economy class passengers.

Arriving in Warsaw, Poland
Arriving in Warsaw, Poland

My Thoughts - LOT Premium Economy Review vs LOT Business Class Review

Here is my advice on when to upgrade to LOT Polish Airlines business class and when to upgrade to LOT Polish Airlines premium economy. For me, the LOT business class seat is only worth the additional money if I want to sleep. Typically, this occurs during a red-eye flight that departs the US in the evening and arrives in Europe in the morning.
If I
am not wanting to sleep, the LOT premium economy seat is perfect for sitting and doing work. The only issue is that LOT Polish Airlines does not have WiFi on their long-haul flights, so I have to find work that I can do without being connected to the Internet.

Both LOT Polish Airlines’ premium economy and business class upgrades offer a higher class of service for a reasonable price. Remember, these are $1500 to $3500 tickets that you are able to upgrade to for $300 to $800.

LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class Cabin
LOT Polish Airlines - Business Class Cabin

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